Mayor French on Board of Ethics Complaint; Plans to Return STAR Exemption for Second Home
Rye Mayor Doug French released a letter to residents today in the imbroglio he has found himself in regards to proper permitting and STAR Exemptions on a second home he owns in Rye.
Here is the letter along with the supporting documents. What do you think? Leave a comment below.
DOUGLAS FRENCH, MAYOR
January 19, 2012
Dear Resident — Now that the Board of Ethics has put forth their opinion on the complaint brought forward by Ray Tartaglione of Purchase against the Mayor and officials of the City of Rye, I would like to update you on the status of the complaint.
Board of Ethics Review
In the minutes of the Board, they found as per the City Code as follows:
“In executive session, the board reviewed the Code of Ethics and addressed two issues.
- Regarding whether board members had conflicts of interest as described by the Code, each member determined he/she had no conflicts that would preclude rendering an impartial decision.
- Regarding whether the board is empowered to render an advisory opinion in response to the complaint, the board determined the complainant does not have standing, because the request/complaint did not come from an officer or employee of the City, and the board is empowered to render advisory opinions, prospectively, to help employees and officers comply with the Code of Ethics.”
Having rendered such a decision, which is consistent with the process outlined by our City code, the question still remains as to whether or not as alleged there was unethical behavior by City officials or employees with respect to a building violation and a misapplied exemption of the STAR tax exemption on property owned by the Mayor. As a result, I am calling on the Deputy Mayor, Peter Jovanovich, as a City official and as per our code, to refer the matter back to the Board of Ethics to review as to whether or not there was any unethical behavior by City officials or employees with the two matters in question.
Building Violation
In July of this year, a complaint was phoned into the Building Department about a potential finished attic on the third floor on a single-family rental home I own. Tragically, the City Building Inspector passed away in August and the Department transitioned over to a new Building Inspector by November 1st. Later that month I was notified in writing of the complaint and a violation was issued on December 23rd that outlined two violations:
- A two-family home that was converted back to a single-family home
- A 3rd-floor bedroom/finished storage
The attached property listing is how we bought the property in 1992 – as a single-family use. As many homeowners face, based on the violation, we are filing the appropriate permits with the Building Department to legalize the work that was done by the previous owner for re-inspection by the department. Based on calls to her on behalf of the complainant, the previous owner contacted us to say the work was done when her daughter was born in the early 1970s – 40 years ago. Although building codes and procedures have changed since that time, we are completing the legalization process so the changes comply with current requirements.
STAR Exemption
In 1998 the STAR program was instituted and we applied for the exemption as our primary residence at 13 Richard Place (attached document) with the City Assessor’s office. When we moved to a new home in 2000, we filed a Star application with our new primary residence (attached document). In 2011, New York State changed the exemption eligibility for STAR based on income and required municipalities to confirm eligibility of homeowners based on the new amendments. As part of that process we were notified by the Assessor’s office along with many other residents to file an income verification form to verify our eligibility for receiving the STAR exemption on our primary residence (attached document). As a result of this process, it was determined that the STAR exemption had been misapplied to 13 Richard Place after it was no longer our primary residence. The law allows for a look-back period of only three years, however, our position is that what is owed is owed. We have applied with the County Tax Director’s office to determine the amount due with penalties and will make full restitution once the amount is determined.
What Mayor French went through is pretty common and happens often in regards to the building permit situation. Easily can be corrected and really trying to tarnish him is not going to happen. As for the Star program i don’t think he was trying to cheat the system. I don’t agree with everything the mayor does. but Ray Tartaglione is starting to get on many peoples nerves in Rye and this non Rye resident needs to go away. You lost in regards to Hen Island and the DEP and Health Dept found nothing wrong with whats going on out there. Leave it alone already. A child looking for attention.
Need Change-
Pretty common? How common is a perpetual series of lies from an elected official in Rye?
How do you explain the 20 televised statements in which the Mayor DENIED owning an illegal home, DENIED his house was in violation of the building code, DENIED he had received a violation in July 2011, LIED and said that his 13 Richard Place house was properly improved, and LIED by saying all allegations were false. All you need to do is watch the Rye City Council Meetings.
Rye City Building Department records reveal that on On December 23rd, 2011, the Mayor WAS issued a violation for “building without a permit- change of occupancy from two family to one family and finished attic space”. In fact, the wording on the violation notice read, “further action by this department will not be necessary and that you will cooperate in correcting this situation.”
