That's My Story, I'm Sticking To It!

Politics for all too long has been concerned with 'right or left' instead of 'right or wrong' - Richard Armour, American poet and writer.

Colin Quinn is a stand-up comedian best known for his five years in the cast of Saturday Night Live.  Quinn would comment on the highly publicized 'media circuses' such as the Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal using the catch phrase, "That's my story and I'm sticking to it."

Recently there have been several highly publicized 'patronage circuses' in the County of Rockland and particularly in the Town of Clarkstown to which Quinn's catch phrase now appears more than apt. 

On December 18, 2012 when the County Legislature voted to override Vanderhoef's budget vetoes and retain full employment for all of the County's CSEA employees, P.T. Thomas the Head of the Rockland County CSEA was asked if he knew how many patronage appointments there were in the County. He stated unequivocally that there are 110 such positions costing the County a minimum of $5-7 million per year in salaries. Thomas went on to reproach one patronage appointee saying: 

"Legislator Sparaco should be ashamed of himself - he took a $75,000 patronage job and he is trying to lay off union people!"

That's P.T. Thomas' story and he's sticking to it!

In the 'Our Town' newspaper of December 12, 2012 one legislator droned that "patronage employees are the most protected employees in County government to the extent that suggesting cuts was 'heresy'".  

Not to be outdone in the shedding of 'crocodile tears' other legislators commented that the head of one department is making as much as the County Executive; one deputy commissioner will be collecting three pensions upon retirement; the Head of Tourism for Rockland County is receiving more that $100,000 for what is basically a position overseeing a website; and one patronage person was laid off but was immediately 're-hired 'temporarily' in a higher paid position.

That's the County Legislators' story and they're sticking to it!

Just because County Executive Vanderheof is leaving the County's taxpayers over $100 million in deficit doesn't mean that he might desist from adding to it with a little help to his friends.

I guess Vanderhoef practices the maxim of the former Chairman of the Democratic Party, Paul Adler, who was charged with public corruption after prosecutors said he had enriched himself by almost $375,000 through a series of real estate transactions tainted by fraud, bribery and extortion.  He went to prison having threatened local politicians with the loss of their jobs if they did not cooperate with him on several deals, including the Palisades Center mall. In one secretly tape-recorded conversation, he argued that he had not assumed the party chairmanship to "lose money'' and was quoted as saying:  

"If you can't help your friends, then why get into some of these positions?''  

That's Paul Adler's story and he's stuck with it.

Here is another variation of the 'Adler maxim'. In a Journal News Opinion Piece of May 31, 2013 entitled Vanderhoef Ally's Appointment Not About Saving Money we read:

When a political favor is framed as a “salary savings” it’s easy to figure out how Rockland County could slide into a $100 million-plus deficit in a matter of years.  Sean Mathews, longtime political ally and chief of staff to County Executive Scott Vanderhoef, has been named the county’s real property tax services officer, a job that has been vacant for nearly six months. The position is budgeted to pay $82,300. As chief of staff, Mathews receives a salary of $105,900. Because Mathews is keeping his chief of staff title, he will keep the higher salary — even though many of those duties will be picked up by county Consumer Protection Director Terry Grosselfinger. The latter gains the title of deputy county executive.  

Here’s the clever math: Vanderhoef says this maneuver will save taxpayers $82,300. How's that? The County doesn't have to pay another person to take the tax services officer position; the county just has to pay a longtime political operative more money. It’s arguable whether such job-shifting saves the county money, but it most certainly preserves Mathews’ employment. 

Political payback? Yes. A money saver? No way.That's County Executive Vanderhoef's story and he's sticking to it. 
In the same article the Journal News opined:  Rockland County government hardly invented the gifting of jobs for political pals. It’s an 'art form' in Clarkstown, where various party bosses have found employment. That includes a part-time $75,000-a-year post for Rockland Legislator Frank Sparaco, R-Valley Cottage, when he became power broker in the county’s Independence Party; and the hiring of Bronx GOP Chairman Joseph “Jay” Savino to handle tax certioraris. He was fired after his arrest on federal corruption charges.

That's the Journal News' story and it's sticking to it. 

Cost savings was the 'cover story' when Clarkstown's Town Board decided to fire one political operative who controlled the Independence Party, Marsha Coopersmith, and replace her with patronage employee, Jay Savino.  Before his embarrassing arrest and 'rump court' firing by the Town Board, Savino was an ally of Rockland Republican Party Chairman, Vinny Reda, and County Legislator Frank Sparaco.

It was the latter who provided the evidence that the job Savino was given was and still is a 'patronage position'. In the Rockland County Times Sparaco described the position as a 'no-show' job given as political patronage pay off. That was his view when the job was held by the former Chair of the Independence Party, Marsha Coopersmith but Sparaco was notably silent on speaking in a similar vein about Savino's appointment to the position, presumably because the job had gone to his political ally.

That's County Legislator Sparaco's story and he's sticking to it.

