Legal service costs discussed at March 12 meeting
by Kristina Gabalski
Brockport residents are encouraged to join members of the Village Board in reading The Bluebird of Brockport by Brockport native Donna Winters during the month of April.
Village Board members made the Proclamation during their regular meeting on March 12.
The book reading comes just prior to the new “Low Bridge, High Water” event the first week in May to celebrate the seasonal opening of the Erie Canal.
During the celebration, Winters will visit Brockport and discuss her book at schools and libraries. The book is available at the Lift Bridge Book Shop (45 Main Street, Brockport).
In the Proclamation, Trustee Bill Andrews states, “Donna Winters tells a rollicking good story, full of action, romance, and mystery that conveys a very pervasive feeling of authenticity for Erie Canal life in the 1830s.”
Trustee Margaret Blackman, who is heading up the committee organizing the event, said during the March 12 meeting that the village has been awarded $500 from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor to help fund the celebration.
Attorney services discussion
Also at the March 12 meeting, Trustees decided not to terminate the services of attorney Frank Aloi.
Back in June of 2012, Trustees approved hiring Aloi as special counsel concerning the Notice of Claim filed by Mayor Connie Castaneda against the village as well as advise Trustees regarding the criminal case against the Mayor in which she is charged with illegally renting out rooms in her home.
At the March 12 meeting, the Mayor stated that Aloi had exhausted his $5,000 retainer.
The reason for hiring Aloi is, “… still lingering,” Trustee Kent Blair said. “He will not be released until his duties are completed.”
Mayor Castaneda made a motion to terminate Aloi’s services. Hers was the only ‘yes’ vote.
The Mayor continued to question Trustees regarding legal work begun by attorney Robert Lunn, who was hired by Trustees in July of 2012 to act as special prosecutor in the zoning and building codes violations case against the Mayor.
Mayor Castaneda said billing statements from Lunn include charges for work done before his July 19 hiring and continued to question who authorized the work.
“No one has answered who initiated contact with Lunn,” the Mayor told Trustees.
Lunn’s services were terminated by the Board October 23, 2012, after the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office took over prosecution of the case.
During the March 12 meeting, Trustees indicated Lunn likely was contacted by Aloi.
“It was not the intent of the Board to have (Lunn) do work prior to hiring (him),” Trustee Margaret Blackman said. “This is a tempest in a teapot.”
“This should be a concern for all of us that this was done,” Mayor Castaneda said and told Trustees no one on the board has the authority to spend money before it is authorized.
