Harrison REVIEW THE
June 16, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 24 | www.harrisonreview.com
3rd Republican enters tax receiver race, will primary By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer
THE SOUND OF MUSIC Jonny Parks, a singer-songwriter from White Plains, released “The Portia LP,” a rhythm and blues and soul-inspired album on May 20. For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy Jonnyparks.com
DA drops investigation into ex-firefighter The Westchester County district attorney’s office has closed its investigation into the former treasurer of the downtown Harrison Fire Department, William Powell, who was ousted from the department last year. A March 24 letter from Assistant District Attorney Stephen Ronco to Powell’s attorney, Andrew Rubin, says that the office closed its investigation after finding insufficient evidence to support charges that Powell had misused Fire Department funds. When reached by phone this week, the district attorney’s office declined to comment or any offer specifics related to the investigation. And there are no other details related to the case available, as of press time.
Powell, a volunteer, was removed from the office of treasurer and from the Fire Department in May 2016, in an unrelated matter, after being suspended the month prior for dereliction of duty, related to the department’s loss of its nonprofit status on Powell’s watch. In 2013, the department automatically lost its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status after not filing the requisite forms with the IRS dating back to 2009. The department had previously had status as a charitable organization since 1993 or earlier. But following the loss of that status, the department was required to pay taxes on all donations it received. According to Vito Faga, the president of the Fire Department, the department’s non-profit status has
recently been restored. Powell had been a volunteer in the downtown Fire Department for decades, and had served as chief of the department in 2004. He owns several restaurants in the downtown area including Powell’s Catering, Halstead Avenue Beer Garden and the newly re-opened Wellington’s Grill. The downtown Fire Department is a mostly volunteer organization, consisting of more than 50 volunteer members and supplemented by a dozen paid professionals. It has a budget of $4.15 million for fiscal year 2017. Neither Rubin nor John Masciola, chief of the downtown Fire Department, could be reached for comment as of press time. -Reporting by Corey Stockton
A third registered Republican has told the Review he plans to run for receiver of taxes in November, triggering a crowded field and likely primary for the seat. Michael Giordano, 55, said he will seek to replace incumbent receiver of taxes Nancy Masi, who plans to retire when her current term ends at the start of 2018, joining already announced candidates Rosa Mastrogiacomo-Luongo Maria Mioli Pennella, both Republicans. Giordano currently works for Masi in Harrison’s tax office, where he has been employed for 22 years. Prior to that, he had worked for the Bank of New York and Citibank. Giordano said he would aim to bring the tax office—which he said was behind the times in some areas—up-to-date with new technologies and approaches. “I have a lot of new ideas that I want to bring to the office,” he said, adding that in his time working there, he has introduced new technologies such as check scanners, helping to modernize the office’s record keeping. He added that he is considering potential deals with credit card companies, allowing residents to pay their tax bills via credit card at a minimal expense. And he said he wants to make the town’s tax roll accessible on Harrison municipal website. Giordano said that he had first considered running receiver of taxes last time the seat was up for election in 2013. But he said he was dissuaded by Republican district leaders, who ultimately backed Masi. But this year, the Republican Committee threw their support behind his opponent, Mastrogiacomo-Luongo, who was also endorsed by the Westchester County
Independence Party. “I lost the endorsement by one vote, according to the district leaders,” he told the Review. Giordano added that he would look to challenge Mastrogiacomo-Luongo in a primary for the right to run on the Republican line in the general election. Both candidates will have to submit 285 signatures of registered Republicans who live in Harrison to the county Board of Elections by July 13 to trigger a primary election, which would then be held on Sept. 12. Whichever candidate claims victory in the primary would then take on Mioli Pennella, a fellow registered Republican who decided to run as a Democrat, after also losing out on the GOP nomination in favor of Mastrogiacomo-Luongo; Mioli Pennella is also being endorsed by the town Conservative Party. Last week, Mioli Pennella told the Review that despite her party affiliation as a Republican, she did not plan on challenging Mastrogiacomo-Luongo for the party line in a primary, and said she would instead wait until the November general election. The receiver of taxes in Harrison earns $101,050 annually and is elected to a four-year term. Election Day is Nov. 7. CONTACT: corey@hometwn.com