More important than his building violations and duplicate STAR exemption, Doug French owes the citizens of Rye a televised apology from the podium of the Council Chambers before stepping down as Mayor. He has no right to sit in the Mayor’s seat on the dais at Rye City Hall.
What Mayor French went through is distinctly uncommon and rarely happens anywhere. A secretly converted older two family house was being rented and marketed as a one family house with its modifications un-permitted, un-inspected and un-taxed since – 1949? Easily can be corrected? It doesn’t have enough land to meet the lawful setback codes in the neighborhood it’s built in. Tarnish Mr. French? What example does this behavior set for hardworking and apparently foolishly honest Rye homeowners? And what did Mr. French and his City Manager and City Attorney say and do when he was “outed?” You know what they did ‘Need Change’ – you’ve seen the documentary – they lied and lied and lied and told Tartaglione he was making accusations he couldn’t back up. (SEE VIDEO BELOW to refresh your memory).
As for the STAR program, Mr. French ignored 10 years of city tax statements in his name. In most places in NYS, “mistakenly” taking a STAR exemption on a rental property is a felony – even for elected officials I’m told. I don’t agree with everything the Mayor does either – but Ray Tartaglione is hardly alone in his rejection of apparent malfeasance in this municipal chief executive. Ray didn’t “lose” anything in the clean-up of Hen Island; he’s progressing in cleaning up your unsafe, filthy mess out there. Our current self entitled political class crony “club” is starting to get on many peoples nerves in Rye. Mr. French lost his gambit to cover up yet another apparent Rye crime. The violations were real all along – not phantom phone call complaints like the 3 top city officials repeatedly publicly claimed. Mr. French need’s to resign – along with all the other apparent liars – so we can reestablish trust and confidence and redirect full attention to the city’s business.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=nCRJfm3CJv8
Need Change,
You are right we all wanted Change, we got it but in the wrong direction. The French /Pickup administration will be long remembered as “Rye’s most embarrassing.”
This is really not about me but it is about the Mayor. A Mayor that lied, cheated and stole money from residents that he was empowered to protect.
Thank you for bring this back full circle to Hen Island and let me address your quoted comment below.
“found nothing wrong with whats going on out there”
Maybe you can explain to me what the Westchester County Environmental Enforcement Unit meant when they stated;
“This Director and the other said Officials decided to inspect the North area at this inspection and start from House #1 and finish at House #15.
Inspection showed most homes had some sort of septic system that was not an approved system and most likely installed by the home owner. As a factual example, House #1 had a cement block above ground tank with a lid and a hose running to it. This was, a homemade septic system which was not an approved system according to the health department and City of Rye Building Department. House #3 had a rock pile sess pool type of septic system, as this is not an approved system. house #2 had an open water tank which was apparently used for bathing and flushing the toilet.
Further inspection showed mostly all the houses had water tanks, some were wood, some were plastic, some were open and some were sealed. It is believed there is no filtering process that this water goes through before it is used. The water is collected from, the gutter system when it rains and is piped directly into said drums, containers, etc. Then used when the house is occupied. At the time of our inspection it is clear this system does not meet the water quality standards for potable and safe drinking water.
You may view the complete report below.
https://healtheharbor.com/correspondence/WestCounty_FOIL.pdf
Need Change,
Looks like you have been “short changed” in the common sense department!
“Easily can be corrected and really trying to tarnish him is not going to happen. As for the Star program i don’t think he was trying to cheat the system”.
Have you fallen and hit your head?
You can not be serious???
Do you really think this guy needs our help in “tarnishing his reputation”???
Looks like he is doing a bangup jump all by himself!!!
As for Ray, he only gets on the nerves of those who do not know him and those who don’t support the truth!
You have obviously never been to Hen Island or you are just another one of his “Hen Pecked Enemies” traveling down Frenh Fried’s path….GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!!!
Dear Mayor French,
I have received your recent status report referencing your now expanding building and tax imbroglio. I do have a few comments. First when you refer to me it appears that you name me as a “Purchase resident” as if to diminish my standing to bring up issues of community concern in Rye. In fact, although I am a Purchase resident, I am also a Rye part time resident and a full time Rye City taxpayer. Thus, in future public references, if you might please refer to me as “Ray Tartaglione, a Rye City taxpayer” it would be appreciated. Please keep in mind that I do not officially refer to you as a tax cheating public official who uses his elected status to secretly flout the laws of New York.
