2002-10-16 SPM10/16/2002.SPM
A Special Meeting of the town board of the Town of Wappinger was held on
October 16, 2002 at the town hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls,
New York. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Recreation Budget
for the year 2003. SUPERVISOR RUGGIERO opened the meeting at 7:45
p.m.
Present:
Joseph Ruggiero, Supervisor
Robert Valdati, Councilman (arrived 7:52 p.m.)
Vincent Bettina, Councilman (arrived 7:52 p.m.)
Christopher Colsey, Councilman
Joseph Paoloni, Councilman
Other Present:
Al Roberts, Attorney to the Town
Ralph Holt, Chairman of Recreation
Absent: Gloria J. Morse, Town Clerk
Discussion was held with Mr. Holt on the Recreation Budget.
At this time 9:01 p.m. Councilman Bettina moved to go into Executive
Session to confer with attorney on a legal matter, seconded by Councilman
Colsey and unanimously carried.
The meeting reconvened at 10:00 p.m. with all board members present.
RESOLUTION NO. 2002-289
The following Resolution was introduced by Councilman Valdati and
seconded by Councilman Colsey.
WHEREAS, in accordance with Resolution adopted in Executive Session on
this evening, the Town Board hereby intends to commence disciplinary
proceedings against an employee and officer of the Town identified in
Executive Session, to appoint attorneys to represent the Town in connection
therewith and to further appoint a Hearing Officer to preside over that the
disciplinary hearing, make findings of fact and to recommend the penalty or
punishment to be imposed thereon.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, as follows
1. The recitations above set forth are incorporated in this Resolution as if
fully set forth and adopted herein.
2. The Town Board hereby confirms the actions it has taken in Executive
Session this evening and authorizes disciplinary proceedings to be
conducted against the individual named in certain Specifications
discussed and adopted by the Town Board in Executive Session this
evening, charging said individual with various acts of misconduct,
malfeasance, misfeasance and maladministration of public office, and
seeking said individual's dismissal and removal from office.
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3. The Town Board schedules a Hearing on the above Specifications; said
Hearing is to be held on the 19th day of November, 2002 at 9:30 a.m. at
Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls, New York 12590.
4. Stephen J. Wing, Esq., an attorney licensed to practice in the State of New
York, with an address at 128 Academy Street, Poughkeepsie, New York is
hereby appointed Hearing Officer to conduct and preside over the
Hearing, who shall make findings of fact and recommend to the Town
Board the penalty or punishment to be imposed thereon.
5. Stephen J. Wing, Esq. shall be paid for his services as Hearing Officer at
the rate of $125 per hour.
6. The Law firm of Vergilis, Stenger, Roberts, Pergament & Viglotti, LLP is
hereby retained and authorized to represent the Town of Wappinger in
this matter, to prosecute the charges set forth in the Specifications made
against the individual identified in Executive Session and in the
Specifications and to otherwise take whatever legal steps are necessary by
and on behalf of the Town of Wappinger to conduct disciplinary
proceedings against the individual named in the Specifications, ultimately
seeking the removal of said individual from office and the termination of
employment as an employee and Public Officer of the town, in accordance
with applicable law.
7. The law firm of Vergilis, Stenger, Roberts, Pergament & Viglotti, LLP
shall be paid in accordance with the retainer arrangement presently in
place between the Town of Wappinger and said law firm.
8. Supervisor of the Town of Wappinger, Joseph Ruggiero, and the law firm
of Vergilis, Stenger, Roberts, Pergament & Viglotti, LLP are hereby
directed to take whatever steps are necessary to have the aforementioned
Specifications served on the individual identified in said Specifications.
9. The Town Board further confirms that the Resolution adopted in
Executive Session this evening and the contents of the specifications shall
remain confidential until final disposition of this matter.
The foregoing was put to a vote which resulted as follows:
JOSEPH RUGGIERO, Supervisor Voting
Aye
ROBERT VALDATI, Councilman Voting
Aye
VINCENT BETTINA, Councilman Voting
Aye
CHRISTOPHER COLSEY, Councilman Voting
Aye
JOSEPH PAOLONI, Councilman Voting
Aye
The Resolution is hereby duly declared adopted.
There was no other business to come before the board.
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Councilman Paoloni moved to close the Special Meeting, seconded by
Councilman Bettina and unanimously carried.
The Special Meeting closed at 10:06 p.m
By Sandra Kosakowski
Deputy Town Clerk
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