Sack: Dapolite, Truth and Justice

A guest column by Rye City Councilman Joe Sack:

Dapolite, Truth and Justice

By Joe Sack

At last night’s city council meeting, I was surprised and dismayed that one of my colleagues attacked the character and integrity of Andrew Dapolite, a life-long 23-year-old Rye resident, because the attack was part of a prepared statement which was purportedly against personal attacks, because the attack was inconsistent with my own experience with Mr. Dapolite as a truthful and upstanding person, and because the attack pertained to a set of circumstances which a majority of the city council – including my colleague in question – had heretofore repeatedly declined to investigate.

However, upon reflection I must thank my colleague for resurrecting this matter, which had been abandoned last summer, albeit without a satisfactory conclusion, in that a lot has transpired since then.  Namely, other allegations of misdealing at Rye Golf Club have now also surfaced, and the city council has at last demonstrated a will to exercise its right to investigate such allegations.  As such, this matter can now be viewed in a new context.  The time may finally be right to require the relevant parties to answer these allegations.   Better late than never.

By way of reminder, last February, Mr. Dapolite made very detailed and credible allegations, including in sum and substance, that a January 2012 city council meeting which the city manager had told the city council and general public had not been videotaped, had indeed been videotaped; that Mr. Dapolite had been instructed by city staff to tell the public that the meeting had not been videotaped, even though it had been; and – when the city finally acknowledged that the meeting had actually been videotaped – that the audio on the previously concealed videotape had later been purposefully altered to make it difficult to hear.

Subsequently, Mr. Dapolite made a further allegation that the city manager had retaliated against him for bringing attention to these facts, by taking adverse employment action against him which was unfounded.

Instead of investigating these allegations, the council majority decided to refer the matter to the city ethics board.  The ethics board did not do an investigation, beyond speaking with Mr. Dapolite behind closed doors, which he did openly and freely even though his lawyer was barred from the room.  The ethics board did not speak with the city manager, any other city staff, or any other potential witnesses, and did not review any documents.  The ethics board never made any substantive findings or ruling.

Sadly, Mr. Dapolite subsequently left his job with the city, apparently in large part because of frustration that the city council had failed to investigate and act on his allegations.  Nevertheless, Mr. Dapolite voluntarily released his legal claims against the city, although he could have pursued drawn out litigation with potential exposure to the city.

At the time, I commented that Mr. Dapolite’s allegations touched upon basic truthfulness and fair dealing, and that they demanded our attention.  I called for accountability and integrity, and warned that we should not just sweep this alleged serious misconduct under the rug.  Nothing happened.

But that was then.  This is now.  It’s a whole new world.  This matter has been put back in public view, by virtue of my colleague’s comments last night.  Let’s not miss this second chance to get it right.

Joseph A. Sack, Esq.

Comments

[Jim Amico]

Fly on the Wall,

I do not know how any honest hearted citizen can go into Executive Session and restrain themselves from the dishonest S*** that goes on in those sessions?????

They think Joe is a problem, they need to be glad my wife put the cabosh on me running, I would have won easily and I would NEVER take part in any DISHONEST BS WHATSOEVER....PERIOD!!!

[Fly On The Wall]

Looking forward to Wed. night when Joe Sack tells all of Rye what was discussed in executive session!

[Fly On The Wall]

Mr. Flotie,

My biggest concerns, as far as the source for WNV in Rye are Bob Schubert's pond and the water hazards at the RCG Club.

[Ray Tartaglione]

Doug,
Maybe we should leave the present health concrens on Hen Island as is. Then we can just sit and wait for our frist case of West Nile Virus to hit Rye. Who cares if thirty four home owners in Milton Harbor sh*t where we swim and fish with our families.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xuCd4Wttoc

[Fly On The Wall]

You forgot Otis, Shew, Tamburro, scores of State Judges, 4 BOH commisioners, all the commissioners of NYS, Andrew Cuomo, Scott Pickup, etc..

In your paranoid little world it's called cover, in the real world it's called applying the law equally to all NYS residents.

[tedc]

Ahh. The Hen Islanders are back. Wonderful. I bet Mr. French and Mr. Plunkett wish they'd never promised you cover.

[Fly On The Wall]

@Robert Zahm

All Rye has to do is run a sewer,electric and fresh water line to Hen Island and all Rye's troubles will go away. All Rye's troubles started when Mr. Flotie appeared and they will disappear when Mr. Flotie has water, sewer and electric feeding his summer cottage on Hen Island. Until that day, every City official who doesn't agree with Mr. Flotie's agenda, ESPECIALLY whoever holds the City Manager's position, will be discredited no matter how reputable they are.

[Robert Zahm]

Okay, will the folks who are stirring the pot about this week's City Council agenda kindly identify the specific item they believe is going to legislate away any investigations? The only thing even close to this is the proposal to ... "televise all public meetings of the City Council including regular meetings, special meetings, and workshops." If there's something really there, make it clear. Otherwise, please cease with the henny penny sky is falling stuff.

[tedc]

New -

THE CITY COUNCIL’S SHAMEFUL CHARADE – WILL IT CONTINUE?

“This Wednesday night, the Rye City Council, which says it does not condone the city manager lying to the public, will vote to create legislation to protect one of the biggest lies and disgraces ever orchestrated by City Manager Scott Pickup–the concealment of a public record, and the termination of a young City of Rye employee's career who dared to challenge him by telling the truth.”

More here -

http://www.lausdeo10580.com/lausdeo10580/2013/03/rye-tv-studio-recording-reveals-dapolite-was-asked-to-lie-pickup-concealed-public-record.html

[tedc]

News Flash!

The Smoking Gun is out!

http://www.lausdeo10580.com/files/white-smoke-1-1.png