One more candidate in Putnam Valley
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- June
- 25
Longtime Putnam Valley resident Patty Villanova tells us that she is also running for a Town Board seat in this Putnam town and has received “enthusiastic support.”
“I am a life-long Republican who served on the town committee for many years,” she wrote in an e-mail this week saying that the GOP committee wouldn’t endorse her because she doesn’t support Town Supervisor Robert Tendy for a second term. “Keep in mind that I am a 50+ year resident and have been politically active for over 20 years.”
She said she will be collecting signatures for her petitions and hopes to primary candidates Esther McHenry and Jacqueline Annabi for the line. She describes these women as having “virtually no experience in town politics or anything else for that matter.” There are two open seats on the Town Board.
On the Democratic front, Dawn Powell, former aide to previous supervisor Sam Davis, is running for town supervisor against Tendy. For Town Board, the Democratic committee endorsed Chris Lieberman for one of two seats.
Incumbent Councilwoman Wendy Whetsel did not get the Democratic committee’s nod. She said she will be out and about getting signatures for her second term as well. She might meet up with former supervisor Sam Davis on the trail, since he is reportedly running for a Town Board seat but decided after the Democratic committee met and had no chance for its support.
Indeed, politics is interesting in Putnam Valley. And, if all the petitioner gatherers are successful there might well be primaries for the Democratic and Republican lines for two open board seats.
Committees in both parties have Web sites set up to get their messages out — Democrat Party and the Republican Party
And let the season begin….
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on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at 3:17 pm by Barbara Nackman.
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What a joke in Putnam Valley.
Dawn Powell, former controversial aid to previous supervisor Sam Davis.
Sam Davis, former supervisor in putnam valley who lost in a primary to Wendy Whetsel. Who had possibly been the worst supervisor ever in the Hudson Valley.
Wendy Whetsel, a nice woman, but has no idea what is happening in town.
Patty Villanova, an individual who is a rebel without a cause. I have heard her over the years. She acts like a crazy person.
Esther McHenry, Jacqueline Annabi and Chris Lieberman, don’t know them but they have to be better than the others.
Patty Villanova, who are you?
What organizations do you belong to?
What have you done to benefit Putnam Valley?
What qualifications do you have to run for town board?
Are you doing this so you can get benefits?
I came accross a letter to the editor I saw in the Putnam County News and Recorder in 2007. Below is a copy of it.
Sam Davis’ Candidacy Announcement Makes Unfair Claims
Dear Editor:
The PV Democratic Committee’s endorsement of Sam Davis could be due to his Confidential Aide, Dawn Powell, also being Co-chair of this committee. Both this and Dawn’s electioneering on town time using taxpayer resources appear be a conflict of interest.
Sam Davis’ 1-1/2 yrs. of selfserving behavior indicates he could care less for the residents. He sued the Town Hall employees and the Ethics Board for censuring him after it determined Sam’s hiring of his girlfriend Dawn as his Confidential Aide gave the “appearance of impropriety”. The judge dismissed the case, yet Sam refuses to give the $5,000 in legal fees back to the faultless townsfolk he sued. Sam still remains censured.
If Sam was really protecting our water, why, as member of the Hollowbrook, has he allowed George’s Auto Body to remain in operation by the stream that supplies drinking water for the Peekskill residents, when antifreeze, oil, etc. have been seeping into the ground for decades?
If Sam was controlling our taxes, how did he arrive at a 21% tax increase? Despite formerly declaring bankruptcy, he pocketed $7,000 to do the budget himself. This seems to reflect out-of-control spending. There was ~$1.8 million in the General Fund when Sam took office – ~$700,000 of it was taken out by the Board to lower our tax increase to 12.75%. Instead of $800,000 in the General Fund for emergencies, there’s only ~$300,000.
He claims he is working on solutions to stop overdevelopment yet wasn’t able to stop 4 members of the PV Town Bd. from voting in favor of the Emerald Ridge development project.
Sam can’t take credit for community stability when his actions actually bring about community instability.
If he regularly goes to Albany to lobby for statewide change of school funding, he can’t do his job for the town at the same time! If there’s an emergency, how can he take charge? He doesn’t even let his staff know where he’s going.
Despite the $32,500 in grants he says he obtained to work on the Comprehensive Plan, and $7,500 to upgrade the Town Zoning Code, they have not yet been completed.
After several hearings, Sam was forced to withdraw his building moratorium proposal. He talks about code violations but doesn’t enforce our laws. Sam claims “A lot has been accomplished”. Certainly not by Sam himself.
