(This story was updated to add new information.)
The Wayne County commissioners paused for a moment of silence on Thursday, Oct. 10, followed by remarks about a longtime former commissioner, the late Robert V. Carmody.
Carmody died Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, at the age of 82, Chief Clerk Andrew Seder said. Seder distributed a memo the next day to all county employees. Black bunting was hung around the courthouse entrance doors in Carmody's memory.
Carmody served as commissioner from 1976 through 1999 and again from 2004 through 2007. His father John D. Carmody and his uncle Daniel Carmody held the elected office before him. "Bob" Carmody was a previous owner of B&B Dodge and afterward owned the real estate firm Century 21 in Honesdale.
Of interest: Honesdale's B&B Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram sold to N.J.-based auto group
"He was a good man," Commissioner Chairperson Brian Smith said, following the moment of silence. "He was a man of the people, he always tried to do what he thought the people wanted. And I think that really represents the epitome of a good commissioner, someone who really tries to do the right thing and tries to represent the people who elected them. And he did that, and he did that well."
Smith continued, "Our condolences to family and friends. My dad was a very good friend. He went to school with the Carmodys.... They were great friends through school and remained great friends through life. To our family it is a sad event that Bob Carmody passed away, but may he rest in peace."
The memo adds, "He had a long and substantial career as commissioner and businessman and saw many changes and improvements in Wayne County during his nearly three decades in office."
"Bob was an outstanding commissioner and a terrific family man," retired commissioner Anthony Herzog said. "I was on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners for 24 years and for 16 of those years, I had the pleasure of working with Bob. He had a warm, friendly way of dealing with the public and was greatly respected."
Carmody served alongside William Fries, Donald E. Olsommer, Anthony V. Herzog, Earl J. Simons and Donald Chapman. He last served as commissioner with Herzog and Chapman.
Carmody was a Democrat. When first sworn into office in 1976, he and Fries, also a newly elected commissioner, made up a Democratic majority, the first time in 60 years in Wayne County. Simons was the lone Republican on board. They were sworn in by Judge James Rutherford. Carmody was chairperson in the '70s. Starting in 1988, he was the minority Democrat.
He stated in an interview for The Times-Tribune in 1997 that he was never treated like a "minority commissioner" with a majority of Republicans, any more than how the lone Republican was treated when Carmody was among the majority. Rather, the board worked together for the county, he said.
The question of allowing Las Vegas-style casino gambling in the Poconos came up in 1977. Carmody stated in April in a story in The Times-Tribune that "Atlantic City will be close enough for our residents."
In April 2004, when the commissioners were deciding on a site for a new county prison, Carmody was the lone vote against moving it to Indian Orchard. He preferred the prison stay in Honesdale, closer to the courthouse so prisoners did not have to be transported three miles or have teleconferenced court appearances. He said at the time in a story in The Times-Tribune that he doesn't believe in "closed-circuit justice."
Carmody was quoted in The Times-Tribune in December 2006, regarding plans for no tax increase in 2007, as saying, "There's an eraser at the other end of the pencil, you know — we used it."
Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Retired Wayne County Commissioner Robert V. Carmody, who served 28 years, dies at 82
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