Opposition to Removing Leibell’s Name from Veterans’ Home
Putnam County Legislator Richard Othmer and local veterans said they opposed removing the name of former State Senator Vincent Leibell, who is currently serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges of obstruction of justice and tax evasion, off of the veterans’ home in Carmel that was named officially in his honor.
A discussion of the issue took place during the Monday, June 11 Putnam County Legislature’s Rules, Enactments and Intergovernmental Relations Committee meeting. The current name of the facility is the Vincent Leibell Putnam County Veterans Home.
Legislator Carl Albano said there was no proposal to remove Leibell’s name from the building, but that some Putnam County residents have spoken to him about the issue and he wanted the committee to address it,Albano said.
“I wanted to bring it up”Albano said. “This is just a discussion.”
Harry Sherblom, chairman of the Putnam County Joint Veterans Council, said he spoke to residents of the veterans’ home. They told him there should be no change in the name of the building because Leibell supported veterans and was instrumental in having the facility constructed.
“They’re asking to keep the name the way it is,” Sherblom said.
Committee Chairman Richard Othmer Jr. said it was inappropriate for public buildings in Putnam to be named after any politicians in the future.
“I don’t think any politician’s name should be on any public buildings,” he said.
All the same, Othmer Jr. said he did not want Leibell’s name taken off the veterans’ home.
“Enough is enough. It’s time for healing in Putnam County,” Othmer said.
County Executive Mary Ellen Odell said the county legislature had previously voted not to remove Leibell’s name.
But according to back-up files provided to the public prior to the committee meeting, Leibell, himself, seemed to be in favor of renaming the facility according to a letter he sent to then legislative Chairman Vincent Tamagna, dated June 4, 2010.
“At this time I would respectfully request that the Putnam County Veterans’ Home be renamed in honor of its first resident Mr. Floyd Fishcer who passed away on December 6, 2005,” Leibell wrote of the Putnam County resident and World War II veteran, who enlisted in the U.S. Army at a very young age and served as the First Sergeant, chaplain and medic at the veterans’ home, according to the letter. “I believe that it would be most fitting if his service to our nation, state and county could be memorized by naming this facility in his honor.”
In March 2008, according to a public document, eight of the nine county legislators at the time voted to approve a resolution barring the naming of county buildings after any living person and until five years after their death. Legislator Mary Conklin cast the only dissenting “no” vote.
