Saranac Lake Village Trustee Alleges Mayor Brunette Fired Two Pregnant Employees, Disrupted Village Operations in First Weeks in Office

Village Trustee Sean P. Ryan went public Sunday with serious allegations against newly-sworn Mayor Kelly Brunette, accusing her of terminating two pregnant village employees in her first weeks in office, dismantling the Development Board, and leaving village government severely understaffed with no plan to fill critical roles. Ryan, writing on his personal Facebook page, said the Village Clerk was notified of her termination by email at 6:43am on the first day of her maternity leave. The Deputy Clerk, also pregnant, was notified of her termination by email the week prior. Both employees were described by Ryan as well-liked, experienced, and free of public complaints about their performance. "This left our Village Treasurer to run the entire office, on their own," Ryan wrote. The Village Treasurer has since submitted her resignation, Ryan said, leaving village offices severely understaffed. Ryan also alleged the Mayor has moved to remove respected volunteers from the Development Board and eliminate alternate member positions entirely — actions he said targeted individuals who had supported the previous administration politically or socially. Additional allegations include new resolutions restricting department heads from applying for grants or making routine purchases, and the impending departure of the Village Manager with no public succession plan. "I believe the general public should be deeply concerned," Ryan wrote. "Is the termination of dedicated public servants and respected local volunteers in her first days as Mayor what Saranac Lake voted for?" Mayor Brunette was contacted for comment Monday morning. She did not respond before publication. All allegations are those of Trustee Ryan. Tri-Lakes Town Square has not independently verified the allegations. The employees have not been publicly identified. UPDATE — Monday, April 27: The Village of Saranac Lake posted publicly Monday morning calling for Letters of Interest to fill appointed positions within Village government. The posting, made on the Village's official Facebook page, invites "qualified, community-minded residents" to apply for key appointed roles.

The announcement appears to confirm that positions on Village boards and committees are currently vacant. Trustee Ryan alleged in his Sunday post that Mayor Brunette had moved to remove volunteers from the Development Board and eliminate alternate member positions entirely. Letters of Interest can be submitted at saranaclakeny.gov/employment. If you have firsthand knowledge of events at Village Hall, the employees named in this report, or other actions taken by the current administration, we want to hear from you. File a report at trilakestownsquare.com. Your name or anonymous. Your choice.