OWASCO -- Sparks flew briefly over the naming of a new code enforcement officer Tuesday afternoon at a special meeting of the Owasco Town Board.

Patrick Doyle, former deputy supervisor and former town councilman, was selected by a committee of two from a field of 23 candidates as the nominee by the town board.

The position was filled temporarily by Paul Weiman after Jerry VeVone was fired in December.

"Patrick Doyle was part of the reason I was fired," VeVone said. "They had to find a place to put him."

"I could never sit in this chair and appoint Pat Doyle as code enforcement officer because of problems in the past -- a misdemeanor in the past," said deputy supervisor Douglas Buchanan.

Buchanan complained that he hadn't been notified who the candidates were in advance of Tuesday's meeting, in spite of his refusal to be on the screening committee.

Buchanan also raised the question of a potential conflict of interest because Doyle is employed in real estate.

He moved to rescind the motion to appoint Doyle and put it on the agenda for the next regular town board meeting.

For more, read The Citizen Wednesday