The Process by Which Yonkersites Were Fleeced So As To Serve Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer at the Taxpayer’s Expense
By HEZI ARIS
The Process by Which Yonkersites Were Fleeced So As To Serve Former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer at the Taxpayer’s Expense
By HEZI ARIS
It Is Not What You Know But Who You Know Hezitorial
Charicature of a younger, better looking Editor-at-Large / Radio Host Hezi Aris.
Hon. John Spencer
YONKERS, NY — September 24, 2017 —It was the August 25, 2016th meeting of the Yonkers Board of Contracts and Supply (BoCS), which amended the annual payment increase that John Spencer received on July 28, 2016. The August 25th meeting made the pay increase retroactive from May 1, 2016 through March 11, 2017.
To reiterate and clarify please note that the meeting which actually gave John Spencer the increase in annual pay from the initial $30,000 to an additional $60,000, that is a total of $90,000 per annum was held on July 28, 2016. Kathy Spring Spencer, Chief of Staff to Yonkers City Council President Liam McLaughlin, Esq., and wife of former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer, did not represent her boss Yonkers City Council President Liam McLaughlin, Esq. at that meeting. Kathy Spring Spencer was however in attendance representing Liam McLaughlin, Esq., at the meeting which amended her husband John Spencer’s raise retroactively to the first time the contract was awarded to John Spencer.
NOTE: Recognize that the Board of Contract and Supply board members are as noted and may stand-in as an alternate representative in the absence of the first person requested in attendance as follows:
Mike Spano, Mayor, may be represented by Deputy Mayor Susan Gerry
Liam McLaughlin, City Council President, may be represented by Chief of Staff Kathy Spencer
John Liszewski, Commissioner of Finance & Management Services, may be represented by Deputy Finance Commissioner Elizabeth Janocha
Paul Summerfield, City Engineer, may be represented by Deputy City Engineer Mike Lepre
John Larkin, City Council Majority Leader (absent)
Three members are regarded a quorum, passage by two is constituted a majority. This protocol standard could not be validated or confirmed in time for this publication. Perhaps the reader will advise as the Yonkers Tribune continues its effort to get an answer to this most mundane and innocuous advisement.
Others may be invited to attend, yet it is not a venue open to public or media attendance.
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE
Tom Collich, Purchasing Director Karen Ramos, Deputy Corporation Counsel
Tom Collich, Purchasing Director Karen Ramos, Deputy Corporation Counsel
VOTING MEMBERS
Procurements Subject to General Municipal Law (GML) 103 – Competitive Sealed Bidding are Mayor Mike Spano, John Liszewski, Paul Summerfield, and Liam McLaughlin. The contract favoring John Spencer is not part of GML 103.
Procurements Subject to General Municipal Law (GML) 103 – Competitive Sealed Bidding are Mayor Mike Spano, John Liszewski, Paul Summerfield, and Liam McLaughlin. The contract favoring John Spencer is not part of GML 103.
VOTING MEMBERS
Procurements Subject to General Municipal Law (GML) 104b – Not Subject to Competitive Sealed Bidding
Procurements Subject to General Municipal Law (GML) 104b – Not Subject to Competitive Sealed Bidding
VOTING MEMBERS
Mayor Mike Spano, John Liszewski, Paul Summerfield, Liam McLaughlin, John Larkin
Mayor Mike Spano, John Liszewski, Paul Summerfield, Liam McLaughlin, John Larkin
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Sources in the know advise Yonkers Tribune that Kathy Spring DID sit in for Liam at this meeting. Did she vote? The language incorporated by the officially adopted minutes that recognized the board members attending does not specify or define who voted for what. This is an acceptable standard to the BoCS; whether intentioned or not, it reveals a lack of responsibility by those casting their vote, abstaining from voting, or voting against a specific item which requires a majority vote for passage and acceptance. By not revealing who voted or not, whether in the positive, negative, or abstaining, yet still winning passage, can permit those who are conflicted by their relationship to an individual(s) or corporate entity over which they may cast a vote, must recuse themselves. At issue here is whether Chief of Staff Kathy Spring Spencer to Yonkers City Council President voted on behalf of her husband, the former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer? Legal Eagles whose identities are protected from being named as they were not authorized to speak to The Press advise that Kathy Spring Spencer should have recused herself from voting over any concern that involved her husband, the former Yonkers Mayor. The documents validated by their being adopted during following meetings are in fact illegal as the conduct of those who cast a vote in one of three possible matters would reveal. It would allow for scrutiny and reveal responsibility of those voting. Presently no one is made aware who voted for what publicly.
