REPORT: Rye Golf Club Manager Stole from All of Us; a “Madoff Moment”
We want to buy the screenplay rights because you simply cannot make this stuff up. Rye City let the cat out of the bag Wednesday afternoon, releasing the results of the Rye Golf Club investigation concerning rampant mismanagement and financial malfeasance (read pages 14 to 32).
We'll figure our how to serialize the report, because it reads like a gritty crime novel (but is unfortunately non fiction).
Thirty minutes after the release of the report, Rye Mayor Doug French released a statement saying "What the investigation shows is that at the very outset, an individual was able to manipulate a system that transcended over 6 years and across many, many roles and individuals. It is the City's Madoff moment where wrong-doing went unnoticed, and where there wasn't one break in the chain, but several. While we will pursue all avenues for restitution, we will also work to restructure our enterprise fund models and restore credibility."
Here is the final summary of the report:
"CONCLUSION
Based on these factual findings, the Council has concluded that the former General Manager of the RGC Scott Yandrasevich had a significant and undisclosed conflict of interest with respect to two RGC vendors, RM Staffing and Studio Y, in violation of Section 15.2 of the City of Rye Code of Ethics. The Council has further determined that Mr. Yandrasevich controlled RM Staffing, and that, over a six-year period, he used RM Staffing and its affiliated business Studio Y to steal many hundreds of thousands of dollars from the City of Rye.
To date, the investigation has not uncovered evidence that any current or former City of Rye employee other than Mr. Yandrasevich received improper financial benefits in connection with RGC’s relationship with RM Staffing and Studio Y.
The City Council has referred this matter to the Westchester District Attorney’s Office. The City Council will continue to consider additional appropriate remedial measures, including but not limited to implementing enhanced financial controls and procedures, pursuing civil claims and seeking to recover on the City’s employee theft insurance policy."
I think we need to take a look at the only two that were trying to defend Mr. Pickup at last nights city council meeting for his lack of oversight and his many attempts to protect Mr. Yandrasevich.
1.) Mayor Doug French who was accused with stealing tax money from Rye.
https://rye.dailyvoice.com/news/records-implicate-mayor-french-tax-fraud
2.) Deputy Mayor Jovanovich who was accused of sexual harassment and violating securities laws.
https://www.kroplaw.com/win_hill.html
https://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1992-03-13/business/9203130427_1_preferred-stock-suit-jovanovich
Need we say more?
Hello, my name is ZAHM-BOT.
I too defend Scott Pickup at last night Council meeting. Scott Pickup did nothing wrong. He may have lied but no reason to get alarmed. He was only trying to calm people down. I must defend Scott Pickup.
ZAHM-BOT powering down.
Each transgression must have a scapegoat and each scapegoat requires a witch hunt by individuals to carry out a personal agenda. Raymond J. Tartagleone the witch of Portchester leading the way for the Goats.
Since the report and the saga reveals major theft on the part of Scott Yandrasevich, has he been arrested yet? Rye couldn’t be more accommodating to this thief by allowing him a paid leave, and still another month living rent-free. Better keep a close eye on this guy before he takes off with the Rye taxpayer’s money to some clandestine location. Arrest him already.
Pickup has to be held accountable for this and fired for there to be any public trust left in this town.
Pickup was in charge of overseeing this operation that was red flagged in June of 2010 and Pickup did nothing to address this except to lie and say it was fully vetted and found to be on the up and up.
If RM Staffing was putting in invoices for $40 an hour to pay someone to work at the snack bar for $10 an hour, it is Pickup’s fault and nobody else’s that these invoices went unchecked and were paid in full every single time.
When Councilman Sack tried to look into things in June of 2012, French told him to mind his own business and that he was personally investigating it. Now French should be held personally, politically and maybe even criminally responsible for impeding and delaying this investigation.
I’m sure the City’s insurance carriers will void any claim Rye files given that Pickup ignored the glaring red flags, French impeded the initial investigation and the City of Rye’s attitude that they can do what ever they want because they have insurance.
Whitty,
You are 100% correct about me having an agenda and here it is. To get a Mayor in Rye that will enforce the law and protect the people. I have to take responsibility where it falls. I supported him too and I am sorry for it…. Hopefully when we get rid of this corrupt thief we will not have to go thru this again.
And now you support Joe Sack..intersting
Not ad homimus..read your postings
@ Rye Wit,
shouldn’t it be “RYE DIM WIT”!!!
Why is it that those who want to defend Scott Pickup on here don’t use their true identity….is it because they do not want to join the same ranks of embarrassment as the man they are defending!!!
If you can’t follow the money & facts then I suggest you file a law suit for the pathetic education you received… you truly are a F***ing Dim Wit!!!
Hi Peter and Doug,
Here is the draft letter you requested last night. Just delete references to Groupon and insert City of Rye and then make a few more tweaks and you’re good to go. So please do it, send a copy to all of us, and then just please go, go, go.
https://www.lausdeo10580.com/.a/6a0168e5e944ea970c017ee8cd4675970d-500wi
PEOPLE OF GROUPON, ( https://www.jottit.com/v5wux/ )
After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I’ve decided that I’d like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding – I was fired today. If you’re wondering why… you haven’t been paying attention. From controversial metrics in our S1 to our material weakness to two quarters of missing our own expectations and a stock price that’s hovering around one quarter of our listing price, the events of the last year and a half speak for themselves. As CEO, I am accountable.
