3
Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Tensions explode over purchase of security cameras
By RACHEL COLEMAN
“Nay.”
The word was quiet and would have
gone unremarked as the Montgomery
Town Board made their routine motion
to pay the monthly bills—had the town
supervisor not exploded a moment later.
“Councilwoman (Sheryl) Melick, you
nay all bills to pay. You’re not naying your
health insurance to be paid,” said Town
Supervisor Rodney Winchell. “Why are
you here? Besides the health insurance,
why are you here? Are you naying your
health insurance too? Your paycheck?”
As the councilwoman attempted to
respond, the supervisor continued,
leaning into his microphone as he shouted
over her.
“You’ve been in a coma for ten years
here, besides your health insurance,”
Winchell continued. “All I’m saying is
that you say nay to pay the stack of bills
that’s six inches tall. You don’t want to
pay the bills, but you want to get your
health insurance and do nothing here.”
Faintly under the supervisor’s shouts,
the councilwoman attempted to explain
her vote was a protest regarding a
specific bill, but eventually stated she
was not going to argue with him and the
supervisor moved on to the next agenda
item.
The incident took less than three
minutes, but left the room stunned. Some
residents later felt compelled to apologize
to the councilwoman for the supervisor’s
“inappropriate” behavior.
Meanwhile, confusion remained over
what exactly had instigated the trouble.
“The issue is he went into a five year
contract on his own, without board
approval,” said Councilwoman Melick,
after the meeting on Sept. 19. “The law
is that you have to be board approved and
I’m not passing the bills until we resolve
it.”
The trouble began in February, as
town board members were looking over
the bills to be paid. Mixed in with the
rest was an invoice for Marlin Business
Bank, for $1,135.09. This bill was the first
installment of a five year lease.
The following month, they were
blindsided with an invoice from New
York Security Systems for $27,960. They
discovered that both the lease and the
invoice were to pay for the installation
of 30 security cameras and related
equipment in and around the town
Orange County Household Hazardous
Waste &
Operation Safe Scripts Pharmaceutical
Collection Event
Sponsored by Orange County DPW Division of Environmental Facilities
and Services, County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus, Co-Sponsored by New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation. Operation Safe Scripts sponsored by Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
government center on Bracken Road.
Apparently, the supervisor had
previously approved both and already
had the cameras and equipment installed.
“We knew nothing about it until we
saw the voucher,” said Councilman Mark
Hoyt. “We didn’t know what Marlin Bank
was and weren’t getting any straight
answers.”
Hoyt said when he couldn’t get any
information from the supervisor, he
began making phone calls. Eventually,
he found that the supervisor had signed a
five year lease for security cameras with
Marlin Business Bank last October, with
monthly payments of $946.26 to begin
in 2019. That means the lease will cost
$56,775.60, not including late fees and
insurance payments.
Melick said she initially broached
the problem with the supervisor in an
executive session, but “he just screamed
and yelled at me there.”
“So what am I going to do? I’m not
going to argue with you. I’m just not
going to approve it,” said Melick.
That single syllable protest has
become a source of mounting frustration
for the town supervisor, who explained on
Monday that he feels the elected officials
in the Town of Montgomery have done
nothing for the last ten years, and have
left him to run the town on his own while
they enjoy free health insurance.
“The one thing you don’t smell here is
sweat,” said Winchell.
Winchell said that there had been no
working cameras in the town hall when
he took office last year and he felt it was a
necessity.
“It’s a safety issue. There have been
three arrests since they were installed,”
said Winchell. “The police department
needs some kind of tool.”
“I’m not saying I’m against the
cameras,” said Melick. “I’m not against
the security. I’m against the fact that he
did it not board approved. I mean, it’s
illegal really, when you get right down
to it.”
According to Town Law §64(6), town
contracts “shall be executed by the
supervisor in the name of the town after
approval by the town board.”
Additionally, the NYS Association
of Towns stated that “a town official,
on his or her own, has no authority to
install a recording device to monitor town
Continued on page 4
Town Of Montgomery Community Day
Town
Of Montgomery
Saturday
October
12th, Community
2019 Day
Saturday October 12th, 2019
11am to 11am
4pm
to 4pm
Park 1675
Route Montgomery
17k, Montgomery NY
NY
Benedict Park Benedict
1675 Route
17k,
Saturday October 26, 2019 - 9:00am-3:00pm
Delano Hitch Recreation Center
401 Washington Street, Newburgh, NY 12550
Free for Orange County Residents with
Proof of Residency ( no registration required )
The line moves quickly, please DO NOT come before 9:00 am and block traffic flow
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office will be collecting prescription and over the
counter medications for disposal.
***No medical sharps will be accepted***
Acceptable Items: Adhesives, Aerosol Cans, Automotive Products, Fire Extinguishers, Flammable
Liquids (oil, gas, kerosene and/or mixtures), Corrosives/Cleaners, Creosote, Driveway Sealer, Pool
Chemicals, Fluorescent Tubes, Inks, Mercury, Oil Based Paints Only, Pesticides/Herbicides, Propane
Cylinders (camp size), Roofing Tar, Rubber Cement, Solvents/Thinners, Varnishes/Shellac/Stains, Wood
Preservatives, Car Batteries.
NOT Accepted: Refrigerators, Tires, Air Conditioners, Electronics, Latex (water based) Paint
(see how to dispose of Latex Paint below), BBQ size Propane Tanks, Appliances, Single–Use
Batteries (can be thrown in the household trash). Haz. Waste from Businesses NOT Accepted.
How to Dispose of Latex Paint: Remove the lid, put the paint can in a safe place away
from children and animals and let the paint dry out. If there is a large quantity of paint
in the can, line a cardboard box with a black garbage bag, pour the paint in the garbage
bag and add cheap, clay kitty litter until the paint is solid. Once dried, throw the solid
paint in your household trash.
For Information Call (845)291-3246 or visit: www.orangecountygov.com/efs and click on
the Household Hazardous Waste tab on the left
Please join us for a family day of fun for all ages.
Please join us for a family day of fun
Coming
together
to share
ideas, for building
for all ages.
Coming
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a
proud,
vibrant,
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community
for the future .
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• &
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a Dish”
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a Dish”
Pie Eating
Contest
▪ Education, Information
Registration
& Pie Eating Contest • Education,
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Please join us for a family day of fun for all ages.
Coming together to share ideas, for building
a proud, vibrant, and prosperous community for the future .
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