Estimated cost to the Town:
Sam Davis: $154,000 over two years +benefits (still owes $5000.00 dollars, as a result of suing the board over inquiry, findings, censure, and new Ethics Law).
Dawn Powell: $82,000 over two years + benefits
Dave Gordon: $80,000 over two years (not including billing for hours of time spent on lawsuits)
Members of the Democratic Committee, Kathy-Cornu- Quinn and Ann Marie Sacramone also a member had code violations that ran the town legal fees over $100,000 dollars.
TOTAL: $416,000+
Can Putnam Valley residents really afford 2 more years of Sam Davis?
Is this what we want again in Putnam Valley – I don’t think so.
We all know what Sam Davis and Dawn Powell did to Putnam Valley last time.
Let us not repeat the bad times of the Sam & Dawn Show
The time is right for the DEMOCRATES for Tendy, Annabi and McHenry
Tammany Hall lives in Putnam Valley. The old-fashioned political patronage game was alive and well when Sam Davis was the supervisor.
Take the case of Dawn Powell a chiropractic Physician turned political insider, is the former Putnam Valley Co-Chair arranged for Sam Davis endorsement for supervisor.
When elected Davis rewarded the political boss with a lucrative slot as his Confidential Aide with a salary of $41,000 a year with benefits.
Sam & Dawn have done well on the public payroll.
Do we want this again for Putnam Valley.
From OpusandGacy.com website on 1/13/04
http://www.opusandgacy.com/guestbook_view.html
Name: Patty Villanova
Homepage: n/a
Date Posted: 01/13/04 08:03:30 EST
Message:
I’ve lived here most of my life (unfortunately) & this is one of the best things to come out of this godforsaken town I’ve ever seen.
Right on! Keep on truckin’
PV from PV
Patty, do you still believe Putnam Valley is a Godforsaken Town?
June 17, 1998
Ms. Patty Villanova
14 West Avenue
Putnam Valley, NY 10579
The staff of the Committee on Open Government is authorized to issue advisory opinions.
The ensuing staff advisory opinion is based solely upon the information presented in your
correspondence.
Dear Ms. Villanova:
I have received your letter of May 21 and the correspondence relating to it.
You indicated that you have been trying without success to obtain the financial records
of the Putnam Valley Volunteer Fire Department and the Volunteer Ambulance Corps
from the Town of Putnam Valley, and you added that you might “have no other option but
to sue the Town”. The Town Clerk has informed you that the two entities whose records
are the subject of your request are “not for profit, private corporations, independent of the
Town of Putnam Valley” and that the Town does not have and never has had possession
of the records.
You have sought advice on the matter, and in this regard, I offer the following
comments.
First, since the Town does not maintain the records in which you are interested, I do
not believe that it has any obligation to acquire or disclose the records at issue to you. In
short, although the Town may have a relationship with the two entities, as the Town Clerk
suggested, those entities are separate from the Town, and the Town simply has no records
falling within the scope of your request to disclose.
Second, although the organizations that maintain the records of your interest were
created as not-for-profit corporations, one, the volunteer fire company, is, based upon
judicial decisions, clearly required to comply with the Freedom of Information Law; the
other, the volunteer ambulance company, may or may not be the subject to that statute
depending upon its nature.
The Freedom of Information Law is applicable to agency records, and º86(3) of the
Law defines the term “agency” to mean:
“any state or municipal department, board, bureau, division,
commission, committee, public authority, public corporation, council,
office or other governmental entity performing a governmental or
proprietary function for the state or any one or more municipalities
thereof, except the judiciary or the state legislature.”
As such, the Freedom of Information Law generally pertains to records maintained by
entities of state and local governments.
However, in Westchester-Rockland Newspapers v. Kimball [50 NYS 2d 575 (1980)],
a case involving access to records relating to a lottery conducted by a volunteer fire
company, the Court of Appeals, found that volunteer fire companies, despite their status
as not-for-profit corporations, are “agencies” subject to the Freedom of Information Law.
In so holding, the Court stated that:
“We begin by rejecting respondent’s contention that, in applying the
Freedom of Information Law, a distinction is to be made between a
volunteer organization on which a local government relies for
performance of an essential public service, as is true of the fire
department here, and on the other hand, an organic arm of
government, when that is the channel through which such services are
delivered. Key is the Legislature’s own unmistakably broad
declaration that, ’[a]s state and local government services increase and
public problems become more sophisticated and complex and
therefore harder to solve, and with the resultant increase in revenues
and expenditures, it is incumbent upon the state and its localities to
extend public accountability wherever and whenever feasible’
(emphasis added; Public Officers Law, º84).
