Greece Town Board Votes to Rescind Marini’s Health Insurance Benefits
On August 20, the Greece Town Board voted unanimously to rescind the retiree health insurance benefits of former Deputy Town Supervisor Michelle Marini, who pleaded guilty to two felonies on February 20, 2025. One of the two charges related directly to her duties as Deputy Supervisor, in which she admitted to directing contractors from the Town’s Community Center construction project to do work at her private residence, with the materials and labor billed to the Town. In exchange for the guilty plea, three additional charges against her were dismissed by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office.
“This is a small step toward righting some of the significant wrongs we’ve uncovered in the last eight months,” said Supervisor Jeff McCann. “Ms. Marini was entrusted to act in the best interests of Greece residents and taxpayers. Instead, she used her position for her own personal benefit, with the taxpayers footing the bill. We cannot reward this behavior by allowing her to collect free health insurance.”
Under New York’s “faithless servant” doctrine, an employee who owes a duty of fidelity to her employer and who is faithless in the performance of her duties is disentitled to the compensation associated with those duties. The Town of Greece is estimated to save about $200,000 by eliminating Marini’s retiree health benefits.
“To hold public office, whether elected or appointed, is to understand that you must exemplify ethical behavior. With that charge comes a responsibility to leave the municipality you serve better than you found it,” said Current Deputy Supervisor and Third Ward Councilwoman Amorette Miller. “This action is the consequence of her [Marini’s] own choices. The residents of Greece should not be asked to continue subsidizing a benefit for an individual whose actions violated the public trust. These ties must be cut.”
“Michele Marini’s conduct didn’t just break the law,” said Town Board member Spencer Bernard, “it embarrassed the Town and undermines people’s confidence in our government. I ran for Town Board to restore integrity to Greece Town government. Greece taxpayers are paying for her lifetime health coverage. Withdrawing that coverage from someone who stole from the people of Greece reverses an injustice.”
Supervisor McCann thanked District Attorney Brian Green for his assistance in providing investigative reports that provided the documentation necessary for the Town to take this action. In reviewing materials related to the Community Center project, however, McCann said his administration found far more serious evidence of fiscal impropriety.
The first phase of the Community Center project, essentially a renovation of the existing building, was publicly bid, as is required by New York State General Municipal Law for any project slated to cost over $35,000. The phase one renovation cost nearly $4 million. The second phase, which included a major expansion and construction of the wellness and fitness center, was not publicly bid but was done through change orders to existing contracts. Aside from State law, the Town’s own purchasing policies require Town Board approval in advance for any change orders over $10,000. Instead, the Town Board approved over $18 million to cover change orders approved by the administration of former Supervisor Bill Reilich at its May 2022 meeting. The final price tag for the Center was more than $22,660,000.
“This is a failure of the system of epic proportions,” said McCann. “We have no way of knowing what the Community Center should have cost Greece taxpayers. What we do know is that the Reilich administration gave contractors a blank checkbook, and $22.6 million later, we have one person, Michelle Marini, who got little more than a slap on the wrist from the justice system.”
“Trust in government is earned through accountability and action,” said First Ward Councilmember David DiPonzio. “When someone entrusted with serving the public violates that trust, taxpayers deserve to know that their elected officials will take it seriously. This decision is about protecting taxpayer dollars, upholding the integrity of public service, and making clear that no one is above accountability. Greece residents deserve nothing less.”
McCann noted that the Center’s contractors were given immunity from prosecution by former District Attorney Sandra Doorley as part of the Marini investigation.
As a result of the investigation, Supervisor McCann also announced the reinstitution of the Town’s Board of Ethics, which has not been active since at least 2023.
“We cannot expect people to trust their government when there is nowhere to go to report violations of trust,” said McCann. “We will be nominating independent members of the Board within 30 days and announce a process by which residents can report suspected abuse of public trust.”
“As Fourth Ward Town Councilman, I fully support the decisive action to protect taxpayers by rescinding retiree health benefits for a former official who abused public trust,” said Rick Antelli, Jr. “We are also reinstituting the Town’s Board of Ethics so residents have a clear and independent place to report concerns. These steps strengthen accountability, restore integrity to local government, and put the interests of Greece residents first. Together we are building a more transparent and hopeful future for our community.”
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