Thursday, February 2, 2012

Purchasing Ethics

The Town of Greenburgh Supervisor decided to forego ethics (no surprise there) and pay the Village of Valhalla a substantial amount of money, yearly, to the tune of about a million dollars a year! It’s never about doing the right thing for The Paul, just doing what he either wants or feels will be expedient for his means to his end. In an article in Thursday’s Journal News, the Valhalla school district announced their plan to appeal a court ruling requiring it to repay up to $1.9 million back to the town of Greenburgh, insisting an agreement between them and the Town to fund education programs is valid. The county closed the Valhalla shelter in question in September because the housing need is no longer necessary.

The $1.2 million dollars a year would have been a good thing if it had been done legally - but it wasn’t. Town of Greenburgh residents Robert Bernstein and Herb Rosenberg sought relief for the Town against this illegal action and won the current decision! We so tire of hearing The Paul say if we don’t like something he does, sue him. Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Rosenberg took him to his word and did sue him - and won. Well done gentlemen! 

The exact size of the judgment, which is meant to reimburse Greenburgh taxpayers for money the town paid the district for its programs, hasn’t yet been determined. ABG can only hope it will be for the full amount. State Supreme Court Justice Nicholas Colabella had ruled that the 2004 agreement, which called for Greenburgh to pay the school district $6.5 million over 10 years, was an improper gift that did not benefit the majority of town residents. Valhalla had sued Greenburgh for breach of contract after a 2007 state audit determined the agreement was illegal and the town stopped making payments.

The Valhalla School District’s attorney, Mark Rushfield, noted the district has filed a notice of appeal but Rushfield said it will formally appeal after a judgment is set. The district believes the judge made a mistake with his verdict. The Town’s attorney, Timothy Lewis, disagreed with Valhalla’s interpretation and claims the town will continue to press for repayment. ABG wonders how long and hard his press will be once The Paul, who negotiated the deal with the district as a way to compensate the community for the operation of a homeless shelter on the Westchester Community College campus, tells him to back off and just let it go.

ABG is hopeful the appeal will not stand and the Town will receive the monies it never should have paid out. Buying cooperation is not a viable way to run a Town, get your way or receive compliance. It’s time for a change with a new administration. We can only hope!

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