“True, the Legislature, in separately delineating the powers and duties
of volunteer fire departments, for example, has nowhere included an
obligation comparable to that spelled out in the Freedom of
Information statute (see Village Law, art 10; see, also, 39 NY Jur,
Municipal Corporations, ºº560-588). But, absent a provision
exempting volunteer fire departments from the reach of article 6-and
there is none-we attach no significance to the fact that these or other
particular agencies, regular or volunteer, are not expressly included.
For the successful implementation of the policies motivating the
enactment of the Freedom of Information Law centers on goals as
broad as the achievement of a more informed electorate and a more
responsible and responsive officialdom. By their very nature such
objections cannot hope to be attained unless the measures taken to
bring them about permeate the body politic to a point where they
become the rule rather than the exception. The phrase ‘public
accountability wherever and whenever feasible’ therefore merely
punctuates with explicitness what in any event is implicit” (id. at 579].
Moreover, although it was contended that documents concerning the lottery were not
subject to the Freedom of Information Law because they did not pertain to the
performance of the company’s fire fighting duties, the Court held that the documents
constituted “records” subject to the Freedom of Information Law [see º86(4)].
More recently, another decision confirmed in an expansive manner that volunteer fire
companies are required to comply with the Freedom of Information Law. That decision,
S.W. Pitts Hose Company et al. v. Capital Newspapers (Supreme Court, Albany County,
January 25, 1988), dealt with the issue in terms of government control over volunteer fire
companies. In its analysis, the Court states that:
“Section 1402 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law is directly
applicable to the plaintiffs and pertains to how volunteer fire
companies are organized. Section 1402(e) provides:
’...a fire corporation, hereafter incorporated under this
section shall be under the control of the city, village,
fire district or town authorities having by law, control
over the prevention or extinguishment of fires therein.
Such authorities may adopt rules and regulations for
the government and control of such corporations.’
“These fire companies are formed by consent of the Colonie Town
Board. The Town has control over the membership of the companies,
as well as many other aspects of their structure, organization and
operation (section 1402). The plaintiffs’ contention that their
relationship with the Town of Colonie is solely contractual is a
mischaracterization. The municipality clearly has, by law, control over
these volunteer organizations which reprovide a public function.
“It should be further noted that the Legislature, in enacting FOIL,
intended that it apply in the broadest possible terms. ’...[I]t is
incumbent upon the state and its localities to extend public
accountability wherever and whenever feasible’ (Public Officers Law,
section 84).
“This court recognizes the long, distinguished history of volunteer fire
companies in New York State, and the vital services they provide to
many municipalities. But not to be ignored is that their existence is
inextricably linked to, dependent on, and under the control of the
municipalities for which they provide an essential public service.”
Based upon the foregoing, it is clear that volunteer fire companies are subject to the
Freedom of Information Law.
In the only case of which I am aware on the subject, the Appellate Division, Second
Department, held that a volunteer ambulance corporation performing its duties for an
ambulance district is subject to the Freedom of Information Law. In so holding, the
decision stated that:
“The Court of Appeals has rejected any distinction between a
volunteer organization on which a local government relies for the
performance of an essential public service and an organic arm of
government (see, Matter of Westchester Rockland Newspapers v.
Kimball, 50 N.Y.2d 575, 579, 430 N.Y.S.2d 574, 408 N.E.2d 904).
“The appellant performs a governmental function, and it performs that
function solely for the Mastic Ambulance District, a municipal entity
and a municipal subdivision of the Town of Brookhaven (hereinafter
the Town). The appellant submits a budget to and receives all of its
funding from the Town, and the allocation of its funds is scrutinized
by the Town. Thus, the appellant clearly falls within the definition of
an agency and is subject to the requirements of FOIL” [Ryan v. Mastic
Ambulance Company, 212 AD 2d 716, 622 NYS 2d 795, 796
(1995)].
It is emphasized that the decision cited above pertained to an ambulance company
performing its duties for an ambulance district, which is itself a public corporation. I am
unaware of the specific nature of the ambulance company whose records you are
requesting. If it is analogous to the entity that was the subject of the Ryan decision, I
believe that it would be subject to the Freedom of Information Law. However, if it is
different, the Freedom of Information Law might not apply. If additional information can
be provided concerning the volunteer ambulance company, perhaps I could offer a more
precise response.
I hope that I have been of assistance.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Freeman
Executive Director
RJF:jm
cc: Hon. Carole P. Hughes, Town Clerk
Putnam Valley Ambulance Corp.
