Op-Ed: Trustee Fabbro Should Recuse Himself From IMA Discussions in Woodbury
Given his direct and financial conflict of interest, Woodbury Village Trustee Matthew Fabbro should not be involved in any discussions concerning the Woodbury IMA.
Howdy.
This is a short post specifically for the local Southern Orange County readers. At last night’s Woodbury Village Board meeting, the mayor mentioned that the board received a letter from me.
The full text of the letter is below. I’ll have more coming to you soon on Woodbury before we shift back over to South Blooming Grove for next week.
I’m also looking into some things on the Monroe front. The issue there is I basically have to sue the Town via an Article 78, or multiple Article 78s, to complete some of the Monroe stories.
I’m reluctant to do that, because if I’m going to file an Article 78 suit, in order of priority, it’s South Blooming Grove, then Woodbury, then Monroe.
Think of it like a Volcano. South Blooming Grove is the erupting volcano. Woodbury is in the direct path of that lava. Monroe is a little further out (for now).
I'd like to submit this letter for public comment.
On his LinkedIn profile, Trustee Matthew Fabbro lists that he is a researcher employed by the New York State Assembly. I cannot confirm whether or not he is still employed by the Assembly, but the Trustee should be asked this question and made to answer during this evening's meeting.
If Trustee Fabbro is still an employee of the New York State government, Mr. Fabbro may have a direct conflict of interest concerning tonight's vote on the creation of the Village of Woodbury Ethics Committee and the appointment of Carmine Mastrogiacomo as chair of that committee.
This conflict stems from Fabbro's continued employment with New York State government, and his previous relationship with State Senator James Skoufis. The Senator could wield undue financial and political influence over Mr. Fabbro as it relates to Fabbro's employment with the State and future political aspirations, if any.
Mr. Fabbro should recuse himself from any vote concerning the creation of the Ethics Committee and of the appointment of Mr. Mastrogiacomo. He should also recuse himself from attending the upcoming IMA workshop between the Town and Village, given Mr. Skoufis's vocal preference of a soft merger between Town and Village and Mr. Fabbro's relationship to the Senator, which could influence what he attempts to negotiate, or not negotiate, with the Town. This raises serious ethical concerns as well as the potential long term negative consequences that could be felt by Woodbury residents within the next IMA.
At some point between the Mayor's announcement of Mr. Mastrogiacomo as his preferred choice for chair of this committee, Senator Skoufis was notified of the mayor's choice and began to attack Mr. Mastrogiacomo, most recently during a 48-hour psychotic Facebook meltdown.
It would not be fair to say with certainty that Mr. Fabbro was the one who informed the senator of Mr. Mastrogiacomo's candidacy for the ethics board, but Woodbury residents have a right to a reasonable impression based on the Senator's behavior and his relationship with Mr. Fabbro.
This relationship included providing Mr. Fabbro with a memo to read at the previous Woodbury Village Board meeting. To his credit, Mr. Fabbro did not read the memo; however, the fact that the State Senator provided him with one to read in the first place, and then immediately asked if it was read following the completion of that meeting should be cause for concern among Woodbury residents about Mr. Fabbro's loyalties.
As you know, Mr. Fabbro has a fiduciary responsibility to all residents of the Village of Woodbury and not to State Senator Skoufis in his capacity as Village Trustee.
This Skoufis Facebook meltdown occurred after the people of Woodbury spoke up to the Senator and expressed their grave concerns about the Senator's proposal of a soft merger between Town and Village.
I believe the Senator, in his proven and verifiable vindictive nature, is now seeking revenge against the Village of Woodbury, and all Woodbury residents, for raising their numerous and justified concerns about this soft merger. And I believe he intends to influence Trustee Fabbro (as well as Trustee Freidband) to seek that revenge.
This form of revenge comes in the form of direct interference and retaliation with the selection of Mr. Mastrogiacomo as Chair of the newly created Woodbury Ethics Board.
In fact, during his psychotic Facebook meltdown, Senator Skoufis knowingly and intentionally outed Mr. Mastrogiacomo's Facebook alias. Mr. Mastrogiacomo maintained this alias as a decorated former NYPD officer to protect himself and his family from retaliation. Mr. Skoufis's actions placed Mr. Mastrogiacomo and his family in harmsway, and now he loudly criticizes Mr. Mastrogiacomo and has pushed for Trustee Fabbro and Freidband to vote against Mastrogiacomo's appointment.
I have reported Senator Skoufis to the New York State Commission on Ethics in Lobbying and Government, and I caution all Woodbury Trustees, Mr. Fabbro included, that they will be the next ones reported if this sort of interference from the State Senator in the affairs of Woodbury residents is allowed to continue.
I hope you will take this comment into consideration and request Mr. Fabbro recuse himself from any vote having to do with the Ethics Committee and Mr. Mastrogiacomo given the State Senator's comments on both and his recent unethical pattern of behavior as it relates to the future of this community.
I also hope you request that Mr. Fabbro recuse himself from the upcoming IMA public workshop scheduled to be held this month given his relationship with the Senator and NYS government, and the Senator's publicly stated position to punish all elected officials in Woodbury who work against his plan for this soft merger.
Thank you for your time.