Leszyk resigns as Watkins Glen mayor

WATKINS GLEN--Watkins Glen Mayor Luke Leszyk resigned his position Thursday, July 7 following a contentious village meeting, Tuesday, July 5. During the meeting's public participation time, resident Martha Hornby alleged inappropriate behavior by the mayor at a local bar.
According to Leszyk's resignation letter, Deputy Mayor Louis Perazzini was named the acting mayor last week. An official meeting to appoint the new mayor was held Monday, July 11.
"I served my country for 23 years in the military and I served many communities during my 23 years of law enforcement," Leszyk's resignation letter states. "I love this village and its employees. We have accomplished many things over the last 3 1/2 years and I feel the village is in better shape than how we found it. I want to thank the board for their service to our community."
The letter also acknowledges the recent controversy.
"The harassment and false accusations have become too much for me and is not fair to my wife and family," the letter states. "I can no longer effectively lead the village with all the distractions. It is not fair to the many wonderful residents of this village. I wish the village and the board the best moving forward."
In a 2021 podcast interview with Wet Couch Radio, Danielle Matthews, wife of former Sergeant in Charge of the Watkins Glen Police Department, Brandon Matthews, explained a notice of claim they filed against the mayor and the village. One of the elements of the claim was related to Leszyk's alleged use of his position of power to make inappropriate comments and demands. A lawsuit was subsequently filed that would end up being settled in 2022. Language in that agreement included, "plaintiffs... and the defendants wish to fully and finally reach a global resolution of all of the disputes, without admitting liability, wrongdoing or culpable conduct or incurring further expenses."
The case settlement was $93,000.
Leszyk has not been charged with a crime in the first or second alleged incidents and has publicly denied the allegations.