Regarding your request to have Deputy Mayor Jovanovich refer this entire matter back to the Ethics Committee for a “do over,” the action you requested will only be effective and credible if a new ethics committee is established as per my previous letter sent to the City Council dated January 10. (Attached) Councilwoman Parker seems to agree with my objection recorded in the video record of the public portion of the previous Ethics Committee Meeting regarding Mr. Pickup submitting the complaint to the Committee as well as the conflict of interest issues. Councilwoman Parker was quoted in The Journal News Lo Hud Blog today as follows:
“I believe the questions regarding Mayor French’s property at 13 Richard Place brought forward by Mr. Tartaglione bring to light a current flaw to our existing Ethics Board—it is too small. Currently, there are three appointed positions, in addition to the City Manager, Corporation Counsel, and the Mayor. Given the fact that, in this case, the Mayor, Corporation Counsel, and City Manager had to recuse themselves the question was left to the other three members. I disagree with two of their positions:
1) The initial referral to the Ethics Board was made by a city official – Scott Pickup, City Manager. I don’t understand why this wasn’t acknowledged.
2) Two of the three remaining members had contributed money to Mayor French’s campaign, and had been part of his effort to get elected. That sounds like a conflict to me.”
I also understand that The Rye Sound Shore Review this week indicates that Judge and former Rye City Mayor John Carey and Councilman Joe Sack have recently made clear their positions supporting a wholly independent Ethics Committee Investigation. You and your few friends may personally consider both of these Members of the NYS Bar to be nothing more than meddlesome fools, but many in Rye do not share that view. Mr. Sack, specifically, did pretty well in the recent November election – don’t you think?
Your new public statements on your now admitted illegal building issues seem to be filled with fresh technical inaccuracies. And using the death of former Building Inspector Vinnie Tamburro as a partial excuse for your lapses and stonewalling is shameful and foolish based on the dates and activities involved. I question, in fact, that only two fresh violations were issued to you on December 23rd and thus will query the Building Department and the Building Inspector about the apparent secret un-permitted, un-inspected conversion of the 13 Richard Place’s original oil heating system to a natural gas heating system during your personal ownership of the property. A comparison of the 1992 MLS sales flyer you supplied to the public to your 2011 MLS Offering flyer (attached) will point out stark inconsistencies.
Next week I will request that Rye Inspector Maureen Eckman investigate the disposal, removal and remediation of the oil storage tank at the same location. I have today notified the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation about this matter and have asked that they investigate the removal of, and environmental remediation of, the previous heating oil tank at 13 Richard Place.
So you know, I’m personally experienced with lawful construction and I have encountered older oil tanks that have leaked. Rather than replacing old leaking tanks with new ones, some cost adverse homeowners illegally abandon the old oil tanks without permits. Any conversion and disposal should of course take place under the watchful eyes of a local building department so that they can officially confirm that the homeowner applies for and receives the proper permits and then disposes of the old oil tank according to the law. These same related laws also require testing to confirm no oil leakage has occurred at the tank site. According to a FOIL request supplied to me by the building department about your 13 Richard Place home, no permits were ever issued for the removal and /or abandonment of the aforementioned tank as well as the installation of the new natural gas boiler.
In this same “others were responsible” vein, your 2011 MLS listing under amenities states that the 13 Richard Place electrical system was “upgraded” in 2008 and the homes heating system and roof were replaced between 1995 and 1997. Is it possibly your contention that you – or your highly regarded sales agent Mrs. Flood – made false statements in this MLS listing? Or did you just make a new false statement when you stated that the work was done by the previous owners? Or was the home possibly owned by someone else during those intervening years? And lastly on this issue – now that you’re on the record that you were “unaware” that the home was listed in the Rye City records as a two family home, could you provide the public and me with a copy of the lender mandated 3rd party prepared title search report from your 1992 purchase closing? That could clear this part of the matter up once and for all.
