Watkins Glen meeting was mayor's last

WATKINS GLEN--In a video recorded live and posted on Facebook, the local podcast Wet Couch Radio broadcast the chaotic scene of the Watkins Glen village board meeting, Tuesday, July 5. The video has since reached nearly 10,000 views.
In the opening minutes of the meeting, resident Martha Hornby asked the board to partner with her to help find a space to create a sexual assault survivor group. Hornby then handed out documents to the board that she said were "received from the New York State Troopers when I asked them to do an investigation for an attempted assault by our mayor."
Mayor Luke Leszyk, who has since resigned, moved to immediately close the public portion of the meeting, as members of the public began raising their voices in support of Hornby speaking. The mayor stated public comment is a "privilege, not a right," and "you need to be exiting right now."
Also at the meeting was Danielle Matthews, who with her husband former Watkins Glen Police Officer Brandon Matthews, accused Leszyk of inappropriate conduct in a 2021 lawsuit. That matter was later settled with no admittance of wrongdoing.
Leszyk denied the allegations against him previously and also at the meeting.
Hornby went on to say that she had exhausted all other avenues in trying to get law enforcement to investigate her claim and that she had not filed a lawsuit.
Despite multiple attempts by Leszyk to end the public portion of the meeting, Hornby said that she would only leave if an officer escorted her out. Officer Aaron Jumper gently placed his hand on her upper arm and she moved towards the door and left.
Upon her exit, Danielle Matthews continued the heated discussion about the public comment period rules.
Trustee Laurie DeNardo briefly answered one of her contentions saying, "I don't condone any of the behavior, I just have to say...you have to vote, that's all I can say."
Matthews then said to Leszyk, "you are shutting women down, public be heard, I get three minutes." To which Leszyk replied, "this is disruptive...public be heard is done."
After a few more minutes, Matthews was then escorted out of the room by Officer Jumper.
"Anyone else who is disruptive will be asked to leave, otherwise we need to conduct the business of the village," said Leszyk as the crowd continued to push for public comments.
Leszyk resigned on July 7 in a letter to the village.