Harvey: "transparency"

FISHKILL – Some 50 people turned out for a Tea Party meeting Monday evening, all concerned about a state comptroller’s audit which said the Town of Fishkill has a $3 million deficit.

Some called for the resignation of Town Supervisor Joan Pagones, others said town government needs to be more open.

Lex Harvey is an organizer of the local Tea Party.

“I think it’s important that we have transparency and I don’t that’s been available to even our elected board members,” he said.

Town Councilman Robert LaColla agrees.

“I think if we open the process and do all of our business in the public eye, it would go a long way to restoring some faith in government,” he said.

Dr. David Eberle had harsh words for Pagones.

“Our current town supervisor has run this as her personal fiefdom,” he said. “She doesn’t broker any discussion even from other people on the town board and she has lied repeatedly and she has literally bankrupted the town and hasn’t told us what’s going on.”

After the audit was made public recently, Pagones had no additional comment on advice of counsel. Her response to the criticisms in the audit, where, however, included in the document.