HONESDALE, PA — The announcement at the August 15 meeting of the Honesdale borough council that longtime borough treasurer Karen Breidenstein had submitted a letter of resignation earlier that day was greeted with shock and dismay from council members Bill Canfield and Bob Jennings, both of whom had worked with her for years during their council tenures.

Canfield immediately asked the reason for Breidenstein’s resignation. President Mike Augello responded that no reason had been stated in the letter. Canfield introduced a motion to reject the resignation. Seconded by Jennings, the motion failed to pass. Augello said, “In my experience, notice of resignation submitted in writing means the employee’s decision has already been made.”

A motion to accept the resignation was introduced and passed, with Canfield and Jennings casting the only opposition votes; Jeremy Ebert was absent.

But Canfield remained adamant about discovering why Breidenstein was resigning after 22 years of service to the borough. Breidenstein began those years as the park and shop lot attendant in 1994, continued as a clerk in the borough office from 2007 to 2012, and ended as treasurer from 2012 to present.

Saying that Breidenstein was irreplaceable and noting that she has detected and corrected many problematic situations and inconsistencies in borough finances, Canfield said the borough would be hard-pressed to find someone as honest, trustworthy and dedicated as she has been. He also warned that the borough would find itself in dire straits after August 29, the date Breidenstein’s resignation becomes effective.

Heeding that warning, the council voted to advertise for new treasurer applicants, all except Canfield voting in favor. Chris Murray commented that Breidenstein’s departure would almost certainly impact the borough manager role. Discussion begun in August 8 executive session (minus Canfield, Jennings and Michael Dux) about refining that role will continue in subsequent executive sessions.

In an August 16 phone conversation, Breidenstein explained her resignation as a need for change and new opportunity.

In other business, Skip Mendler, Katharine Dodge and Chuck Heyn of Wayne Citizens to Reclaim Democracy (WCRD), petitioned the council during the public comment segment to adopt a resolution endorsing their group’s initiative, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution limiting the rights of corporations and restoring those of individual citizens.

Mendler said the rights of individual citizens have been abrogated ever since corporations were granted the same inalienable constitutional rights as human beings. He noted that initially corporate rights were limited by various caveats, but that over time those limits have been systematically eroded and deliberately abolished. He argued that now corporate constitutional rights, combined with unimaginable corporate wealth, lobbying and political clout, have diminished accordingly the inalienable rights of human beings in favor of those of corporations.

Dodge noted that when the Constitution was adopted and signed in 1787, those inalienable rights protected only 6% of the American population: white males over 21 years of age who owned property and were eligible to vote. As the nation matured, amendments were added, guaranteeing those rights to more Americans: people of color, women, those 18 years and older, and those who don’t own property. But now, said Dodge, that trend is reversing, and the only way to restore it is via constitutional amendment.

WCRD will hold an event in Honesdale’s Central Park on the anniversary of the Constitution’s signing, September 17, to raise awareness of the Constitution and its guarantees. For more information about WCRD and its parent organization, Move to Amend, visit movetoamend.org. Select the local affiliates tab from the site map, for information specifically about WCRD and other local chapters.