MONTICELLO -- Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Fred Stabbert III has resigned from his post on the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency (IDA) board.

As we recently reported, Sullivan County legislators recently voted 6-1, with one abstention, in favor of his appointment at a special meeting last month.

During the vote, Legislator Ira Steingart abstained because Stabbert is a client of Steingart Printing, Legislator Joe Perrello was absent, and Legislator Nadia Rajsz voted no. Legislators Luis Alvarez and Rajsz, while noting they have no issues with Stabbert, questioned if his appointment would be a conflict of interest since the county does business with the twice-weekly newspaper.

The Democrat is the official newspaper of Sullivan County and required by law to publish the county's public notices.

After County Attorney Michael McGuire assured them there was no conflict that prevents Stabbert from serving on the IDA board, Alvarez and Rajsz asked if the legislature could hold off on a vote until that was confirmed, but Chairman Rob Doherty said they have the option to vote no and called for a roll call vote.

Alvarez attempted to abstain from voting until confirmation of no conflict of interest, but Deputy County Attorney Thomas Cawley explained that in order for him to do so, he'd have to state a conflict of interest that pertains to Stabbert.

Doherty told Alvarez he could not abstain and counted it as a “yes” vote.

Following news of the outcome of the vote, Stabbert made the decision to resign.

“While I truly appreciate the legislators asking me to volunteer as an IDA board member, I will not serve on a board without the full and unwavering support of the entire legislature,” Stabbert said. “Given that, I thought it best to let the legislature find another candidate who they can fully support to volunteer for this valuable position.”