Mayor Quashes Political Rumors

Fire Chief Asks for Audit of Volunteer's Finances

by Judy Silberstein

(November 1, 2007) The Village of Larchmont's March election is not for another four and a half months, but poltical tempers already appear to be rising, as evidenced by comments from the mayor and the Village Board at their October 29 meeting.

Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld opened the meeting wearing a green Red Sox hat in honor of the team's World Series victory, but she later turned to a more serious topic: rumors that she is moving. She said politically motivated rumors began circulating as early as two years ago, before the 2006 elections, and surfaced again more recently. Her husband works for the Red Sox organization and lives in Boston during the week, she explained, but "I am not moving to Boston. My family has no intention of moving to Boston," she stressed. "We have a lot of work left to do."

She went on to pointedly criticize the former mayor (Ken Bialo), the former head of the Republican Party, Marian White, and a former trustee, Mike Wiener, for comments on their LMC-TV show. (Mayor Feld, also a Republican, ran on a coalition ticket with two Democrats after she failed to gain her party's endorsement in 2006.)

"They are knowingly telling lies," said Mayor Feld.

The mayor said she had been ignoring the political show, but "from now on, we'll address things as they come up."

Mayor Feld got support from Trustee Jim Millstein (who ran with her in the 2006 election). He said, "I think it's just pure and simple resentment" of the current "activist board."

"I urge you to learn the facts," said Trustee Marlene Kolbert (who also ran with Mayor Feld in 2006.)

Asked for comment following the meeting, Mr. Wiener said he had no role in spreading rumors. "I hear them as well, and I just laugh," he said. "I have issues with what they're doing - not with who they are," he added. "They are head and shoulders above others for having the guts and the desire to be in the line of fire."

On another serious note, the mayor and board addressed the topic of artifical turf safety, which had also come up on the Republican TV show. That topic consumed much of the evening. (See: Larchmont Board Addresses Turf Safety Concerns)

Fire Chief Requests Audit of Volunteer Companies

Another political volatile issue was raised by Fire Chief Rich Heine, who asked the board for authorization to initiate an independent audit of financial records for the Larchmont Fire Department and for each of the four volunteer companies. “This will give us a fresh start and let us know where we stand,” said the chief, who was appointed by the board over objections from many of the volunteers.

The Fire Department, as a whole, and each of the four fire companies receive a share of money from fundraising and also from so-called “1.8” funds, which are payments from foreign insurance companies selling commercial policies in Larchmont. The amount of 1.8 money fluctuates but was $57K this year, said Chief Heine.

Trustee Millstein explained that “as a result of some of the controversies arising from Rich’s appointment and some of the changes that occurred in the bylaws in the dance of all that, questions have arisen as to how funds have been expended by the companies.” An audit would insure that the funds are available for the current volunteers “who are turning out and helping us” and that the previous funds “have not been expended in any way that is prohibited by law,” said Mr. Millstein.

Chief Heine said he has requested financial documents from each of the companies, but only two have delivered the records, which Mr. Millstein said added to suspicions.

Some former and current volunteer firefighters are continuing legal challenges to the hiring of a paid chief and to other changes in the department structure. (See: Second Suit Filed to Force Election on Hiring of Fire Chief.)

According to the treasurer of Hose Company, contacted after the meeting, he has had a number of conversations with Chief Heine, but he was never asked for records. Roger Holden, who also served as departmental treasurer until 2006, said the department and the companies file 1.8 reports every year that account for money received, spent and remaining. Separate records are kept of money received and spent from fundraising. The records have been audited annually by a committee of volunteers, he said. In his tenure of over 10 years, he could recall only one instance when a board member asked to review financial documents.

“To my knowledge, as treasurer, there has never been, nor would I allow any expenditures that are illegal – I would never allow that,” said Mr. Holden.

Mayor Feld said she would confer with the village attorney before taking action on Chief Heine's request for the audit.

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