Lastly, addressing the period you have now admitted to having taken a 2nd and illegal STAR Tax exemption for 13 Richard Place when it was in fact a rental property: could you tell the public why you would notify the City Assessor IN WRITING when it was time to get an exemption on your new 46 Meadow Place home but only claim to have made a PHONE CALL to advise the city that you should no longer receive the exemption on 13 Richard Place? Wouldn’t it be logical to make this notice for both properties simultaneously and in writing? The NYS STAR exemption application that you have signed clearly states –
“I (we) certify that all of the above information is correct and that the property listed above is owned by and is (my) our primary residence. I (we) understand it is my (our) obligation to notify the assessor if I (we) relocate to another primary residence and to provide any documentation of eligibility that is requested.”?
Additionally when you use the word “misapplied” in your new statement don’t you think it leads the public to believe that Ms. Whitty’s official actions and/or inactions were the reason that the improper STAR exemption was not removed. Is this your position?
And could you advise the public as to exactly when you applied to The Westchester County Tax Director’s office to have their department make a determination about the amount due by you and the penalties thereon? Was it in April of 2011 when the tax assessor notified you that the 13 Richard Place exemption in effect for the 10 previous tax years was being removed? Or was this referral to Westchester County for a recalculation more recent – like after I exposed this matter to the public and after I had suffered your denunciations and gavel banging from the mayoral chair on the dais at Rye City Hall?
In closing I’d just like the public to see what happens to residents of NY State when they attempt to claim errors, omissions or mistakes in receiving STAR Tax exemptions for rental properties (Attached). I’m still researching to see if any cases exist where a municipality’s highest elected official is found to be involved in one of these situations. If not, may I be the first to offer my condolences on your having added this, along with all the community embarrassment you have brought, to the list of firsts that your administration has brought to Rye.
You need to resign immediately Mr. Mayor. The reestablishment of trust in Rye’s governmental body requires it. And City Manager Pickup and City Attorney Wilson need to leave office along with you.
Very truly yours,
Raymond J. Tartaglione
Latest article in the Yonkers Tribune covering Mayor French’s illegal activities.
https://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/yonkers_tribune/2012/01/rye-ethics-board-see-no-conflict-of-interestdismiss-complaint-against-mayor-french-by-leon-sculti-.html#more
As anyone experienced in board service and board leadership knows, once a Chief Executive is more than simply implicated in wrongdoing involving that executive’s senior staff, board factions will divide on direction and process. Those closest to the Chief Executive will naturally and honorably rise to his or her defense and those more independent or skeptical of the Chief Executive will see this as increasingly problematic for governance and possibly a confirmation of their prior unease about something they couldn’t clearly define.
Much of this process I have found closely follows what’s commonly known as the Kübler-Ross Model, or, The Five Stages of Grief. Here although no one died, the board tends to follow these stages none the less. Read more about this here –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model
Yet while a board passes through, and processes their “grief,” one of the key things members individually need to keep an eagle eye out for is actual violations of law. Be they SEC Regulations, NYSE Regulations, Interstate Commerce Regulations or whatever, once you’re into a law or regulatory violation zone everything takes on a new complexion and urgency. Experienced fiduciaries recognize these implications (and the implications to themselves) and proactively reach well beyond the advice of insiders and thus are seen to act decisively, objectively and without delay.
So recall if you will this following description of what happened when the activities that this board has now been presented with happened in a place not far from Rye – “17 people have been arrested, charged with felony filing of a false instrument and defrauding the state.” Read that article here –
https://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/101206STARScam.html
So, I just looked up the following “public board resource,” someone already being paid for by the taxpayers of Westchester County, and someone who ultimately no matter what anyone does will have a say in the proceedings. A timely referral, by a senior elected official not implicated in possible wrongdoing, would be prudent in my opinion.
https://www.westchesterda.net/contact-us/complaint-form
A quote from the new Rye Web-blog Lausdeo 10580
https://lausdeo10580.typepad.com
What Did The Mayor Know and When Did He Know It?
Mayor French recently was quoted in a LoHud article as saying, “There was nothing intentional done here. The mayor should be held to a higher standard, and I abide by that.”
We spoke with Homerica Mortgage Corp, the company that processed Mr. French’s loan for $40,736.69 in 1998. They confirmed that banks did require title reports in the 1990’s, and that one would have been run in conjunction with the mayor’s loan in 1998. They could not say what the findings of that specific title report was however, because unlike mortgage recordings, those are not public documents.
