By Peter A. Sutters Jr.
The problem is between the company responsible for counting the votes, Honest Ballot, and the relationship the executive director has with a current board member.Lisa Gibbs, executive director of Honest Ballot, is the live-in girlfriend of board member Chuck Robbins, according to former and current candidates for the board. Neither Gibbs nor Robbins could be reached for comment. “I think it's disingenuous to have Honest Ballot run the election,” said former candidate Ellis Roeder. “Anytime you have a hint of impropriety you should eliminate it.” Roeder ran two years ago in an election run by a different company for the board but lost. He said he has no plans to run again.”People are discouraged before they even run,” said Roeder. Roder was not the only North Shore political figure to point out the conflict.”There seems to be some type of collusion with the members of the board of directors and Honest Ballot,” said Morris Feurer, current president of the Shareholders Association, who is running for one of four open spots on the nine-member board. The Shareholders Association is considered a watchdog group for residents of the Towers.Current board member Alan Pessin said he does not see the conflict, noting Robbins abstained from voting to approve Honest Ballots' bid to run the election and has also said he is not seeking a seat on the board again. “The bid by Honest Ballot was well below the next bid,” Pessin said.Another point of contention were allegations that Honest Ballot, which has offices in the Towers, owes $27,000 in back rent from the days when it was operated by another director who has since died. Both Roeder and Feuer said Honest Ballot received a deal that allows Gibbs to pay only $300 a month until the back rent is paid off. This could not be independently verified through the management of the North Shore Towers because they could not be reached for comment. Pessin said he could not comment on the back rent because he has not read all the paperwork involved. “There is no reason we can't find someone else to run the election,” said Feuer. “Is this going to be a fair election? There are many questions.”Reach reporter Peter A. Sutters Jr. by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext. 173.
