No Comment Yet From Clarkstown Officials On Arrest Of Tax Cert Attorney Joseph Savino

Clarkstown Town Board members have been unavailable for comment on today’s arrest of Bronx Republican Chairman Joseph “Jay” Savino on bribery and wire fraud charges filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  The town board hired Savino’s law firm to handle its tax certs matters in January 2012 and renewed his contract for 2013.

Since the hiring, Bardonia resident Michael Hull pushed the town board for more information about the process they followed. He thinks in light of Tuesday’s arrest of Savino, Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack, should resign and will make that statement at the next town board meeting on April 9.

“I think he has failed in his responsibilities to properly vet Savino,” said Hull.

Republican Ralph Sabatini, who ran unsuccessfully for supervisor against Gromack in 2011, agrees with Hull. 

“The whole Savino thing in Clarkstown smells anyway,” said Sabatini.

Sabatini expects the investigation will continue.

“I think this is the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

When the board members voted on hiring the White Plains firm of Faga Savino in 2012, Councilwoman Stephanie Hausner was the only board member to vote against it

“I think there are more qualified firms in the county that have more experience handling tax certiorari,” Hausner said at the time.  “That is primarily what we were looking to hire a firm to do.

From the date of the hire it was controversial. Town residents asked for specifics about the process for selecting and retaining Savino. They repeatedly inquired what other firms were researched, whether Rockland County firms were contacted and what qualifications were considered. 

Savino’s Rockland County counterpart, Republican Committee Chairman Vincent Reda said he knew Savino but was only familiar with the media reports of his arrest. 

“I have no idea what it’s about,” said Reda. “I have no idea what happened. I have no idea of the facts.”

on Dec. 20, 2012 the Clarkstown board authorized a new agreement with Savino with a unanimous vote. The 2013 annual retainer was set at $88,740. When the firm was initially retained in January 2012, the annual fee was $87,000.

When Savino’s firm was hired, Gromack stated using an outside firm instead of a deputy town attorney for the work would save the town between $75,000 and $80,000. In December 2012, the town board voted to not renew the contract of Deputy Town Attorney Marsha Coopersmith, , who had previously served as Rockland County’s Independence Party chairwoman.

Coopersmith had been ousted as chair by Debra Ortutay, who was later, charged with fraud and perjury and was represented by Savino. Ortutay’s son-in-law is County Legislator Frank Sparaco.

When Savino’s firm was hired, Clarkstown Town Supervisor Alex Gromack stated using an outside firm instead of a deputy town attorney for the work would save the town between $75,000 and $80,000. In December 2012, the town board voted to not renew the contract of who had previously served as Rockland County’s Independence Party chairwoman.

The law firm's web site at www.fagasavino.com was disabled as of Tuesday morning.