Gallo: “… fradulent behavior …”
KINGSTON – Mayor Shayne Gallo stood his ground Monday at a Kingston City Hall news conference, where he defended his decision to terminate Fire Chief Chris Rea nearly four years ago. The matter has been tied up in court, through numerous proceedings, ever since.
The mayor also took First Ward Alderman Matthew Dunn to task for issuing “inaccurate and inappropriate statements” in a June 24th letter from Dunn to City Council President James Noble.
Gallo is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Steve Noble, a nephew of James Noble, who works in the Parks & Recreation Department.
“It’s clear that Mr. Dunn’s judgment has been clouded by political hatred towards my office, and his support of my Democratic Primary opponent,” Gallo said. “His judgment has been compromised to the extent that he’s willing to risk the legal position of the city, without taking the time to review the record and legal proceedings of this matter,” Gallo noted. “Mr. Dunn has lost sight of his fiduciary responsibility to the city, and he would prefer to continue his personal political battles, rather than protect the best interests of his constituents.”
Gallo said since Dunn is an attorney, he should know that it is “inappropriate to comment on pending litigation, particularly without having knowledge of the evidence and the record.”
The mayor said Rea was engaged in “a pattern of fraudulent behavior as the assistant chief, that required his immediate removal,” reiterating his belief that a crime had occurred. Rea’s predecessor, Richard Salzman, pled guilty to four misdemeanors in a similar case, but Rea himself was not prosecuted.
Gallo said that contrary to Dunn’s statements, all of the litigation involving Rea was initiated by Rea, and the city has prevailed in every decision so far.
