Herbert Smith of Kauneonga Lake and Michael Brennan of Monticello appeared on behalf of the Elks to present an American flag to Friedland at the September 18 village board meeting.
Smith said the donation was made to replace flags which have been vandalized or stolen off Broadway in the past. "One of the provisions was that these be properly maintained," he added.
Smith is past state vice-president, he said, and Americanism chairman for the East Central Elks District. Brennan is exalted ruler of the Monticello lodge, and village chief of police.
Brennan said a new federal law banning flag desecration will be enforced.
Harmin said he supplied a copy of Comptroller's Opinion No. #89-1 to Miller last week with a request for an interpretation as to its application to Panchyshyn's situation.
Panchyshyn is director of the Village of Monticello Department of Public Works and chairs the Sullivan County Conservative Party. He is reportedly paid $52,000 a year.
"As a general rule, a town may grant to its officers and employees only those fringe benefits which are authorized by statute, either expressly or by necessary implication, or which are provided for in a collective bargaining agreement," the comptroller's 1989 opinion states.
As reported last week, Panchyshyn's contract does not permit selling unused vacation back to the village.
Miller refused comment to The River Reporter, or to confirm if he replied to Harmin. "I don't generally answer questions from the public," he asserted. Harmin said he is still waiting for an answer but he'll allow Miller more time to write an answer.
Panchyshyn could not be reached for comment. He said last week he was going caraboa hunting in the Arctic Circle. He was absent from the September 18 board meeting.