'I Dislike' Politics, Councilman Says at Final Meeting

Bloomingdale Councilman Glenn Schiffman had some parting words for the public as he said goodbye to the council during Tuesday night's meeting: be nice to your elected officials on the Internet.

"In three years, I learned a lot about politics and what it's about," Schiffman said. "To tell you the truth, I dislike it."

Schiffman, who served for three years on the council, did not run for re-election in November as his term was expiring. He and Councilwoman Jo-Ann Pituch were to be honored at the meeting, but Pituch had an emergency obligation that prevented her from attending, Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy remarked that he was planning to honor Schiffman with a plaque Tuesday, but that Schiffman requested not to have one. Still, Dunleavy said that despite he, a Democrat, and Schiffman, a Republican, not always agreeing in the council chambers, Schiffman will be missed.

"As a friend I thank you, as a mayor I thank you for your three years of hard work," Dunleavy said.

When asked if he would like to comment, Schiffman took the opportunity to describe his disgust with his constituents' comments in Internet forums regarding the elected officials.

"If I were a person looking to buy a house in Bloomingdale and I read some of the things on this forum, I would run," he said.

Schiffman implored the public to at least attach their actual names to their comments, but said some commenters who consistently bash the council members should be "ashamed."

After the meeting, Schiffman said he has been lucky to have worked alongside the other council members, as well as Borough Clerk Jane McCarthy and Bloomingdale Police Chief Joe Borell. During his term, Schiffman said public safety was an important issue to him and he was pleased to have been able to make decisions regarding new police vehicles and equipment.

"We had to bring it back to where it had to be," he said.