Questions Linger About Clarkstown Hiring Firm For Tax Lawsuits (VIDEO)

One community member continues to seek information about the hiring of ’s White Plains law firm to handle Clarkstown’s tax cert matters. Tom Nimick of New City asked at the last town board workshop how Town Attorney Amy Mele and other officials learned about Savino’s firm.

Nimick asked, “How did Mr. Savino come to your attention with regard to tax cert work? I appreciate your shedding light on why you thought to contact this particular firm with regard to tax cert work.”

Mele said she did not recall the details. 

“I’m honestly not sure I remember who brought it to my attention,” she said. “Like I said I interviewed several firms.”

Mele said while Savino’s firm had not represented municipalities in tax cert cases it did have experience because it had represented businesses and individuals.

Nimick then said Savino’s firm did not appear to be an “obvious choice” for the work and sought more information about the firm’s hiring from Gromack.

“It could have been someone that was proactive from his firm that contacted the town attorney’s office and said that if there was ever an opportunity please keep me in mind,” said Gromack.

At its reorganization in early January, the town board voted to hire the law firm of Faga Savino to handle its tax cert matters. The deputy town attorney, who had previously been responsible for that work, had been let go in what was described as a cost saving measure. The annual retainer for Savino’s firm is $87,000.