NEW PALTZ – Vincent Cozzolino, who pled guilty to felony conflict of interest charges in Orange County Court days ago, serves on the SUNY New Paltz College Council, but that may not be for much longer.
Cozzolino, of Gardiner, is precluded from serving with a felony record, said Acting College Council Chairman Eli Basch, an attorney.
“He served the council very well. I feel very sad that has happened,” said Basch. “Vinny served admirably on the council.”
Cozzolino’s conviction stems from his owning the Galileo consulting firm and also having a contract to manage the Orange County Industrial Development Agency.
One of Cozzolino’s attorneys and a top SUNY official had no comment about his future on the college board and the governor’s press office did not respond to a request for information about it.
Former Orange County Executive Edward Diana also pled guilty in the IDA case. He was a member of the board and was paid by Cozzolino’s company.
In April 2014, the college board of trustees named the physical education building at the Middletown Campus the Edward A. Diana Physical Education Center.
In light of Diana’s guilty plea, there has been an undercurrent of talk that the college may remove his name from the gym building.
The college has issued a statement:
“As per Orange County Community College policy, final decisions on facility naming reside with the Board of Trustees. The board is monitoring the legal proceedings involving the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, specifically as they relate to Ed Diana. In the event the board elected to take action regarding facility renaming, such action would take place at a public board meeting, as governed by the New York State Open Meetings Law.”
