TOWN OF FISHKILL – By a 3-2 vote Wednesday night, the Fishkill Town Board named Dennis Zack, former town board member and chairman of the Dutchess County Independence Party, to the newly created position of police commissioner.
After taking office in January, Town Supervisor Ozzy Albra called for the resignation of the town’s Police Chief Jimmy Schepperly, who complied in late January.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the town board Wednesday night conducted a meeting that included three public hearings, one of which was for the creation of the police commissioner position.
Town hall was open for the meeting with a restriction on the number of people that could attend. Only two town board members were physically present, Supervisor Albra and councilman Ori Brachfeld. Joining them was Town Clerk Becki Tompkins. Board members Louise Daniele, Kenya Gadsen, and Jacqueline Bardini all participated via video conferencing.
The public hearing for the creation of the police commissioner position during a time when people are being encouraged to stay home drew criticism from many.
Attorney Ken Stenger was in the town hall and questioned the need to conduct the hearing during the pandemic, noting that there is no requirement to act immediately on the commissioner decision. Stenger said the reason for the accelerated process was that “The supervisor and his loyal board members, wanted to get something done without the public seeing it done.” Stenger went on, saying “It was a political payoff to Dennis Zack who, in his role as a county leader of the Independence Party, has spent the last eight years tirelessly trying to get Mr. Albra elected supervisor. Mr. Zack finally succeeded. Supervisor Albra has now presented him with his reward. Unfortunately, the people of Fishkill will have to pay for that reward with their taxes and the politicization of their police department.” Albra had the endorsement of Zack and the Dutchess County Independence Party in November when he defeated Bob LaColla for the town’s top spot.
Residents of Fishkill were given the opportunity to submit their written comments prior to the meeting or call in during the hearing. The town attorney acted as the telephone operator in connecting the few callers to the meeting to express their opinions. While the hearing was solely for the creation of the position, at least two acquaintances of Zack used the opportunity to express their support for his hiring. Several callers questioned the need to have the hearing during the pandemic and also expressed their opposition to the new title.
Former board member Tom Knipps called in and said that the position is not needed and said that the residents of Fishkill will see it differently than Albra. “Fishkill board creates bureaucratic, no-show, meddling position at increased cost to taxpayers,” is the description Knipps gave to describe the action.
When the board ended the hearings and moved to the agenda, they first voted 3-2 to create the position and then they debated the resolution to name Zack as police commissioner. Brachfeld questioned the need for a commissioner considering the department is currently without a chief. He continued to question the proposal noting that no other candidates were interviewed by the board. Councilmember Louise Daniele, a retired New York State trooper, agreed with Brachfeld, saying “We don’t need to create this position,” and cited the lack of an interview process.
When Albra spoke, he called the appointment of Zack “The start of the de-politicizing of the police department.” He touted his nominee’s record as a retired decorated police officer and declared that no member of the board had police experience, other than himself. Albra is retired from the Bedford Police Department. Daniele pointed out that she, like Albra is a retired officer, adding that she was willing to act as a liaison between the board and the police department, eliminating the need for the new position. Albra responded with, “That’s not going to happen.”
After a lengthy debate, Zack was named to the new position by a 3-2 vote with Brachfeld and Daniele voting against it. Zack’s salary is $40,000 annually and he is scheduled to take office on April 6. According to Albra, the position comes with an office and use of a pool car for official business. The supervisor added that the position does not include benefits.
Zack did not return messages seeking comment.