You are doing amazing things at Groupon, and you deserve the outside world to give you a second chance. I’m getting in the way of that. A fresh CEO earns you that chance. The board is aligned behind the strategy we’ve shared over the last few months, and I’ve never seen you working together more effectively as a global company – it’s time to give Groupon a relief valve from the public noise.
For those who are concerned about me, please don’t be – I love Groupon, and I’m terribly proud of what we’ve created. I’m OK with having failed at this part of the journey. If Groupon was Battletoads, it would be like I made it all the way to the Terra Tubes without dying on my first ever play through. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to take the company this far with all of you. I’ll now take some time to decompress (FYI I’m looking for a good fat camp to lose my Groupon 40, if anyone has a suggestion), and then maybe I’ll figure out how to channel this experience into something productive.
If there’s one piece of wisdom that this simple pilgrim would like to impart upon you: have the courage to start with the customer. My biggest regrets are the moments that I let a lack of data override my intuition on what’s best for our customers. This leadership change gives you some breathing room to break bad habits and deliver sustainable customer happiness – don’t waste the opportunity!
I will miss you terribly.
Love,
Andrew
jim
sweet talker…voice of reason
tr4y using ad rem
Dear Paperboy Pete Jovanovich:
Last night you called on families to sit down with their kids and talk about what you called a stain on Rye.
You said anyone who would audio tape anyone at City Hall no matter what the reason was a stain on Rye.
Well we sat down with our kids this morning and we came away with some conclusions.
Anyone of our kids finds themselves working for or has contact with a person who is as morally corrupt and ethically challenged as we feel Pickup is ought to always be on their toes.
Anyone of our kids who are asked/ordered to lie for or watch as Pickup lies to the Rye City Council and the public ought to document everything Pickup says and does to protect themselves and the public.
Anyone of our kids who are forced to report any illegal acts by Pickup should be able to trust those in charge of overseeing Pickup.
In your case Mr. Jovanovich our kids, and would think most of Rye, now knows what a dirty scumbag you are who would resort to anything to protect your little piece of warped power that you so crave.
Did Ms. Hill audiotape you prior to suing you for sexual harassment and that’s why you are so sensitive to this?
Wonderful Hill V.
You are a great example of the goats being led by wicked witch of Portchester…..
Some nasty sh*t last night. Joe Sack, Peon Skull-f*** , and Pieshonary all brought up the same sentence in the report. How much more evidence do you need to come to the conclusion that all these losers are Mr. Flotie’s lap- dogs??????????
Jovonovich and French showed they were the adults in the room.
The RGCers whined the whole time about being sh*t on by everyone. I hope no kid I know grows up to be the fools that showed up from the RGC last night. The only thing missing was the violin music for the soundtrack.
Joe Sack should start taking MEDS. His act last night was downright NASTY. What does he have in his backround that Mr. Flotie is holding over his head??? Only time will tell.
I have a simple solution to Rye’s problems. Just make Hen Island put in sewers and I’ll guarantee all the problems and lostdeos.com will disappear. It isn’t a coincidence that all of Rye’s problems/corrupt politicians started at the same time Mr. Flotie’s filed his first lawsuit against Hen Island.
Anyone who thinks otherwiseneeds to immediately remove his head from his ass.
BTW, Bob Zahm was the other adult in the room.
I guess we can know assume that Mr. Flotie is Peon Skull-f**k’s boss. He still hasn’t denied the relationship which means every time you see Peon open his mouth Mr. Flotie is flowing out.
Mr. Flotie still hasn’t revealed the color of the propane tanks that he says are still floating “just beneath the surface” of Milton Harbor since 1992. If he was so concerned about the Milton Harbor users safety, the least he could do is tell us what to look for.
Now, Mr. Flotie says he supported Mayor French during the campaign. That’s not what he said only about a month ago but, when you lie as much as he does you forget what you told who and when. It’s impossible to keep track of all the lies.
How many hours did Chuck Pateman and Mr. Flotie spend in the Rye Builing Dept harassing Vinnie for building Dept records just before his death???? If I was to guess I’d put the number over 1000.
“Now, Mr. Flotie says he supported Mayor French during the campaign. That’s not what he said only about a month ago but, when you lie as much as he does you forget what you told who and when. It’s impossible to keep track of all the lies.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgPPTrlEZbE
I’m writing a longer piece, but the key comment I made at the Council meeting 27 Feb was the need to amend the City Charter so that each City Council person has the same authority as the Mayor to receive / obtain any documentation they request of the City. The power granted by the Charter to the Mayor reads as follows:
G. He shall have the authority at all times to examine the books, papers and accounts of any board, commission, department, office or agency of the city; he may administer oaths to witnesses; and he may issue subpoenas to compel the appearance of witnesses and the production of books, papers and other evidence.
