NYS Grants Fishkill fiscal relief for Police consolidation

http://www.frb.ny.gov/recsDeterms/reports/TownofFishkill_ComprehensiveReviewReport.pdf

Story calls Fishkill problems as Good Old Fashion Government Bloat.

Its also calls for consolidating water and sewer with Beacon and Fishkill Village.

Also police consolidation.

Facebook comments on Chief Williams return

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  Stanley Still ·  Top Commenter · F.D.Roosevelt High School

  Good does triumph over evil! Your reputation as a police officer and decent human being is above reproach. I am so happy for you.

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   · 9 · June 19 at 3:04pm
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  Jenn Brandt

  Proud to hear that the Chief of Police with return to full duties after an unjustified suspension. It's just to bad that the employees of the pd have to hear of the outcome via the Poughkeepsie Journal....

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   · 3 · June 19 at 6:01pm
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  Glenn Rees

  This man has proven himself to not only be a outstanding Police Officer, a father and brother to many. His true spirit and honor has resulted in a positive outcome for him and his family.
  Its easy for others to assume the worst of one man they have never had contact with but I wanted to endorse his credibility as an individual that will always be valued by others some of whom live overseas. Be proud Sir because we are of you. Glenn Rees Manchester UK..

  Reply · 

   · 1 · Yesterday at 12:24pm
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  Robin W. Hall ·  Top Commenter · Highland, New York

  so that's it ?
  a lot of unanswered questions here . . .

  Reply · 

   · 1 · June 19 at 2:11pm
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  Joe James Feuer

  I've known Chief Williams for over 25 years and I worked for him for 11. The man built the department from the ground up. There was no Town of Fishkill Police before Don Williams. When have you heard in the news about any big controversy in the TFPD like almost every other department at one time or another? You haven't! The Chief runs an independent department and doesn't accept political interference or pressure with his operation. Maybe THATS the incentive to replace him?? And when all is said and done. "Welcome back.". ... Not to mention, after a lifetime of dedication to public service, THATS the photo used?? How about a followup article detailing the real Don Williams? Retired school teacher. The only thing "part time" about Chief Williams is the pay. He works a full time schedule, and when he's not in the office, he still knows everything that's happening. He still jumps in the car at all hours to assist. How about his "off time"? That would be decades of going from a Police car to a fire truck. Yes. Decades of volunteer fire service. You know, if it came out after all these years that the Chief was in fact "dirty"...Then yes, that would cancel out the good. But of all people to throw into the spotlight with secret accusations, only to say "OK, sorry, nothing there" with a photo that it must have taken hours to find.....I sure hope there is a follow up to this story.

  Reply · 

   · about an hour ago
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  Janet Minutolo ·  Top Commenter

  Hypocrite politicians. Yeah, YOU'LL put it behind you...you weren't unjustly accused. Bless your patience Chief.

  Reply · 

   · 18 hours ago

Fishkill town police chief returns to duty

For more free local news, check out this papers website.

http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2014/June/19/FishkillPolChief-19Jun14.htm

FISHKILL – Fishkill Town Police Chief Donald Williams, who has been off the job for seven months when he was suspended for unspecified reasons, is going to return.

Town Supervisor Robert LaColla said the long-time chief is expected to be back on the job shortly.

“All the disciplinary charges against the chief have been withdrawn by the town board and he will be restored to his position as police chief. The date of his return is still being worked out, but we expect that to be very soon,” he said.

The town board authorized paying Williams $7,500 for lost wages.

The charges against the chief were never made public.

Williams and the entire Fishkill Town Police Department is part-time with the exception of full-time dispatchers.

Fishkill considers naming rec/senior center for fallen vets

http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2014/April/21/TFish_vets-21Apr14.html

For more free local news, check out the papers website as I do daily.

FISHKILL – Town Councilman Timothy Tuttle has proposed naming the town’s recreation/senior center after two Vietnam veterans from Fishkill who died in combat.

He suggested the facility be named for Robert Bruce and Michael Garlo.

Town Supervisor Robert LaColla said possible naming the center for veterans will be explored.

