Greenburgh board strips power from assessor
By JOSEPH AX
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: October 22, 2004)
GREENBURGH — The Town Board this week stripped Assessor Gerry Iagallo of his status as chief negotiator for the town's special projects, a role he had played in the acquisitions of the Town Hall and Taxter Ridge park properties, amid concerns about a potential conflict of interest.
Iagallo had also been the town's point man for the proposed library expansion. The project could involve the sale of the former Town Hall property, which shares a site with the library on Knollwood Road.
Board members Eddie Mae Barnes, Steve Bass and Diana Juettner voted to eliminate the $7,000 position of special assistant to the supervisor; Supervisor Paul Feiner and board member Timmy Weinberg voted against the move.
Bass first suggested the resolution during the summer, when a lawsuit filed by the firm that had represented the sellers of the Town Hall building generated controversy over Iagallo's role in the negotiations.
"As town assessor, he assigned a value on this tax parcel while at the same time negotiating a purchase price which the Town ultimately paid for the property," Bass wrote in a letter in June. "Understandably, the relationship between the purchase price, circumstances surrounding the sale and the assessment has become a matter of controversy." This week, Bass repeated his concern that the double role could give rise to conflicts, since the valuation of any property — and the resulting tax bills — are often integral when the town decides to buy or sell property.
Iagallo, however, pointed out that he does not have the authority to complete any deal without approval from the Town Board. "All of these facts were given to the Town Board, and the Town Board gave me authority to move ahead," Iagallo said yesterday. He said the valuation of a property is often part of real estate negotiations.
Juettner, while noting that she did not believe there had been any wrongdoing, said she was concerned about the appearance of a conflict of interest.
"I believe that the assessor should be focusing on assessment issues," she said.
Feiner, however, vigorously defended Iagallo, saying that his real estate expertise had saved the town several millions of dollars. He proposed allowing Iagallo to remain as chief negotiator for the library project but was defeated by the same 3-2 tally.
"If we don't monitor this correctly from Town Hall, we're going to be overpaying," he said. "You don't have anyone at Town Hall right now that has the time and the negotiating skills and the interest to give this their attention."
Weinberg echoed Feiner, saying that Iagallo's knowledge could be "very helpful" for the library proposal.
But Barnes said she did not see a need for a special assistant.
"My opinion is that such a position is not necessary," she said. "I also question whether the assessor really has the kind of time to devote to such a position."
Reach Joseph Ax at jax@thejournalnews.com or 914-694-5064.