Why Is The Monroe Town Supervisor Trying To Make This Union Look Bad?

A look at how Supervisor Tony Cardone has opened the Town of Monroe up to yet another lawsuit.

On October 4th, 2023, William Brown Jr. shared with The Photo-News why he was running for the role of Highway Superintendent for the Town of Monroe. Brown Jr., the Deputy Highway Superintendent at the time, said, “I am a lifelong resident of Monroe and my heart is here. My wife and I have chosen to raise our four sons in the place I call home, two of which have followed in my footsteps serving our community as volunteer firefighters.”

In years past, Brown was asked to run for the position of Superintendent but declined. After reviewing candidates, the Town Board settled on James “Pat” Patterson and appointed him to the job instead. It’s alleged that Patterson’s home town newspaper announced Patterson getting the position before the appointment was official, but I have yet to verify this.

At some point during his tenure at the highway department, it’s also alleged that Mr. Brown Jr. began to be treated poorly by Patterson and others. The cause and reason for this mistreatment is not yet known. Whatever the cause; however, it was enough to get Mr. Brown Jr. to finally run for the position of Highway Superintendent against James Patterson.

So, on Tuesday, November 8th, 2023, the results of the Highway Superintendent election came in. Highway Superintendent James “Pat” Patterson was re-elected, defeating William Brown Jr. by a total of 1,396 to 1,011.

Then, Mr. Brown Jr. returned to his position as Deputy Supervisor. And all was quiet.

That is until …

On February 5th, 2024, during the Town of Monroe Board meeting, an item appeared on the agenda labeled “Working Leader, Highway Department.”

The resolution approves the appointment of Thor Midtbo as Working Leader, Highway Department, on the recommendation of Highway Superintendent James "Pat" Patterson. The resolution states that the current stipend for Working Leader is $5,300 per year and is subject to change based on the forthcoming update of the IBEW Union Agreement. 

The Town Board then went into Executive Session to discuss, as I was told from multiple sources, the replacement of Deputy Highway Superintendent William Brown Jr.

Coming out of the executive session that night was a situation in which Supervisor Tony Cardone made willfully false and misleading statements to the Village Police — Which you can listen to here — and was not charged for doing so. I have reached out to the Village of Monroe Police department to ask why charges were not filed against Mr. Cardone that evening. The Village Police Department and Lt. Hanson, who was on the scene that night, have not responded as of press time.

The following month, on March 4th, 2024, The Town of Monroe Board motions to approve the change to the IBEW Union agreement, which removes the position of Deputy Highway Superintendent. Only Councilwoman Richardson voted against this change.

The discussion involving this change is not included in the Town’s official meeting minutes for March 4th.

However, you can watch the discussion occur below, starting at 52:46. During his statements, Cardone makes no mention of the removal of the Deputy Highway Superintendent position. Neither does Town Attorney Brian Nugent. Only Councilwoman Richardson brings up this item, seven minutes later at 59:05, after Supervisor Cardone attempts to move on.

So, just to be clear what happened:

Had Councilwoman Richardson not said anything, the removal of William Brown Jr.’s job as Deputy Superintendent would not have been publicly discussed or even acknowledged by the town.

During the discussion, Richardson mentions the Town’s ability, under the new IBEW contract, to appoint a Deputy Highway Superintendent if Highway Superintendent James Patterson does not appoint one.

Supervisor Cardone responds to Councilwoman Richardson by stating that losing the Deputy does not diminish the quality of services afforded to the Town residents.

Cardone then goes on to say that the Deputy Highway Superintendent position should not be in the union contract because it would create a conflict of interest if a disciplinary matter should arise. Why this was not brought up in earlier negotiations with the IBEW is unknown at this time.

This is the key point though …

In response to Councilwoman Richardson pointing out that other towns have an appointed Deputy Supervisor, and ways around whatever the potential conflict of interest may be, Supervisor Cardone states:

“That’s funny because the union totally agreed with us [The Monroe Town Board] that it [The Deputy Highway Superintendent Role] should be out because of the disciplinary reasons.” [Emphasis added.]

Cardone then said that “it’s Pat’s call” to appoint the Deputy Highway Superintendent if he chooses to do so. This isn’t true. After five days, the Town Board can, if it chooses, also appoint a Deputy Highway Superintendent. Something that it has not thus far.

After a brief discussion, Cardone again states, “It’s Pat’s call, and I don’t think we should be meddling in Pat’s business.”

But What Does The IBEW Have To Say?