The language is ambiguous and strangely unclear. Yonkers Corporation Counsel is advised to clean up this mess. The public has a right to know what is being conducted in their name.
The documents referenced note two sets of voting members, based upon contractual basis. They are found under items pages 4 to 5, yet are designated as items 5 and 6 of the documents which deal with Contract Amendments and it reveals that these items also had to be voted upon at this meeting. Reference explains the deals with the “retro language”. The documents make it sound like the original increase given in July, the meeting Kathy Spring Spencer did not attend at that time, ‘should have read’ retroactive, but it DID NOT! The intent to make the original contract and the subsequent amendment mentioning and granting the increase be retroactive needed a vote to be taken to change the original document. The inference may be construed to have been an oversight originally, or was was an act of extortion to which retroactive payments were never intended.
The meeting which actually gave John Spencer the increase was held on July 28, 2016, but Kathy Spring Spencer was NOT representing Liam McLaughlin at that meeting, but she WAS at the subsequent meeting which amended her husband’s raise and the terms by which they were amended retroactively.
Spencer’s contract was renewed again and will thereby expire now in 2018. Does Spencer’s salary/contract eclipse that of his superior Lou Navarro? Why? Spencer is earning $90,000 per annum while Navarro is earning about $10,000 per annum less!
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The above is derived from the following:
“PART II – RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONTRACT AMENDMENTS – ALL ITEMS APPROVED”
“5.
Office of Veteran Services – General Municipal Law (GML) 104b”
Office of Veteran Services – General Municipal Law (GML) 104b”
NOTE: Procurements Subject to General Municipal Law (GML) 104b – Not Subject to Competitive Sealed Bidding.
“Voting members in attendance were Mayor Mike Spano, John Liszewski, Paul Summerfield, Liam McLaughlin, and John Larkin..
“Correction entry, item 6: This item was approved by the BOCS on 7/28/2016; however, it should have been noted that the increase to the aggregate would be effective from 5/1/2016 through 3/11/2017.”
“6. Contract 518302 – John D. Spencer”
“Original BOCS approval: 3/12/2015 – $60,000”
“Original Term: 3/12/2015 – 3/11/2016”
“Scope: Community Affairs Advocate – recruiting targeted individuals for program participation, workshops, community meetings, and other activities pertaining to Veterans of Yonkers.”
It is pertinent to know, based on the ‘Scope’ quoted above, that none of the responsibilities for which John Spencer has been engaged as described herein have yet to be made public. At issue is why not? Since there are no documents chronicling that for which Spencer is being paid, it seems as though payment is a “who you know, rather than a what you know” Quid Pro Quo” scenario.
Should Yonkers Tribune be incorrect and documents validating John Spencer’s work exist, Yonkers Tribune requests it be published and made public. In the same fashion as the Cavanaugh appointment to that of Yonkers Deputy Mayor was made public on the YonkersNY.gov Website.
Yonkers City Hall must validate how it intends to prove any semblance of credible payment for the “so-called services” by John Spencer. Yonkers Tribune demands documents to prove the assertions and three-year contract valued at $90,000 per annum be backed up with dated documents.
There are many questions regarding this financial debacle extorted without notice to The Public.
The Yonkers Tribune challenges Yonkers City Hall to meet the deadline for uploading the documents online by 3pmMonday, September 25, 2017 in order to validate the purpose of the payment already made and the funds that will continue to be paid through March 2018?
Amendment No. 1: BOCS approved 2/25/2016, exercised the option to renew, extending term to 3/11/2017 and increased the aggregate by $60,000.
Request for Amendment No. 2: Increase the aggregate by $30,000, effective 5/1/2016 through 3/11/2017.
Account: General Fund
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