Therefore, we have called on Mayor French to release all four of his title reports for 13 Richard Place so the public can learn what he knew about the illegality of his investment property, and when he knew it.
If the mayor’s title reports give a legal description of the house as a two-family home–which they should because it is–that would prove Mayor French knew the house was a legal two-family all along. If the reports describe the house as a legal single-family home–which it is not–that could prove something even worse, like possible mortgage fraud? Four appraisals. Four title reports. Four loans. Zero records. How?
CODE OF ETHICS – CONFLICTS OF INTEREST – AND BEYOND – PART 1
I do not agree that an automatic whitewash might be in the cards tomorrow for the issues surfaced about the Mayor and the senior city staff in the December 2011 investigative documentary “13 Richard Place.” The code as “Adopted by the Council of the City of Rye 2-16-1966 as L.L. No. 1-1966. Amendments noted where applicable” has sufficient breadth and specificity that any honest and frank interpretation of the issues first raised by the film – and then the documented revelations that came thereafter provide sufficient basis for conclusions of impropriety or non-impropriety to be drawn.
And hopefully the board is now sufficiently enlightened to avoid taking any “advisor” or “attorney” with them behind a closed door who has any connection with any local Republican Party crony law firm or any other “Spawn of Plunkett” type duplicity we all watched back when The FPM Group (https://www.fpm-group.com/index.html ) was delivered up to the taxpayers as “independent scientific advisors” ready, willing and able to objectively opine on who destroyed ancient wetlands on Milton Point. See video here –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-dF7HOFspA
CODE OF ETHICS – CONFLICTS OF INTEREST – AND BEYOND – PART 2
And finally, I’m confident that the board is not unaware of the potential penal aspects of what we all witness going on in the film – and the further evidence we now see being accumulated about inconsistencies in the Mayor and Senior Staff public statements and writings. These have consequences outside of the scope of the board’s undertaking and, in my opinion, reflect the need for the involvement of county law enforcement professionals. Those who’ve worked on Schubert’s Pond will see a few familiar code sections are here –
§ 195.00 Official misconduct.
A public servant is guilty of official misconduct when, with intent to obtain a benefit or deprive another person of a benefit: 1.He commits an act relating to his office but constituting an unauthorized exercise of his official functions, knowing that such act is unauthorized; or 2. He knowingly refrains from performing a duty which is imposed upon him by law or is clearly inherent in the nature of his office.
Official misconduct is a class A misdemeanor.
§ 195.05 Obstructing governmental administration in the second degree.
A person is guilty of obstructing governmental administration when he intentionally obstructs, impairs or perverts the administration of law or other governmental function or prevents or attempts to prevent a public servant from performing an official function, by means of intimidation, physical force or interference, or by means of any independently unlawful act, or by means of interfering, whether or not physical force is involved, with radio, telephone, television or other telecommunications systems owned or operated by the state, or a county, city, town, village, fire district or emergency medical service or by means of releasing a dangerous animal under circumstances evincing the actor’s intent that the animal obstruct governmental administration.
Obstructing governmental administration is a class A misdemeanor.
§ 175.25 Tampering with public records in the first degree.
A person is guilty of tampering with public records in the first degree when, knowing that he does not have the authority of anyone entitled to grant it, and with intent to defraud, he knowingly removes, mutilates, destroys, conceals, makes a false entry in or falsely alters any record or other written instrument filed with, deposited in, or otherwise constituting a record of a public office or public servant.
Tampering with public records in the first degree is a class D felony.
Alright you nihilistic nebbishes, you nattering nabobs of negativism…
FROM – “HISTORY OF THE CLUB.”
“In 2009, in response to Rye residents rising disenchantment with both the lack of fiscal discipline and long term vision for the city, a grass roots effort to change city management took hold. This effort consisted of a large number of diverse members in background, gender and age which resulted in electing PRINCIPALED REPUBLICANS as Mayor and a majority of council seats.
