Monticello renews property forfeiture pact

The River Reporter
Thursday, September 18, 1997

By TOM RUE

MONTICELLO - Village officials voted unanimously on September 15 to renew a contract with the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) aimed at seizing the assets of convicted drug offenders. The net proceeds of such assets are divided between police agencies participating in investigations of the mid-Hudson regional Drug Enforcement Task Force (DETF), the contract said.

DETF has existed since 1994, when the U.S. Department of Justice issued guidelines governing drug-related forfeitures.

Government forfeiture laws are expanding, according to the web site of an organization called Forfeiture Endangers American Rights (FEAR). Bill HR 1965, submitted by the House Judiciary Committee with support from the Justice Department, would add a variety of new forfeitable offenses and create procedures allowing foreign governments to forfeit U.S. property.

Proponents of forfeiture laws are allured by the idea of a drug dealer's Jaguar automobile being converted to a police cruiser, as one Monticello resident recalled happened a few years ago. Likewise, a local lawyer with a wife and two children lost his hand-hewn log cabin in Parksville, where the lawyer maintained a patch of 107 marijuana plants for his own consumption. The forfeiture of the couple's home was affirmed as lawful by the U.S. Court of Appeals in July 1996. A portion of the proceeds of the home's sale went to the Monticello police department under the DETF agreement then in effect because Monticello participated in the arrest.

Monticello resident Ralph Bonfiglio applauded the village's renewal of the contract with DCJS. "It's a super thing. It's like putting a bulldog in your front yard. It sends a message to the drug dealers," Bonfiglio told the board.

Mayor James Kenny said one Monticello police officer is assigned to the DETF. The effective date of the contract runs from April 1, 1997 to March 31, 1998, according to a cover letter by DETF regional director William Betjemarin of DCJS in Albany.

Other business

Monticello village manager Cheryl Shiber discussed plans to reactivate a Founders Day committee which met a few times last year. County historian John Conway will give a "show and tell" local history presentation at the Monticello Neighborhood Facility on Wednesday, October 8, Shiber said.

Shiber proposed expanding the distribution of the village's newsletter, and accepting paid commercial advertising to help defray costs. Taxpayer Betty Friedland questioned the legality of this proposal. Shiber replied that it's legal in New Jersey, where she came from a month ago. Trustee David Rosenberg suggested that Shiber file a regular "Monticello" column with area newspapers and shoppers.

Kenny announced that Monticello Elks Lodge #1544 recently donated a new flag to fly in front of Village Hall. Kenny also noted the death of past fire chief Robert Stratten.

Davidoff reminded the board to attend the rededication ceremonies of the county court house, being renamed in honor of retired chief judge Lawrence H. Cooke of Monticello.