Pittsford, N.Y.- After 19 years, Bill Carpenter is resigning as Pittsford’s Town Supervisor Thursday night in order to accept a position with the Monroe County Water Authority.
Carpenter has been appointed Deputy Executive Director of the Water Authority with a salary of $137,000.
13WHAM News talked to Carpenter outside the town's highway department, where he told his employees he was resigning.
"I think I'm at the point where I need a new challenge," he said.
The job with the Water Authority has been vacant for five and a half years, but has been funded in the budget for the past two years.
Some Democrats said this appears to be another political move by an agency they claim is nothing more than "a Republican clique."
But Carpenter insists this was not political. "You simply have to look at my resume to know I'm extremely qualified for this position," he said.
"Well the Water Authority has had some terrible scandals," said Democratic County Legislator Paul Haney. "It became one big clique, a political sewer."
Haney recalled the scandal involving former Water Authority Director John Stanwix. He was called out in a state audit for allegedly "ripping off taxpayers" and then served time in jail for breaking state law.
Haney said the problem is there is no oversight of the authority because its board is made up of five Republicans and two conservatives. He said Democrats have no voice or say in who serves on the board or how the authority is run.
Carpenter was one of more than 50 applicants for the Deputy Executive Director's job. Water Authority Director Nick Noce said he was the best qualified for the job. "The fact that he was a Registered Republican wasn't a factor, he was the best candidate for the job," Noce said.
Carpenter will present his resignation to the Pittsford Town Board at its meeting Thursday night at 7 p.m.
The board will decide who will replace the supervisor. His resignation is effective November 23rd.