Putnam Valley Volunteer Fire Department
The Democratic majority of the Putnam Valley Town Board disregarded the concerns of the audience and two Republican councilmen and gave a nearly $50,000 administrative job to the live-in girlfriend of Supervisor Sam Davis.
Dawn Powell, a chiropractor, was given the job of aide to the supervisor at the reorganizational meeting last week, despite the objections of councilmen Robert Tendy and Dan Ricci and several town residents.
“This job is for someone the supervisor trusts implicitly,” Davis said. “I trust her completely and know that there is no one who is better qualified.”
However, Davis refused to go over Powell’s resume, other than mentioning she was a chiropractor.
Tendy, who ran unsuccessfully for supervisor last November, reminded Davis the job was much more than acting as a confidential aid to the supervisor.
“The person in this position acts as a liaison to the county and state for Putnam Valley,” said Tendy, who questioned Powell’s qualifications to take on the role.
Ricci questioned the propriety of having the wife or life partner of the town’s highest official working at Town Hall side by side with her husband.
“The whole thing just sheds a negative light on the town,” Ricci said.
Davis said he understood the reservations of Ricci and Tendy but expected Powell “to exceed the expectations of everyone in this room” in terms of her performance and qualifications for the job.
Taxpayer advocate Patty Villanova defended the supervisor and his choice.
“He does not have to justify his choice. This is his private secretary and it is no one’s business who he chooses or why,” Villanova remarked.
Taxpayer advocate Patty Villanova defended the supervisor and his choice.
“He does not have to justify his choice. This is his private secretary and it is no one’s business who he chooses or why,” Villanova remarked.
Shame Shame on Patty Villanova. So this is going to be the Dawn, Davis and Villanova team. What is this world coming to.
You judge a person by the company he keeps.
Chris Lieberman, democratic candidate for Town Board, in Putnam Valley.
You will be judged by your running mates. Dawn Powell and Sam Davis.
E- I- E- I- O
Patty Villanova who are you supporting for Supervisor?
I guess this blog is done – just like the candidate!
Very true PV. Over before it started.
here’s a peek into what’s going on in Peekskill where she has her business—this is only ONE person who slammed her—there were others—LOL!
PattyV, give us a break. How is “the government” hurting you any more than when you decided to come to this town and destroy it with your blind faith advocacy for Mary Foster? You fail to understand that many restaurants succeed in very remote places around here because their food is good (unlike Arne’s). If your business fails, it is your issue, not the City’s.
You must feel like “cr @ p” having all those Ecuadorian businesses in town do better than you do. Why do they succeed where you fail? They have tapped into a local market. If you aren’t looking for a hand out, then why complain? Here’s white bread holding what you deserve, the world’s smallest violin…
Give her a break she means well.
From the North County News
July 1, 2009
Get to know Lieberman
To the Editor:
Anthony Bazzo’s commentary discusses the town board race in Putnam Valley.
Hopefully, Putnam Valley Democratic voters will take the opportunity over the next two months to acquaint themselves with Chris Lieberman. He is not new to Putnam Valley and his qualifications for the town board are indeed impressive. A former EMT, he is now the chief pilot for the Aviation Unit of the Westchester Police. He came to the fore this season with the Peekskill Hollow Road issue and was active in advocating for the continuation of county EMT services.
He will be an asset working with budgets and financial planning for the future of Putnam Valley. And, unlike the current board, he will be attentive to the needs of the residents.
It is unfortunate that Councilwoman Whetsel feels the need to oppose this newcomer to town politics. The public has been clear in rejecting her continued candidacy.
We need Chris Lieberman’s fresh perspective.
Dawn V. Powell
Putnam Valley
Chris you will be judged by the company you keep. Each time Dawn Powell or Sam Davis write or talk about you. You loose 5 democrat votes.
Keep up the good work Wendy will win.
While surfing the Web I came accross this and I find it interesting. This person has such a dark past. Why would she subject herself to the possibility of any of it coming out.
Good luckn you will need it.
I wouldn’t vote for Villanova is she were the last creepy, paranoid pseudo-politician on Earth. Her only ‘enthusiastic’ support is from her weird little cult of buddies. The rest of the town laughs at her and reviles her – especially for this Firehouse debacle. When you start to attack the people who protect us, you lose all credibility.
Go back to holding pathetic signs on street corners by yourself, creepy.
Today on Pattys Blog she says that a 100 vote win is not a mandate for Bob Tendy.
This is funny she won the primary by 2 votes. She said that was an historic event.
If 2 Votes is an Historic Event, then 100 votes is a Mandate.