Monticello board split on upping Hargrove's pay

By TOM RUE

MONTICELLO - With trustee Evelyn Vandermark absent, remaining Monticello village board members split 2-2 on spending more money on a consultant who faulted mayor Robert Friedland and entire board in a controversy over Friedland's tape-recorded effort to get his son a job as a police officer.

Hargrove criticized village officials for participating in a conspiricy of silence by not putting the scandal on the agenda at a public meeting until the a transcript of the tape appeared in the media over two months the conversation occurred.

A motion to raise consultant James Hargrove's allocation from $7350 to $8350 was made by trustee Gloria Cahalan, in order for him to appear and answer questions about his 23-page report.

On May 22 Hargrove told The River Reporter he would attend a slated meeting, noting he then had 10 hours left on his contract. But several days later officials canceled the meeting, claiming Hargrove had exhausted his authorized funds. Asked about this discrepancy, village treasurer Robin Seward said Hargrove used up the remaining money by filing motel and other expenses for reimbursement.

Friedland and trustee Michael Levinson voted against the measure. Trustees Gary Sommers and Cahalan voted in favor. Vandermark was reportedly absent due to an illness in her family.

Volunteer sensitivity trainers to be sought

Village manager George Panchyshyn reported that volunteer services -- including by members of the village Human Rights Commission (HRC) -- will be sought in facilitating sensitivity training, rather than using Hargrove and his staff.

Acting village justice Josephine V. Finn recommended the board also invite retired psychologist Lewis Howard of Fallsburg to help provide the training.

A contract signed May 4 promised to pay Hargrove $50 per hour, plus an open-ended guarantee for reimbursement of expenses. "All I've done is transfer the $7350 and I don't plan to pay him anything else," said Seward.

Friedland said he wants Hargrove to attend the public airing -- which has not been rescheduled -- to answer his own questions. But Friedland objected to the extra $1000, asserting Hargrove had already been paid enough to cover a trip to Monticello from his home in Queens.

Hargrove criticized Friedland's February 8 phone call to police chief Michael Brennan seeking a job for his son and making a derogatory remark about minorities. Hargrove questioned the sincerity of Friedland's subsequent apology.

But Hargrove's objectivity came under fire when trustees learned he was a longtime associate of former village manager William Cummings, who resigned after disputes with Friedland unrelated to the tape scandal. Cummings did not disclose his prior relationships with Hargrove when he recommended him to investigate Friedland.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People president Thomas Mack said Hargrove's report pointed out "a problem that's existed here for years," referring a lack of minority representation in public jobs.

Mack and village officials expressed surprise when HRC chair Carl Silverstein claimed that integration of public jobs in Monticello "is being done privately," behind the scenes. "It's all being done. You don't know about it because you don't ask," Silverstein asserted. "We have big problems, but what we don't have is a lack of sensitivity," he added.

Other business

Panchyshyn reported that a street-sweeper which he said Cummings loaned to the City of Newburgh, without board approval, will be retrieved. Resident Ralph Bonfiglio accused the board of dereliction over the issue. "Every one of you should be removed and there should be a special election!" Bonfiglio exclaimed.

Trustees discussed details of a county fair -- slated for July 6-9 -- on North St. Organizer Harvey Weinberg asked the board to spend $1800 for electrical connections in the lot. Owner of Remington's Restaurant, Bill Croissant, complained the fair will prevent customers from using his parking lot.

Seward reported the 1995-96 village budget will lead to an 2% hike in taxes.

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