The energetic campaign team decided to restore the Club to its original founding principles. With 30 members already signed after its first official meeting on March 16, 2011, the Club is well on its way to its former success as a forum for OPEN DEBATE OF ISSUES, advocating for the principles of Republicanism and ENSURING GOOD GOVERNANCE in the City of Rye.”
https://ryegop.org/aboutus/historyoftheclub.html
https://ryerecord.com/news/ethics-board-offers-no-immediate-answers-to-questions-posed.html
QUESTIONABLE QUESTIONS – FLAWED FRAMING DIVERTS CORE ISSUES
1) Did Mayor French seek or receive preferential treatment by City employees in the GRANTING of STAR exemptions for his properties at 13 Richard Place and 46 Meadow Place?
Answer: “Granting?” “Granting?” What “Granting? The Mayor “certified” by signature that both of his homes qualified as his principal residence and received STAR exemptions on both for 10 years. The New York State District Attorney’s office in Suffolk County considers this activity a felony.
Follow-up Question: And what did the City Assessor and the Mayor do when they “discovered” this “error” in early April of 2011?
Answer: The assessor removed one of the Mayor’s homes from the STAR exemption rolls.
Follow-up Question: What did the City Assessor and the Mayor do about the previous 10 years of STAR benefits worth over $10,000 that the Mayor had inappropriately pocketed?
Answer: The City Assessor apparently did nothing – and the Mayor – apparently did nothing.
Follow-up Question: Who aside from the City Assessor and the Mayor knew about this “error,” the magnitude of the amount owed, and the fact that apparently no arrangements were made or were going to be made between them or other city employees to have the Mayor repay the amounts due the government?
Answer: Who knew, outside of the City Assessor and the Mayor, is unknown.
Follow-up Question: How many months passed before this secret benefit the Mayor had obtained was exposed?
Answer: 8 Months passed until Heal the Harbor publicized the matter using public records. Then a slew of contradictory explanations were issued including the assertion by the City Assessor that other Rye taxpayers had also been discovered with the same dual STAR exemption issue. (When a FOIL request asked the City Assessor to disclose who else in Rye had a double STAR exemption – the Assessor “revised” her statement and was forced to confirm that no other Rye taxpayers had recently been discovered “double dipping” – only the Mayor.)
https://ryerecord.com/news/ethics-board-offers-no-immediate-answers-to-questions-posed.html
QUESTIONABLE QUESTIONS – FLAWED FRAMING DIVERTS CORE ISSUES
2) Did Mayor French seek or receive preferential treatment from City employees in the manner the City and its Building Department handled A COMPLAINT REGARDING A POTENTIAL VIOLATION of the building code at 13 Richard Place?
Answer: A legal numbered ‘violation” was recorded and issued to the Mayor by the Rye City Building department on July 1, 2011. There is no evidence of any “complaint” – and there is nothing “potential” about this matter – the violation was issued on July 1, 2011. Whoever farmed the question here using the words “complaint” and “potential” is parroting the language of the denunciations hurled at Mr. Tartaglione from the city council bench about this not being an actual violation but a “phone call” or a “phone call complaint.” Any viewer of the independent investigatory documentary entitled “13 Richard Place” knows all about this unseemly multi-meeting charade by the Mayor, the City Manager, the City Attorney and various city council members.
Follow-up Questions: How did the violation issued on July 1, 2011 actually come about? Who brought 13 Richard Place to Building Department attention? Who certified the matter as a violation – and why? Where is a copy of the standard Building Department letter to Mayor French alerting him to the violation? What city employees were involved in this matter and when?
SUPER BOWL HALF TIME FLASH:
Rye City Manager, RyeTV Secretly Record Fireman’s Meeting–Lie to Council Members & Public; Withhold Video. Laus Deo –
https://lausdeo10580.typepad.com/
Okay, Ted, I’ll bite. What’s the basis for your assertion that the fireman’s meetin was taped? Do you have a copy secreted away somewhere but you can’t share it because it was illegally obtained?
qDon’t know specifics Bob because it’s not my investigatory finding – see https://lausdeo10580.typepad.com/ for details and you’ll be as informed as anyone except the apparently “guilty” and the local investigator(s) at this point.
One must be careful and legally correct in handling “stolen” or otherwise “mishandled” public documents Bob. As I’ve written before, “tampering with public records in the first degree is a class D felony” and “obstructing governmental administration is a class A misdemeanor.”
Surly no one would want to end up like that other Bob, which would be Bob Schubert, confined to his bed, dying with a Rye City restraining order still hanging over him and his wife making repeated calls to the city manager to lift it because the doctors said he would never walk again. What do you think this city manager did about those phone call pleas Bob?
