The River Reporter, July 11, 1996

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Comptroller rips Texas trip
and unlawful car purchases

By TOM RUE
MONTICELLO -- Officials revealed at a July 1st village board meeting that a recent audit by the NYS Comptroller's office cites $1299 in payments improperly made to police chief Michael Brennan for expenses stemming from a December 1994 trip to Dallas, Texas to attend the Northeast Baseball League convention with former manager William Cummings, of which Cummings was managing partner.

The recent state audit follows a private audit conducted by the Monticello firm of Bachrach & Waschitz in February, which also cited the junket.

The comproller's audit states Brennan admitted he "didn't consider this a business trip," but later submitted a claim for funds from the "police training" budget. The pair registered in a hotel under the name "Northeast League," documents prove.

Brennan told the auditor that Cummings was considering proposing the idea of creating a "sports authority" in Monticello, and the two needed to explore the idea at the baseball convention. The trip was criticized by former mayor Robert Friedland, who claimed he signed the check to Brennan only after being directed to do so by trustees Gary Sommers and Gloria Cahalan. Cahalan and Friedland are no longer in office.

News of the controversial trip was broken by The River Reporter in May 1995, which quoted Cummings as saying Brennan went with him on the trip because he "was looking for a couple days off."

At last week's board meeting, when taxpayer Betty Friedland publicly called on Brennan to make restitution, he remained silent. Officials said they would not demand repayment, claiming steps have been taken to prevent such abuses from recurring.

In another item in the comptroller's audit, Brennan and Cummings were faulted for buying two 1995 Ford Tuaruses for their own use, also from the police budget, at a cost of $33,992 -- bypassing state bidding laws. The auditor found that policies existed which were designed to prevent such practices, but they weren't followed.

NOTE: Due to space constraints the remainder of this article was not published in The River Reporter on July 11, 1996, but is included in the on-line version:


"Equal protection" asked
In the same meeting, after Brennan's departure, special attention allegedly paid by Monticello police to Evergreen Apartments was faulted by the manager of a private West Broadway apartment complex, Betty Friedland, which she said is assessed at $1.3 million.

Evergreen is assessed no taxes and its security is federally subsidized, she said.

"They also have more problems," Kenny claimed of Evergreen's largely minority tenants. But he seemed to back-pedal when this assertion was challenged. Friedland said crime in Monticello's public housing is no worse than in similar nearby complexes.

Berner said he was still trying to get answers from Brennan as to why Evergreen seemed to be getting special treatment from village police. Prior to receiving Friedland's recent complaint, Berner admitted, Evergreen residents had the benefit of a police "foot patrol," in addition to more cruise-throughs, which comparable local complexes do not.

Friedland said that all she and other apartment managers -- mentioning Sleepy Hollow Apartments, as well as her own -- is protection equal to that of Evergreen.

Other business
In other business, the village board:

  • Debated whether to hoist residential trash pickup fees by 41%, until finally tabling for 30 days further discussion of awarding of bids to any private hauler in order to receive more public input on the issue;

  • Voted to schedule a public hearing to consider rescinding a controversial local law on towing permits which some asserted discriminates against towing businesses operating in the village;

  • Corrected a report in another newspaper, which board members said surprised them, of a supposed merger of Monticello and Thompson justice courts;

  • Re-approved a contract with consultant Robert Genislaw on the issue of casino gaming, dropping a clause indemifying him against possible suits;

  • Heard a report on a local Masonic proposal to refurbish the grave-stones of the founder of Monticello, John P. Jones, who was also said to be the first worshipful master of the first Masonic lodge in Sullivan County. Kenny agreed to serve on the committee.

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