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General News: Ethics Charges Filed Against Mayor & Trustee
July 30, 2010
With a vacancy on the Cornwall-on-Hudson Ethics Board waiting to be filled, a new set of complaints may complicate the process.
Trustee Vatter Asks for an Ethics Board Investigation
On Wednesday, village trustee Douglas Vatter asked the ethics board to investigate whether mayor Joseph Gross helped a friend get a building permit ahead of other people on a waiting list, which if proven to be true, could violate the ethics law.
Both Vatter and his fellow trustee Mark Edsall have been named in a complaint filed with the Ethics Board by Andrew Argenio, a member of the planning board and an ally of mayor Gross. In that complaint, Argenio alleges that Vatter’s status as a tenant in a building owned by the contractor who built the DPW building should have been reported under the ethics law.
Four of the Five Board Members Face Charges
In a separate complaint filed this week, Vatter says that since the Ethics Board has not dismissed Argenio’s challenge to his role as a village trustee in decisions about the Storm King Fire Engine Company, he is asking the Ethics Board to look into similar questions about trustee Barbara Gosda’s role. Vatter , who is the president of the Storm King Fire Department, noted that Gosda’s husband, Robert, who passed away in June, was a 50-year member of the fire company.
Earlier this month, the mayor questioned whether Edsall and Vatter could be allowed to vote on an appointment to the Ethics Board since that board was investigating complaints against them. Now four of the five members of the village board of trustees are facing allegations of ethics violations. If all four are advised to stay out of the appointment of a new Ethics Board member, only one will remain to make the decision – the newest member of the board, James Kane.
Mayor Seeks Appointment Power
Meanwhile, the mayor is also expecting an opinion from village attorney Joseph McKay regarding his authority as mayor to appoint a member of the Ethics Board. A third seat on the board has been empty since May and two people, Jan Smith and Kristen Doyle, have expressed interest in the appointment. Until a third member takes a seat, no business is being conducted on any of the ethics complaints.
Neither mayor Gross nor trustee Gosda have responded yet to inquiries regarding the complaints lodged against them.
Comments:
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Ally of mayor Gross? I am an ally of the village.I dont think that people of the village should pay to repair a new building while people who are voting on the matter have conflict of intrest.
posted by Andrew Argenio on 07/30/10 at 12:02 PM
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Local Government Handbook
State of NY Dept. of State
>>>In addition to his/her executive duties, the mayor
presides over all meetings of the board of trustees and
may vote on all questions coming before that body. The
mayor must vote to break a tie.<<<
>>>Subject to the
approval of the board of trustees, the mayor appoints all
department and non-elected officers and employees.<<<
If you reference Pg 71 Table 12 you will see C-O-H's mayor is NOT a Village whose mayor is Administrator/Manager
posted by P W on 07/30/10 at 4:42 PM
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Not in the case of a resignation before the term expires . Look it up.
posted by Andrew Argenio on 07/30/10 at 7:56 PM
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I'm confused:
First, is this the same Doug Vatter who voted to have the building inspector work 5 minutes a week?
Is he really a tenant in the building owned by Burns and Whalen, the contractor who built the DPW building? What is his relationship with them?
Did Doug really not recuse himself when voting on fire department issues while holding a position of responsibility there? If so, has he explained why he does not consider this a conflict of interest?
Now, a month after Bob Gosda's death, he attacks Barbara because Bob has given 50 years service to Storm King Fire Department. Personally, I consider this particular attack not only tacky, but cruel. For shame.
posted by Emily Thomas on 07/31/10 at 8:18 AM
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I would just like to point out that this "report" exposes the bias of this publication when it refers to Andrew Argenio as "an ally of mayor Gross".
This is clearly intended to besmirch both Argenio and Mayor Gross, as an insinuation that there is something nefarious going on.
Every person who cares about the Village should be considered an ally of its mayor - we are all wanting the best for the Village, after all.
This publication, in it's "reporting" suggests that there is an unprincipled relationship between Argenio and Mayor Gross.
This is not reporting - this is smearing and should be recognized as such.
posted by Catherine Paull on 08/03/10 at 8:15 AM
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Ms Paull,
First you claim
>>>the bias of this publication when it refers to Andrew Argenio as "an ally of mayor Gross"
Secondly you say
>>>every person who cares about the Village should be considered an ally of its mayor<<<<
You defeat any implication you make by your own words.
Pat Welch
posted by P W on 08/03/10 at 3:49 PM
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