To the editor:

Robert Doherty, Chairman of the Sullivan County Legislature, will continue running roughshod over standing rules, so long as he can do so cost-free.

In “Nothing Changes; If Nothing Changes”, he insisted state and county rules block legislators from participating in county government by phone - that's false - and confuses merely discussing whether to take a legislative action with actually taking it - that's baffling.

Anyone can read the county's rules for our Legislature. They permit participation and voting by phone, if only because they don't prohibit them.

Anyone can read the Governor's Executive Orders, in force throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. They permit local and state elected leaders to participate in respective governments by phone.

Whether willful or unintentional, Mr. Doherty's behavior on this matter requires him to step down as Chairman, if not resign from elected office. When he denied a duly elected legislator her right to invoke rules of our Legislature and vote by phone (April 23), he disrespected the sacrifices of those defending our way of life.

Nothing changes, if nothing changes, but wrecking balls don't bring change we need.