Hunched forward to see what words (of resignation) stream from the mysterious mouth of his City Council colleague Scott Malsin at Monday night’s 7 o’clock meeting, Mayor Mehaul O’Leary said this afternoon that Mr. Malsin’s demeanor lately “has been a little detached.”
Based on what Mr. Malsin told a select circle of confidantes in October, he will announce he is officially stepping down from the Council, effective immediately, to protect his family’s healthcare benefits provided by City Hall. The benefits are due to be trimmed after Dec. 31.
As the reality of the meeting neared, Mayor O’Leary appeared stunned.
He said he still is “sort of in shock that anyone on the Council would take this position purely for the benefits. I just find that hard to believe.
“While I don’t understand that mentality, I believed he was in there for the betterment of the community, for the city that he loves and lives in.
“It’s a shame. It doesn’t gel well with his position. I can’t correlate the two. I can’t put the two together.
“I am hoping all the press and all the comments he has made were a tactical move to get feedback from his supporter base.
“If his base is forthright with him, they will tell him that (resigning) ‘is not a good move and we can’t support you.’
“If I were a supporter, I would have to step back and tell him I don’t appreciate his move to protect benefits.
“I understand having a child. He is in a different position than I am in.”
Mayor O’Leary shook his head.
“I still have a tough time putting that together,” he said.
One week after Mr. Malsin’s resignation announcement, he is expected to file for re-election to a seat, any seat, in the spring election. Four chairs presumably will be open, including his shrunken two-year term.
But his carefully measured, drawn out, drama-draped potential move became more complicated at 12:30 this afternoon when fellow Councilman Chris Armenta said he would not seek re-election.
This reportedly will turn into a table-setting move whereby former Councilman Gary Silbiger and community activist Meghan Sahli-Wells would run for the two putatively open seats on the dais.
Said Mayor O’Leary:
“I would hope that today’s developments make Mr. Malsin think about the ramifications of what he has in mind.”