This same authority must be granted to each City Council person individually. Of course, having the authority is not sufficient. It must be exercised; e.g., councilmen must exercise this right to gain a detailed understanding of how the City operates.
Bob – looking forward to your longer piece because this core proposal is a winner. Thus it will not be voted upon until these rascals are thrown out. But we will make that happen.
TEDC-BOT powering down…..
From the “don’t let the door hit you on your way out” department:
RGC NEWS: CHAIRMAN & VICE CHAIR OF RGC STRATEGIC RFP COMMITTEE RESIGN IN WAKE OF CRITICISM
Chairman Dean Neely and Vice Chair Charles Dorn of Mayor French’s recently formed Strategic RFP Committee resigned yesterday.
https://www.lausdeo10580.com/lausdeo10580/2013/02/chairman-vice-chair-of-mayors-strategic-rfp-committee-resignrgc-report-city-mngr-pickup-approved-72-of-74-million-paid-t.html
Ted C,
Is there any way Doug French can follow his handpicked appointed RGC/RFP committee members out the door?
Bob,
I agreed with you 100%. But watch out, they are going to accuse you of being on my payroll. But you are going to have to get on line, I am starting to run out of money.
Speaking of which Ray, where’s MY check? It’s Friday after all….
@ the TWO BIGGEST A**HOLES THAT POST ON THIS SITE….”RYE DIM MIT” & “INVESTIGATE VINNIE’S DEATH”,
It’s a damn shame I can’t prove who you really are because I would personally pay you a visit at your front door(s)!!!
And yes, you may take this any way you damn well please!!!
Mr.Jay Sears,
You are no better of a human being by allowing this disgusting behavior to continue on your site!!!
The report describes Pickup acknowledging he knew that counsel hadn’t reviewed or approved RM Staffing when he stated during the 9/27/12 Council Meeting that RM Staffing had been reviewed and all was above board. Pickup said he was trying to calm everyone down. Now, this is the same person who said we work from an assumption of trust and we have to believe the people who work for us are honest. Mr. Piscionere and Mr. Sculti aptly pointed out the error of Pickup’s logic (checks and balances!). Despite its clearly flawed logic, it’s still hard to stomach the comment. We have a City Manager who encourages us to assume he’s honest while consistently and conveniently lying to us. This isn’t the first time Pickup’s been caught lying with tangible, drastic consequences. It won’t be the last. Who will bear the consequences? BTW, the 9/27/12 meeting cablecast doesn’t seem to be on the ryeny.gov site.
Anne,
The “above board”, “it’s all legal”, and “the city attorney vetted it” comments were made by Pickup at a Sept 27, 2012 Golf Commission Meeting- not a Council Meeting. RyeTV did not record the meeting (for real this time) but unfortunately for Pickup, Leon and I covered it with a few cameras. Personally, I find Pickup’s facial expressions more telling than the words he spoke:
https://www.lausdeo10580.com/lausdeo10580/2012/10/rye-golf-club-general-manager-admits-working-for-staffing-company.html
New – Rye Golf Scandal – The Numbers Guy:
Mirror, mirror on the wall, which incurious city paymaster topped them all?
“SUGAR DADDY.”
https://www.lausdeo10580.com/lausdeo10580/2013/03/investigators-city-manager-pickup-approved-70-of-74-million-that-went-to-rm-staffing.html
Thanks Andrew. This was fascinating to watch. You’re right. The facial expressions are telling. While I was looking through the meeting cablecasts for this particular Pickup lie, I came across a Finance 101 lesson from someone whose resume should be shredded! June 13, 2012 City Council meeting, Dickie Filippi – advocating to accept Lester’s $3.6MM bid for the old CVS – gives us a lesson in collateralization, saying the days of commercial real estate collaterlization are over! Prices aren’t coming back! “I’m in the business.” If buyers can’t get the financing, there won’t be frothy bids. Ok, Dickie Filippi, less than 9 months later we have a bid that’s 55% higher than the one you wanted to go with, based of course on your financial knowledge and experience. Where’s the shredder?
Anne,
You gotta luv it…I have never in my life witnessed so much double standard BS, absolutely incredible.
Here we probably have the worse City Manager in municipality history and Filippi wants to shred everyones “resume” but Pickup’s???
YOU JUST CAN’T MAKE THIS S*** UP!!!
https://rye.patch.com/articles/letter-to-the-editor-assumption-of-trust
I had the pleasure of knowing and dealing with Vincenzo Tamburro. He was a great example of how our city employees should be. Therefore, I’m surprised at what is posted by “investigate Vinnie’s Death.” If Peter and Doug are the adults, god help us all. The assumption that Mr. Floatie and Hen Island are why we have all the problems we do, is narrow minded. I think it time to pull your own head out! They both sat on the audit from 2009. Doug said he investigated the consulting relationship in June 2012 and found no problem with it. Peter thinks everyone is to blame, not those who had the information and authority to exercise change. The RGC members have every right to be upset.
It’s a shame that postings are associated with a great person and fine example of a civil service employee.
Focus on facts! Not politics and personalities.