KINGSTON – The August 2015 session of the Kingston Common Council’s Finance and Audit Committee is expected to be the most explosive city meeting of the year, due to a controversy involving mayoral candidate Steven Noble, which erupted on July 15.
Tempers flared when Alderman Matthew Dunn disrupted the July 15 finance meeting, prompting committee chair Mary Ann Mills to threaten having him removed. The entire altercation was captured on video and posted to the Internet.
The matter carried over this month, following inaction by the city council during their regular meeting on August 3, where aldermen declined to appoint an independent auditor to examine allegations.
Steven Noble denies charges that he mismanaged numerous grants while employed by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The issue was raised by city Economic Development chief Gregg Swanzey, following a two-year investigation by his office.
“They’re not fabricated,” Swanzey told Mid-Hudson News.
Some questioned the timing of the revelations. With a primary scheduled for Sept. 10 between Steven Noble and Mayor Shayne Gallo, political infighting overshadows the entire affair.
Until recently, Noble enjoyed an edge over Gallo by winning the Democratic nomination at Kingston’s party caucus. A postal glitch in the mayor’s paperwork tipped the Independence Party line to Republican candidate Ron Polacco.
Steven Noble’s running mate – his uncle, incumbent city council President James Noble – also sits on the Finance Committee.
Last Friday, the upcoming finance session — originally scheduled for Wednesday August 13, was quietly rescheduled to the following Thursday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m. Sources say the switch was done to resolve a scheduling conflict with Swanzey.
The location at Conference Room 1 in City Hall is not large enough to accommodate all the lawyers, officials and public spectators planning to attend, having seating capacity for only a dozen people, plus the committee.
¨A report is going to be provided to Finance next week from Mr. Swanzey,” Gallo said. ¨He’s going to identify where we’re at with the issue of double-dipping, stay tuned.¨
Matthew Dunn’s July 15 Finance and Audit Committee comments can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7b9LjpbuNY&t=37m45s
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