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A Money Grab was Evident From the Start
Dear Editor:
For years, little was done to protect Putnam Valley's rural nature. Many McMansions and cluster homes were built too close to the road. Wetlands needed protection.
Sam Davis was elected PV Town Supervisor on his pledge to protect the environment and be fiscally responsible. Sworn in at the start of 2006, he began his town job at the end of January, accepting his first $77,000/yr. salary check for that entire month plus his teacher's salary. First on his agenda was hiring his live-in companion as his private secretary, without experience, at $46,000 to start, instead of $32,000, later deemed improper by the town's Ethics Board.
He promoted her to "Confidential Aide" and offered her a 4% increase. The town board voted to reduce her salary to $36,000. Davis sued the PV Town Board and Ethics Committee to reverse their decisions and sent a letter to the Ethics Board on Nov. 29 to investigate 20+ town employees for possible conflicts of interest. Their names have since been cleared.
After Sam pocketed $7,000 to handle the town's budget himself, at year's end, he announced a 21% tax hike that the board whittled down to 13%.
Residents are in dire straits over money for nothing but wasted time on improprieties.
Joan Mercado Putnam Valley
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