Rotterdam Ethics Board to review complaint against deputy supervisor
ROTTERDAM — Rotterdam’s Ethics Board is expected to review a complaint questioning whether Deputy Supervisor Wayne Calder is using his position to promote Mohawk Ambulance for the town’s emergency medical services contract despite having a relative who works for the company.

The board scheduled a meeting for Monday to discuss the complaint, according to Bill Cooke, one of its members. Though he wouldn’t identify the individual who filed the claim, he said the allegation pertains to Calder stumping for Mohawk while his son-in-law works as the company’s director of operations.

Cooke said the complaint was received nearly two months ago, but never distributed to members. As a result, he said the board never met on the matter, which only came to his attention when a resident contacted him about the complaint.

“I’m not happy about it at all,” he said. “To not even bring it to our attention is really wrong. I don’t think they can justify sitting on this for nearly two months.”

Don DeAngelus, attorney for the board, said he never acted on the complaint because it seemed flawed in his estimation. In specific, he said the individual didn’t sign the claim at first and then didn’t make a sworn statement after signing the complaint.

“She was advised as a complainant, the Ethics Board had to be sworn to,” he said when contacted Wednesday. “She can’t just send it in.”

DeAngelus cited part of the town code pertaining to the jurisdiction, powers and duties of the Ethics Board as reason for his assessment. He said complaints have to be sworn in order to give the board jurisdiction to investigate.

“We didn’t have the authority to [investigate], and we still don’t,” he said.

The section of law cited by DeAngelus references sworn statements only once, stating the Ethics Board has the powers and duties to “review, index, maintain on file, and dispose of sworn complaints and to make notifications and conduct.” The section does not otherwise stipulate how complaints should be submitted to the board.

Mohawk and REMS are the two companies expected to submit proposals to the town for the contract. REMS and its two predecessor volunteer organizations historically served the town’s ambulance needs without a contract.

Town officials first put out a request for proposals for the contract in 2011. REMS was awarded the contract, which expired Monday.

Supervisor Harry Buffardi eliminated the town-funded paramedics from the 2014 budget, meaning Rotterdam needs an ambulance company providing advanced life support services. REMS previously provided only basic life support services, but recently brought aboard many of the town’s former paramedics.

Calder, who also serves as the town’s human resource officer and is on its Emergency Medical Board, has not tried to hide his connection to Mohawk through Dan Gilmore, his son-in-law. As a member of the Town Board in 2011, he recused himself from a vote to award the town’s ambulance contract to Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services Inc.

Calder did, however, dispute his relationship with his son-in-law has any impact on his decision-making with the ambulance contract. He said he intends to base his choice for the town’s ambulance service on his three decades of experience in public safety and on which company he feels is best apt to provide the highest level of service for Rotterdam.

“I feel very comfortable that I’m going to be doing the right thing, making sure the proper company is in charge of public safety for the community,” he said. “I care about the people in the community, and until I’m gone, I’m going to do what’s best for the people.”

In a statement, Mohawk didn’t directly address its connection with Calder. The company said it will continue being transparent in its discussions with the town as it seeks the contract.

“Mohawk Ambulance Service is committed to working with the town of Rotterdam in an open and transparent process as the Town Board solicits requests for a permanent ambulance provider,” spokesman Mike Bohne said in the statement. “Mohawk Ambulance has served the town for over 30 years, and since 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, we have provided a higher standard of care to town residents.”

This will go nowhere!

AGAIN...........there appears to be corruption at every level...........but the MAIN one is cancelling one service to provide raises for the 'chosen few'.

ROTTENdamians should be going to their town hall with pitchforks asking for their resignations.

they lost it for a few months until after the election!!!!!!!  

THE WHOLE bOARD......facade is over.

who else is on the ROTTENdam ethics committee?

not you evidently

Quoted from Patches

not you evidently

uh nope! Does anyone know who is?

will try to find out....but ya know...whoever is on this committee....well...pray

Doesn't matter who is on it

The "Don" controls what they might see - and in rotterdam justice is "blind"

Quoted from exit3

Doesn't matter who is on it

The "Don" controls what they might see - and in rotterdam justice is "blind"

BINGO!!!!!

Quoted from Patches

THE WHOLE bOARD......facade is over.

UNDER THE "G"   (gumbas).....??????????

So I see the little tyrant town lawyer from Legal Aid is now pointing her finger with intimidation and is trying to threaten the woman who filed an ethics complaint that she may be somehow legally in the wrong. There might be "perjury" or something which is a criminal offense. The so-called notarizing and "swearing" of the complaint is where a person actually swears under penalty of perjury as to their true identity.

This gang is bordering on banana republic desperation at this stage. It will be an interesting year, knowing that all of them have very limited political shelf lives.

It looks like this present town board and their legal beagles(excluding the 2 newbies) may have dug themselves a deeper hole!!

you got that right......it's a short way up.....but a long way down......and into a sink hole.