New board members fire police commissioner

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FISHKILL – The three new Republican Fishkill Town Board members have eliminated the town’s police commissioner position, and Town Supervisor Ozzy Albra said the decision was nothing more than political retribution.  Dennis Zack had been appointed to the position in April of 2020 and earned an annual salary of $40,000.

At the reorganization meeting of the board last week, Republicans Carmine Istvan Brian Wrye, and John Forman refused to fund Zack’s position for 2022.  The vote was 3-2 in favor of the move, with Albra voting against it.  Councilwoman Louise Danielle abstained because she says the process was flawed.

Zack was the chairman of the Dutchess County Independence Party when he was named commissioner.  At the time of the appointment, outspoken Albra critic, attorney Ken Stenger said, “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 and this is his reward.”  The story of Zack’s hiring can be found HERE.

Albra was surprised by the elimination and said the new members “sabotaged” him at the meeting.  “It looks like nothing more than retribution here,” he said.  Albra noted that the move removes civilian oversight of the police department.  He indicated that several civilian complaints against the department have been filed and they are involved in multiple lawsuits.  

A search of court filings by Mid-Hudson News found only one lawsuit involving the police department.  It was brought by former Fishkill cop Scott Bierce.  He resigned after 38 years with the department under questionable circumstances and has sued to get his job back.  Albra supports the re-hiring of the embattled Bierce.  The lawsuit story can be found HERE.

Councilman Carmine Istvan, after the successful move to eliminate the position, said he is “about saving taxpayer money.  There is no need for a chief and a commissioner.  I promised to be a watchdog for the taxpayers and this is a start.”

 

Fishkill Detective Carl DeMarco, the PBA president, told Albra during the meeting, “We can take that money and fund one of the vacant lieutenant positions.”  DeMarco told Mid-Hudson News that the department is doing its best, but Albra is not funding vacant supervisory positions.




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