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General News: Critics Question Hiring of Code Officer
April 14, 2010
While questions remain about how long Cornwall-on-Hudson building inspector Bruce Yancewicz will stay on the job after the village board of trustees voted against his re-appointment last week, critics are charging that the hiring process was flawed from the beginning.
Yancewicz Hired as Code Enforcement Officer
In a letter to the board of trustees dated April 11, village resident Lee Murphy points out that, according to the meeting minutes, Yancewicz was hired last November as the code enforcement officer, not the building inspector. Murphy notes that the job descriptions for the two positions are very different and that code enforcement officers do not have the authority to issue building permits or certificates of occupancy. He argues that as a code enforcement officer, Yancewicz never had the authority to call for the evacuation of the department of public works building in February or to grant a certificate of occupancy to a kayak business to open shop at the Storm King Theater.
Fine Line Between Building Inspector and Code Officer
The position of building inspector was not discussed at this Monday’s meeting of the Cornwall-on-Hudson trustees. In an interview on Tuesday, deputy mayor and trustee Barbara Gosda said she didn’t have the job specifications in front of her, but thought that building inspector/code enforcement officer is the job that the board had filled. “Building inspector and code enforcement officer, there is a fine line between them,” she said. She also noted that Yancewicz has experience as a building inspector in the village of Montgomery, experience that was lacking among the dozen candidates who applied for the position last year.
Missere Questions Validity of Application
Village business owner Tony Missere also finds fault with how Yancewicz was hired. Last week, he asked the trustees why Yancewicz had not filled out a formal application until November 25, 2009, nine days after the board voted to hire him. “Did anyone on this board see an application from this man prior to the hiring?” Missere asked. “I did not,” replied trustee Doug Vatter, who did say that he had seen his resume.
Missere went on to read the application, in which Yancewicz reports on a misdemeanor conviction ten years ago and again asked the board if they were aware of it before they approved his hiring or if they had received a certificate of conviction that was required in the application. A review of the application later revealed several items unanswered and included no reference to his employment as a building inspector in Montgomery.
Missere Rejects Violations Issued to His Business
Missere’s observations come just days after he received notification of five code violations in his village restaurant, The River Bank. At the meeting, Mayor Gross acknowledged that the violations had resulted from charges raised by Missere’s neighbor, Ray Yannone, with whom he is in a protracted dispute. Missere says the violations, which include an improper access to the rear yard and a failure to provide separate men’s and women’s bathrooms, are incorrect and he reminded the board that he has a current certificate of compliance for the building.
Murphy Sees Ineptness in Government
For his part, Murphy acknowledges that his criticism of Mayor Gross may have led the mayor to oppose his re-appointment to the planning board, but he insists that the village government is plagued by ineptness and sloppiness.
Edsall Says Board Has to Clean Up the Mess
Trustee Mark Edsall, who voted to appoint Yancewicz last November, admits that the board may have made a mistake by hiring him as a code enforcement officer instead of a building inspector but he says that is less of an issue than some of the actions Yancewicz has taken since he entered the position. “I don’t agree with some of the actions he took, regardless of what title he has, and it is very disappointing," Edsall said in an interview, “how we clean this mess up is one of the issues that we will deal with.”
Comments:
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Why does the title say Critics Question Hiring of Code Officer?
The "Critic" is the same good ol boy Lee Murphy who has a clear history of disregarding the village residents over his own intentions. Cornwall on Hudson needs more people like Joe Gross to clean the mess the prior administration created.
posted by Jonathan Dunaief on 04/14/10 at 10:13 AM
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Thank you for a clear and objective report.
posted by P W on 04/14/10 at 12:15 PM
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I am tired of the "Lee Murphy Bashers"!!! I am proud to call Lee one of my dearest friends. He has helped me and my family in countless ways. He took on the enormous task of Chairing the Master Plan Committee, on which I was proud to serve for three years, in the hopes of saving this Village from catastrophe - such as what is about to happen on the Jerry property in Homeland. Are you all aware that 12 homes are going to be built on this magnificent rilverfront property? This never would have happened if the Master Plan had been adopted. This Administration should have read it, amended it where necessary, and passed it. Lee is a true leader who has volunteered his time, money and efforts in order to make this Village viable and safe. He stands up for what he believes in, and isn't afraid to say it out loud. OK, Jonathan, maybe your beliefs aren't the same, but what gives you the right to insult the man? What is the last committee YOU served on? How many hours have YOU donated to your Village? This site should be used in a constructive manner, and those of you who sit at your computers throwing insults are using it to this Village's detriment. Tony and Lee's issues with the "Building Inspector", or whatever he is, are valid. He tried to shut down Storm King Adventure Tours, a wonderful local business. Why now? I've had a C.O. for 3 years! Is it because I am friends with Lee? Is it because Ray Yannone FOIL'ed 19 local properties? Something smells really bad...
posted by Kris Seiz on 04/14/10 at 12:23 PM
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Kris,
Your post is a breath of Fresh Air. Thank you for all you have done.
posted by P W on 04/14/10 at 12:26 PM
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A very good point is that writing on this site should be used in a constructive manner. I agree that throwing insults at one another is to the Village?s detriment. It does not suit our beautiful Cornwall-on-Hudson. Our village is full of beauty and deserves respect, and honor. By publically throwing insults at each other it is like covering the village with graffiti. Even in the note above, what purpose does it serve to point a finger at another and ask ?What is the last committee YOU served on? How many hours have YOU donated to your village?? It does not seem constructive in an otherwise relevant comment. It just invites more hostility. Our community deserves better. ?Be the Change You Want to See In the World? Gandhi
posted by NIna Swankie on 04/14/10 at 2:51 PM
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Nina - you are absolutely right. I will take the high road from now on. Thank you Gandhi!
posted by Kris Seiz on 04/14/10 at 3:10 PM
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Thanks Kris for highlighting the point that it should not matter what side of the table you sit on at the town meetings for your voice to be heard and to count in public decisions. OR:
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."
posted by Jonathan Dunaief on 04/14/10 at 8:07 PM
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Proposed 28th Amendment? http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/28thamendment.asp
posted by Wynn Gold on 04/15/10 at 9:01 AM
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Some people are lazy. Some are intentionally misleading. Others are just not too bright.
Isn't research the primary reason that former VP invented the internet?<g>
posted by Wynn Gold on 04/15/10 at 11:16 AM
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