“There is a big place in everybody’s hearts for our veterans here in the Town of Fishkill,” LaColla said.  “There is a war memorial right on the Town Hall campus, so everybody believes in expressing their honor.  It was floated out as an idea. It is early in the discussion. It may be naming for a specific war group or an individual.”

At the same time, Fishkill resident and veteran Anthony Costa is urging the town board to update the town’s veterans’ exemption.

Fishkill Assemblyman Lalor has second PAC account gaming veterans

 http://www.thehudsonvalleynews.com/News/Entries/2014/4/18_Lalor_tied_to_second_PAC.html

For more Dutchess County news, check out the papers website.

    

editorial@thehudsonvalleynews.com

    Despite claims to the New York Post  and Poughkeepsie Journal that he is closing down a Super PAC he operates, Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor(R-105th) is now also being tied to a second Super PAC. 

    Lalor recently told the press that he was shutting down his Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans for Congress PAC due to time constraints and family obligations.  He stated, "There's 24 hours in a day, I have family, I have friends, there is only so much I can do."  Meanwhile, according to the Federal Election Committee website, the assemblyman applied to organize a second PAC, Warriors for Liberty, in May of 2013.  The statement of organization listed Lalor's personal email address and Fishkill home address as the contact information, and initially named himself as the custodian of records.  His wife, Mary Jo Lalor, was originally listed as treasurer, though she may not have ever served in that position. 

    The assemblyman has been questioned by the media for the last few years about the Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans for Congress PAC and its operating expenses, as only five percent of the 1.8 million dollars raised had actually been given directly to the veterans it was donated for.  Asssemblyman Lalor's current chief of staff, Christopher Covucci, was the treasurer of this PAC.  He was replaced by Scott Mackenzie, whom Lalor told the press he does not know.  

    Mackenzie is a nationally known campaign finance consultant who uses seemingly predatory direct mail tactics to secure campaign donations, often in the name of veterans. Mackenzie is linked to direct market firms, Base Connect and Legacy List Marketing, both of whom Lalor employed for his own direct mail operations.  Both Base Connect and Legacy List made $1,000 campaign contributions to Lalor's 2012 assembly campaign.  Several other PACs, overseen by Mackenzie, also made sizeable contributions to the same campaign.  Both the Black Republican PAC and Conservative Strike Force PAC gave $2,500 each to Lalor in 2012.  

    Scott Mackenzie is now listed as the treasurer for the Warriors for Liberty PAC, though Lalor said he only brought Mackenzie in to shut down his original PAC.  The FEC 2014 report says that the PAC raised $324,000.

    The Warriors for Liberty PAC also transferred approximately $14,000 in funds to the Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans for Congress PAC in 2013.  Interestingly enough, the Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans for Congress ended 2013 with a deficit of slightly over $14,000, more than it contributed to the veterans seeking office.

    While Lawlor’s political opponents do not allege any unlawful activities with regard to these PACs, they do believe Lalor has been less than transparent with donors and the media. One such person told the Hudson Valley Newsthat they doubted contributors would have been as generous if told up front that only five percent of the funds raised would go directly to veteran candidates.

See the Hudson Valley News Wednesday in print for more.

Fishkill Veteran News at the 4/16/14 Fishkill Town Board Meeting

Councilman Tuttle introduced discussion under new business. To name the Recreation/Senior Center after 2 Vietnam veterans from Fishkill who died in combat.

Robert Bruce who was the only son of the Bruce family, whose father served on the town's Planning Board, and Michael Garlo who lived on Charlotte.

http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/6367/ROBERT-BRUCE

http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/17918/MICHAEL-GARLO

Also veteran and Fishkill resident, Tony Costa. Is lobbying the board to update its veterans exemption. One that currently has Fishkill second from the bottom in Dutchess County.

Please get the word out, we would like to complete these issues by Memorial Day.

GOP paper hammers Fishkill Assemblyman Lalor on his veterans scam

ALBANY — An upstate Assemblyman raised nearly $1.8 million through a political-action committee he formed to back Iraq and Afghanistan war vets running for Congress — but only a mere $91,500 found its way to the candidates.

http://nypost.com/2014/04/07/vets-received-tiny-portion-of-funds-raised-by-pols-pac/