Highway Superintendent James Patterson is alleged to have informed Monroe Town Councilwoman Richardson that the deputy position was being removed because he wanted to eliminate the position.

Highway Superintendent Patterson did not reply to multiple requests for comment on this matter. I have submitted a FOIL request concerning all discussions involving the removal of Mr. Brown Jr. between Mr. Patterson, Mr. Cardone, Mr. Nugent, and Mrs. Houle on both their personal and professional devices and email accounts.

I then reached out to IBEW Local 363’s Business Manager, Sam Fratto. Mr. Fratto also did not reply to phone calls and emails requesting comment. His lack of response resulted in me reaching out to the IBEW’s main office for additional assistant in speaking with representatives of the Union here in New York.

I also reached out to Frank Perugino, IBEW Local 363 President. I asked him:

“Monroe Town Supervisor Tony Cardone stated that you agreed with him when he explained that Monroe's Deputy Highway Superintendent position is a "conflict of interest" as a union position.

However, I've been told that the Deputy Highway Superintendent position in Monroe is being eliminated for political reasons, given that Mr. William Brown Jr. (the Deputy Highway Superintendent) ran against James Patterson (the current Highway Superintendent) and lost this Fall in an election for the Highway Superintendent position.

Can you help clarify if Supervisor Cardone was being truthful in his statements representing the IBEW's position concerning this role?”

In a statement to The Monroe Gazette, Mr. Perugino said,

The IBEW Local 363 negotiating committee negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement with the town of Monroe that was passed unanimously by the entire membership. IBEW Local 363 members attained the contract that they desired at the start of negotiations.

Mr. Perugino did not respond to my question about William Brown Jr’s role as Deputy Highway Superintendent. So I asked again:

“Hi Frank,

Thank you for the quick response on this. Just to clarify: Can you explain how the Deputy Supervisor role in the Highway Department reflects a conflict of interest as a union position?”

Mr. Perugino replied:

The Deputy Position was a Title listed in the CBA  only describing the required duties of a Deputy, the CBA clearly stated both parties agree that the Deputy is not a job classification or Title subject to Negotiations other than the provided stipend for the Deputy.

The Town Highway Superintendent determines the need for a deputy, who if appointed serves at the pleasure of the Highway Superintendent. The IBEW has NO say on whether a Deputy Highway Superintendent is appointed or not filled.

The Town of Monroe Highway Department and Water Department have IBEW Represented employees in leadership positions who are more than capable to handle all matters that may arise and are  fully committed to serving the residents of the Town of Monroe.

The IBEW will have no further comment on this matter.

You’ll notice something based on Mr. Perugino’s response: Supervisor Cardone’s statements that the IBEW “totally agreed with us” concerning the removal of the Deputy Highway Superintendent position over disciplinary reasons are false.

This is now the second time — that I can confirm — that Monroe Supervisor Cardone has made knowingly and willfully false statements to the general public during a Town Board meeting.

(Why the Town Ethics Committee has not acted on this is anyone’s guess.)

But here, we can see Cardone publicly misrepresenting the position of the IBEW in order to further a campaign of political retribution against William Brown Jr.

No doubt, this could leave the Town of Monroe open to a lawsuit involving Mr. Brown Jr., which will result in local taxpayers having to foot the bill — Again — over the alleged illegal activity by Supervisor Cardone.

In addition, such a lawsuit may also reveal even more unethical behavior by the Town Board and Highway Superintendent James Patterson, including alleged claims of sexual harassment that could not be confirmed as this story went to press.

In seeming retaliation for voting against the IBEW agreement, Mr. Cardone has sent a FOIL request to Councilwoman Richardson, requesting access to her personal emails, texts, and other messages that may involve her speaking to IBEW representatives. I believe this is being done in an attempt to smear Councilwoman Richardson as somehow anti-union.

(Although it’s worth pointing out here, between Cardone and Richardson, only one of them is a Democrat. So you can guess which one is more likely to be anti-union.)

If Councilwoman Richardson chooses to fight Mr. Cardone’s request, Mr. Cardone would have to sue the Town of Monroe, again resulting in the further loss of money out of local resident’s already tight wallets.

We would also now be in a scenario where the Town Supervisor is suing a Town Councilwoman in order to smear her politically and retaliate for voting against his plan for political retaliation against an IBEW member.

Mr. Brown Jr. has not replied to requests for comment either directly or through intermediaries. He still works at the Town Highway Department, in a demoted position, at the time of this writing.