BTW check back here for my upcoming announcement after noon today. It will definitely be worth it if you own a single family home in Rye City!
Ted,
Considering that Mr. Pickup has the absence of a heart as Jim Amico suggests he does I would think Bob died with what he was charged with and zero return calls to Mrs. Schubert???
Problem Solver Filippi Says ‘Nobody Cares’
Councilman Richard Filippi, who a few weeks earlier told fellow Rye City council members to write a personal check to the city to pay for any investigations they wanted, perhaps summed up the ‘Change for Rye’ GOP position best by emphatically declaring “nobody really cares” [about corruption].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PElKxshhru w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PElKxshhruw
Dear Mayor French,
Today I attended my 4th Rye Board of Ethics meeting convened at your request, this one specifically referencing what is now known locally as the Dapolite Complaint. Mr. Dapolite asked the Rye City Council for a Council led investigation of his direct superiors who had directed him to mislead the public. But somehow your “Un-Fabulous Four” council majority that presently controls through a single seat (that being the seat that you personally occupy) – continues to protect you and your directives. Your Un-Fabulous Four tactically insists on having someone else conduct the dirty work of public damage control, like when senior city staff get caught lying over and over again. So you’ve invented a process funnel to a now reduced 3 person panel that lacks the authority to investigate, lacks the power to take testimony under oath, lacks the power to marshal all the facts and operates fully outside the scope of its city charter authority. Many now refer to it simply as “The Whitewash Crew.”
As I sat in the room observing all these people in attendance a thought occurred to me that I’d like to share. It’s a thought founded out of a concern for the good names of the sitting members of this so called “Ethics Committee,” Mr. Dapolite, Rye City Manager Pickup, Rye TV Access Coordinator Livetsky and anyone else that is or will soon be roped into this or the previous managerial malfeasance mess’s that you have personally created here in Rye.
I thought of how all of the people who were in this room were there solely because of your actions and inaction’s as Mayor of the City of Rye. I thought of how all of the people who were in this room were there solely because of your self centered desire to protect yourself regardless of the consequences to others and I thought about all the people that were involved or will soon be involved solely because of your inability to govern Rye honestly.
Mr. Dapolite was attending this Ethics meeting to ostensibly discuss his written complaint. That complaint accused a fellow coworker and her supervisor of multiple inappropriate and illegal actions that were undertaken because you didn’t want certain public meetings televised to the public. Mrs. Matthews, Ex-Mayor Dunn and Judge Alfano were in the room to “evaluate” the words and actions of two senior Rye City employees that apparently had a very good relationship with Mr. Dapolite for years prior to your order that the public be lied to. Mrs. Matthews, Ex-Mayor Dunn and Judge Alfano were back in this awkward room with me for the 4th time in as many months solely because of your inconsiderate wishes.
That thought also brought me memories of the previous Ethics Board meeting where Ms. Eckman (Building Inspector) and Ms.Whitty (Tax Assessor) were in attendance. At that meeting, as in this one, you took respected members of the Rye community and asked them to open their own reputations to question simply to protect one person – you. What you refuse to recognize (and some here are still afraid to say) is that you are the one that has created the stain on this community because of your illegal actions, your selfish ego and your refusal to take responsibility for your inability to govern this City within the boundaries of integrity. So rather than simply stepping down from the Council, you continue to require multiple City employees to commit crimes and jeopardize their lifelong careers to protect you. Politicians like you successfully ruin the reputations of many good and decent people. I know shame is a concept you’re unfamiliar with – perhaps others will soon advise you of its parameters.
Looks like our beloved Mayor French is in more hot water.
https://www.lausdeo10580.com/lausdeo10580/2012/06/rye-2010-present-property-owners-variance-applications.html
https://www.lohud.com/article/20130228/NEWS/302280054/State-STAR-abuse-costs-state-13M-tax-exemptions-?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s
https://www.flickr.com/photos/85899714@N06/8526263143/in/photostream
Jack A. (Mr. Floatie’s ass-istant)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUDT-VsHDN4&NR=1
@JackA, thanks for making my day with that photo of the Pope and his message to our wonderful Mayor. Only problem I see here is that Mayor French should be impeached, not given the opportunity to resign. I think the people of Rye have certainly dealt with enough of his arrogant and incompetent administration.