When a group of citizens urged the Town Board not to retain Jay Savino under any circumstances as he was possibly the subject of an ongoing FBI investigation having been caught on FBI wiretaps encouraging others not to assist a Federal judge, Supervisor Gromack said:  

“It was just a decision by the board that we could go to outside counsel to do tax certs. We anticipate we can save $75,000 to $80,000 by going outside.  It was done as a way to save money.” 

When asked how Savino had come to the Town's attention given he had no past track record in conducting tax cert work the Supervisor offered: 

"Maybe it was someone that was proactive from his firm that contacted the Town Attorney's office and said ‘if there was ever an opportunity please give me a call’. And that's probably the way it happened. It was an outreach from him to the Town. My recollection is that this individual some time ago made an inquiry and said if there was ever an opportunity to be interviewed he certainly would like to be considered. Most of the stuff from my point of view that we spoke about Mr. Savino - a lot of that I have never heard of - so I really don't know."

After Mr Savino was arrested by the Feds and summarily fired by the Town Board Supervisor Gromack then declared that the real reason he had hired Savino was that he received a "resume of interest". 

That's Supervisor Gromack's story and he's sticking to it.

Town Attorney Mele when questioned as to who on the Town Board brought Savino's name to her attention given he had no past experience in tax cert work said she honestly couldn't recall who brought his name to her attention.

Concerning how she vetted him and rejected all Rockland County law firms known to have tax cert experience her response was: 

“If it is criticized, so be it” because she "wasn't worried" he had no experience in representing Towns in tax certiorari cases and “she was not concerned about criticism the Town has hired a person with political clout”. 

Given Supervisor Gromack's statement that he had received a resume of interest from Savino, Town Attorney Mele was asked to produce it. Not being able to do so she declared that she had "discarded" the resume when Mr. Savino was hired.

That's Town Attorney Mele's story and she's sticking to it. 

Town Attorney Mele speaking about herself periodically in the third person did one up on Vanderhoef when at the Town Board meeting on June 04, 2013 she handed out increases to a couple of her own allies as a "cost savings" measure following the firing of the now disgraced Bronx GOP Chairman whom she "vetted" and who had himself been hired as a "cost savings" when his predecessor was fired being no longer able to supply the Independence Party line to any of the incumbents.  

Here is what the Town Attorney said .....

As everyone on the Board and many in the audience are aware the Town attorney did some work with the law offices of Mr. Savino who had been handling approximately 800 tax cert matters for the Town at an annual cost of $88,740.  In a continuing effort to reduce costs I was asked to examine the options for handling these matters going forward including the retention of outside counsel, hiring additional staff or handling the matters in-house. 

After some review I have recommended that the matters be handled in-house by assigning the additional responsibilities to existing Deputy Town Attorneys staff in return for additional compensation. The Town Attorney has recommended that Paul Schofield should handle the tax cert matters. Mr Schofield is a CPA - he used to serve as a controller for the Town - and that Keith Cornell take over his justice court positions previously handled by Deputy Town Attorney Schofield. So this is reflecting an increase in salary to Mr Schofield of $25,000 and Mr Cornell $20,000. So what was handled previously for $88,740 is now handled at approximately $45,000.

It makes one wonder why the Town went through all of the drama of twice hiring a "person of political clout" about whom the Town Attorney "wasn't worried" only now to claim that the work could have been conducted by shuffling around a couple of underworked deputy town attorneys at $45,000 less than what was paid to he who had the "clout". 

Nevertheless, Schofield's annual salary increases to $125,243 while Cornell's salary will increase to $108,512. Cornell is the son of County Legislator Harriet Cornell.  

That's Town Attorney Mele's latest story and she's sticking to it. 

Cost savings was offered up as one reason why Highways Superintendent, Wayne Ballard spent taxpayers money on his outrageous appointment of County Legislator Sparaco to a customer service job which entails, according to Ballard's assistant, Nancy Willen, "answering of the telephone and the taking of photographs".   

Ballard, as if wandering lost through a dimly lit maze without a flashlight, offered: 

"I did look around considering comparable salaries what the compensation should be and, believe it or not, the $75,000 was fair and equitable to what was happening in the Town of Clarkstown, in the County and in the State ..... I will tell you that $75,OOO per year for 25 hours per week is below the average with only one position being paid less. The median salary for this position is a little more than $100,000 per year for a full time position and 35 hours per week for full time value. In order to compare the two you have to come up with the comp unit value which is the number of hours worked per year and what that value is. 52 weeks per year at 25 hours per week is 1,300 hours worked per year. For the full time position it is 1568 hours per year. Taking into consideration the number of days worked per year, taking away the weekends, the vacation days, the sick days, it comes down to $64 per hour. I'm telling you I have come up with a justifiable value." 

That's Highways Superintendent Ballard's story and he's sticking to it. 

On June 05, 2013 the Journal News reported that the Town of Clarkstown appears to have lost all documents relating to the hiring of Jay Savino.

Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack and Town Attorney Amy Mele ignored questions from a citizen’s group Tuesday night when a member asked why Mele had not provided the Savino documents he had asked for as part of a Freedom of Law request.

The Town Attorney was asked why she refused to properly respond to Freedom of Information Requests that she is required by law to provide. Tom Nimick questioned the Town Board about why his FOIL (requesting documents the Town Attorney admitted to having in her possession by referring to them in a Town resolution that she had written) was not responded to properly. His question to Mele was met by deathly silence from her. Gromack responded to the question on her behalf indicating all questions about Savino had been answered and the Town had nothing further to add.

Nimick attempted to point out that his question was not about Savino but was about the processes by which the Town Attorney was handling the function of her office. Gromack immediately shut him down and called for a motion to adjourn.  

Not one board member moved to ask Mele to respond to Nimick's question. Here is the question and the Board's response ....

Nimick addressing the Town Board: Board members have you noticed a familiar pattern? You will recall that I repeatedly asked questions about the suitability of Mr. Savino and the process through which he was hired. Those concerns turned out to be fully vindicated by subsequent events.

Now I find myself repeatedly asking questions about the operations of the Office of Town Attorney, with increasing evidence of improprieties and evidence that the Town Attorney is hiding matters from public scrutiny. Given your experience with Mr. Savino, why are you waiting? Have the audit of the Town Attorney’s Office done and let’s get to the bottom of this.

I have yet more information to report and a question for the Town Attorney. I recommend that you listen closely to how she answers. Expect to hear evidence that our Office of the Town Attorney is either violating the Freedom of Information Law or is demonstrating a level of incompetence that demands your immediate attention.

Nimick addressing the Town Attorney: Ms. Mele, on April 11th I submitted a Freedom of Information Law request as follows:

“I am making a FOIL request for any communication, in any form, between Mr. Savino and any member of the Office of the Town Attorney in the period between his submission of his “resume of interest” and the Town Board vote to retain the services of his firm.”

On May 3 I received a copy of the signed retainer agreement dated after the vote to retain the firm and the bids from the two other firms – and nothing with regard to my actual request.

In resolution #38-2012 you wrote,

“WHEREAS, the Town Attorney has researched and interviewed law firms with experience in such matters and has requested rates and proposals from said firms; and WHEREAS, the Town Attorney has received a proposal from the law office of Joseph J. Savino to provide said services for an annual retainer of $87,000, which proposal is the most competitive of those received.”

According to Mr. Gromack you only knew of Mr. Savino’s firm because of a “resume of interest” – the same resume that you claimed to have discarded in response to another FOIL request. The FOIL request I am now discussing asked for communication between your office and Mr. Savino in the period between the receipt of the resume and the resolution to retain.

According to the resolution that you drafted, there should be in your office your request to Mr. Savino for “rates and proposals”? There should also be the “proposal” that you stated you received from Mr. Savino? Based on your own statements, at very least those two documents should have been produced in response to my FOIL request.

Where are those two documents?

Why have you not produced them as required by the law?

Gromack:  The item again deals with the Savino case.  I don't know if anyone has any additional information. I know we have spoke (sic) about it in detail on many aspects of this. Anyone want to add anything more ... if not ..
Nimick interjected and was attempting to point out that the question he asked was not about Mr. Savino but was about the process being followed by the Town Attorney in not supplying two documents which she put in a Town resolution as having in her possession.  Here is the continuing transcript.

Nimick: Mr. Gromack  excuse me  .......

Gromack cutting Nimick off: Nah ..

Nimick: Sir ...

Gromack again cutting Nimick off:  Nah .. nah ... nah  ...   I can say we thank you for your comments and Thank You! 

The board then made a motion to adjourn which passed unanimously.

As an independent minded Republican I regretfully watched my two party colleagues sit mute exercising no authority on a citizen's behalf to inquire from the Town Attorney if she had the documents in her possession that Mr Nimick was seeking to obtain.  These two gentlemen complement each other on the Town Board in that Councilman Borelli could ask questions if he would and Councilman Hoehmann would ask questions if he could.

But that's the Town Board members' story and they're sticking to it!

"Believe it or not", as Mr. Ballard would say, l have read 'Through the Looking Glass' many times. I particularly like the part where Alice laughs and says:

"There's no use trying, one can't believe impossible things."  

The Queen then responds: 

"I daresay you haven't had much practice. When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

Living in Rockland and in the Town of Clarkstown I recommend to my fellow citizens that when you listen to these local politicians you may need to suppress your laughter and try to follow the Queen's excellent advice. 

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Michael N. Hull is a retired senior citizen who writes opinion pieces on theology, philosophy and local political issues. He is presently a Director of Clarkstown Residents Opposing Patronage (CROP) and is President of the Residents Association of Bardonia.

Picture courtesy of http://www.mafc.com/sg_userfiles/Patronage-Money-Bales-Object.png