East Hampton - East Hampton Town Supervisor William McGintee resigned from office on Monday, October 5, citing the town's financial crisis and the continuing criminal investigation into possible misconduct within his administration.
"After a long period of reflection, I have decided to step down as Supervisor of the Town of East Hampton, effective immediately," McGintee wrote in a letter submitted to the Town Clerk on Monday. "Although much has been accomplished during my tenure as Supervisor, the past two years have been fiscally difficult for the Town," he continued, "As Supervisor and the Town's Chief Fiscal Officer, I accept responsibility for the position we are now in."
The Suffolk County District Attorney (DA) has been investigating the McGintee administration's actions in 2006 and 2007, during which time funds were transferred from the dedicated Community Preservation Fund (CPF) to cover payroll and other unapproved expenses in the general fund. McGintee and his appointed Budget Officer Ted Hults have also been accused of allegedly misrepresenting the town's financial situation in bond documents. Since that time, the town has accrued more than $18 million of debt, precipitating in a 24 percent property tax increase for town residents in 2008 and significant deficit bonding approval from the New York State Legislature.
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Supervisor McGintee held the top seat in town for three consecutive two-year terms. |
Hults was arraigned on two counts of official misconduct and six felony charges in June, including two counts of fraudulent practices in respect to stocks, bonds and other securities, two counts of falsifying business records in the first degree and two counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree. Charges have yet to be brought against McGintee.
"There is an active, ongoing, grand jury investigation of the Town of East Hampton," Suffolk County DA
Thomas Spota said Monday, "The grand jury will determine the resolution of this investigation. We have no further comment."
"I have devoted my entire professional career to the Town of East Hampton and I believe that resigning now is in the Town's best interest," McGintee explained, "Ending this matter allows me to provide ongoing assistance to the District Attorney's office as its investigation continues, and to spend more time with my family."
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All eyes will be on Deputy Supervisor Pete Hammerle for the remainder of the budget process. |
Deputy Supervisor Pete Hammerle will assume the role of supervisor until the next administration takes office in January. McGintee submitted his Tentative 2010 Budget to the Town Board members, the first step in the town's budget process which is prepared solely by the supervisor's office, before stepping down. "The supervisor's job is done" as it concerns the budget, Hammerle stated, "I believe that's what he stayed to do." Hammerle will take the reins of the town's daily operations beginning this afternoon when he will meet with the various department heads in town. "I'm fully capable and everything is going to be fine," he said, "My biggest goal is to reassure everybody."
"I'm still a little bit in shock," Councilman Brad Loewen said an hour after learning of the supervisor's intention to step down, "I can't say it was the last thing I expected, but it was." According to Loewen, "He wanted to accomplish a few things, including the budget," however McGintee had planed to get out of the public's eye for the sake of his family for some time.
Councilwoman Pat Mansir was neither worried nor surprised by McGintee's resignation. "If we listened to the rumor mill, this is not entirely unexpected," Mansir said on Monday, "It was a matter of when and what the conditions around it may have been," with regards to the preparation of the budget and cooperation with the DA's office. "Most importantly, the fact remains that we have work to do," Mansir stated, adding that McGintee plans to make himself available to the board members throughout the remainder of the budget process.
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In a letter submitted to the Town Clerk Monday, McGintee acknowledged the town's financial problems and accepted full responsibility for them. |
Guest (Solution for dishonesty ) from east hampton says:
Possible solution to end some of this corruption by these so called "civil" (should be renamed UN-civil) servants? Many know that they put much weight on their "Retirement" that is directly paid for by "CIVILians", Us. ACCOUNTABILITY is the term the President of the United States used to prevent dishonest practices. Example: the current BIG business, banks, etc., bonuses are going to be directly linked, (accountable) to their bottom line profit or loss. Soo..The civil servants retirement benefits should also be directly linked to the Township making a profit or loss, and not soley by raising taxes, like an actual real time business... To quote the comedian Jackie Mason, "Put them on Commission"!!! One other thing....MAKE SURE they are educated enough, let's see their RESUME...Would have bumped this Democratic Board out on their A--.