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General News: Building Inspector Faces New Criticism

Bruce Yancewicz, the village building inspector, speaking at a village board meeting in February.
Bruce Yancewicz, the village building inspector, speaking at a village board meeting in February.
March 09, 2010

Last week, Cornwall-on-Hudson planning board member Lee Murphy received a call from the village building inspector who asked about a recording studio in a building behind his Hudson Street residence and said he would like to come inspect it. On Monday, Murphy criticized that move, telling the village board that he felt the inquiry was in retaliation for his criticism of the building inspector’s issuance of a certificate of occupancy to a kayak store the week before.

Murphy Cites “Chilling” Impact of Inquiry


“It is very chilling for property owners in this community if they raise their voice against someone who works with the administration,” Murphy said, adding that people will get the message “don’t mess with this administration or this administration will mess with you.”

Murphy asked some of the trustees if they had directed newly-hired building inspector Bruce Yancewicz to call him or to call trustee Douglas Vatter, whose business occupies another storefront on Hudson Street. At this point, Ray Yannone, who owns the building that had just been granted permission to run a kayak business (see related story) stood up and said that he had initiated the request for documents related to Murphy’s studio after he went up and down Hudson Street looking for buildings that had undergone a similar change of use. Later, trustee Barbara Gosda denied that she had any role in the building inspector’s action.

Targeted Businesses Have Ties to DPW and Building Dept.

On Tuesday, Yancewicz shared with News from Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson a pile of requests from Yannone for copies of plans, permits, inspections and applications for six businesses. Two of the businesses are owned by Tony Missere, who is in a protracted dispute with Yannone, two are owned by Deke Hazirjian, who was a member of the Local Development Corporation when it oversaw the DPW building project, one is Murphy’s recording studio and the last of the properties is owned by Burns and Whalen, who built the DPW garage. Trustee Douglas Vatter operates an insurance business in the Burns and Whalen property.

When asked if these building owners were being targeted, Yancewicz denied that he had any idea of what was going on behind the scenes. He said he is just doing his job and trying to provide the documents required under the Freedom of Information Law.

Building Inspector Says He Is Just Doing His Job


“I don’t know who these people are—I tried to talk nicely to them – no one is above the law,” he said. “If they didn’t get a permit or an electrical inspection, its not my fault if they don’t have a permit.”

Yancewicz also denied that he had a special relationship with Yannone, an accusation voiced by Tony Missere at Monday’s meeting. Yancewicz said he had attended a zoning board of appeals meeting once in 2008 at the request of one of Yannone’s business associates but that he had didn’t have a personal relationship with Yannone himself. “I never even had a cup of coffee with the man,” he said, noting that the two did exchange a few words in the parking lot after the meeting but the topic was Yancewicz’s Corvette automobile.



Comments:

It is interesting to see, that after years of preferential treatment, Mr. Murphy bristles at being treated like any other normal citizen. This is an example of the hubris that Murphy's sense of entitlement has created.


posted by Catherine Paull on 03/10/10 at 9:16 AM

Lee Murphy is not fooling anyone. The DPW deal is as fishy as it comes. Step up and be honest for a change. You should be ashamed of all the self motivated actions. If you are not going to fairly represent the local community you should step down.


posted by Jonathan Dunaief on 03/10/10 at 9:40 AM

Ha! And I though politics was contact sport here in Philadelphia.

Looks like my little ol' hometown is heating up


posted by Ted Warren on 03/10/10 at 9:56 AM

Resign Lee Murphy! I think people are tired of the preferred treatment you and others had before the "save the village party came into power" Its not the board who is chilling it is you sir


posted by t Poyle on 03/10/10 at 3:21 PM

John B, Have you ever thought that the "real issues being addressed" are only coming to light because of this website and not because of the people running this village? Personally, I think this administration has done a horrible job! Are mayor looks like a hobo and drives around in a busted up old van, not to mention he baths in the river! These group of people have also turned this town into a high school with people complaining about everything! Case in point Mr. Murphy telling the teacher someones picking on him. I love this website, keep it comming very entertaining!!


posted by Tom Murphy on 03/10/10 at 5:42 PM

Our Mayor.


posted by J Buescher on 03/10/10 at 6:11 PM

Personally, I find "Are mayor" (sic) who "baths" in the river to have a refreshingly unique sense of style. And if *you* have a problem with his vehicle, buy him a new one. Judging by the judgment spewing forth from your pie-hole you must have grown up here.(Maybe that's why you know about the high school complainers) Were you a member of the yearbook club, perhaps? I always found "these group of people" to be overly concerned with other folks' clothes and cars. (AND certainly no criticism is intended for the current yearbook club; I am sure that the mentality and the attitude have become more tolerant over the years)


posted by Kate Benson on 03/10/10 at 6:42 PM

very good Ms. Benson I would hope a sub teacher like yourself would be able to pick out grammer errors. I did write my responce quickly as I was running out the door. But I do believe the people that "grew up" here have a right to be upset. You newcomers move into town and start to complain about everything..for example the fire siren..hmm been here for about 100 years and all of a sudden its too loud for our health? give me a break! I also believe your son was one of those troubled children constantly being chased around by the village police for skateboarding on the elementary school property and making being disorderly in the past


posted by Tom Murphy on 03/10/10 at 6:52 PM

Tom that is why I voted for the 3 G's. people come in and want to change the very reason why they move here.
Yes this web site is instrumental in providing thoughts and debate in a flash. It also moved some of the discussion off the street where people once came face to face and discussed issues.


posted by J Buescher on 03/10/10 at 7:38 PM

Labelling people "newcomer" and suggesting that they have less rights to their opinions, etc. is not a productive or admirable action. Better to evaluate what people stand for and work for.

I agree that this forum has helped this administration address issues in a more transparent and open way. This is a breath of fresh-air compared to the back-room deals and preferential treatment that was the old norm.

It's no surprise that the beneficiaries of those former privileges are disgruntled at the realization that they must adhere to the same rules as the rest of the community now.

With the help of this forum and the watchful eye of the citizenry, we can hope to avoid going down that unprincipled road again.


posted by Catherine Paull on 03/11/10 at 3:33 PM

Nicely said CP
It is amazing how the past group is still so disgruntle it makes me wonder what else was on the back burner. We should all thank our Mayor and trustees for stepping up and doing what is right. And special thanks to Ray Yannone for bringing this mess to everyone's attention.
Now we can make right and move on.


posted by J Buescher on 03/11/10 at 5:20 PM

Uh, Tom, just for the record - because it *is* apparent that you live in a totally different world than the rest of us- I was born here, grew up here, and have lived here most of my life. And as for your non-sequitur rambling on about the fire whistle and the children(because you obviously can't have a civil discussion about anything)let me clarify; I love the fire whistle and yes, my son, like many other children of the village, was often at loggerheads with those whose feelings of lack of control in their own pathetic lives led them to harasss anyone who was out to have fun and act (heavens!) like a kid. Believe me, my son was punished when he was out of line. When you get your facts right maybe we'll have a discussion, but for now, you get the last word. Try to stay on topic.


posted by Kate Benson on 03/11/10 at 5:54 PM

"You newcomers move into town and start..."

Nothing good ever comes of a sentence that begins like this. You have a right as an individual to be upset about whatever you want, not simply because you've lived here longer than someone else. You don't get an award for sitting in one place longer than other people. As long as they're paying taxes, people who are new to the town have just as much right to call things the way they see them as you do.


posted by Ted Warren on 04/07/10 at 12:41 PM

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