Monday, November 23, 2009

Caught By His Own Hook!


FISHING VIDEO USED IN ULSTER COUNTY MAN’S ARREST

Videotape showing an Ulster County man fishing waist deep in a running stream will be used as evidence against him when he is prosecuted for fraud in connection with collecting $35,000 in disability benefits.

Matthew W. Robbins, 48, of Church Street, Kerhonkson, is scheduled to appear in Kingston City Court on Tuesday. He was arrested Nov. 13 as the result of an investigation by the New York State Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau and the New York State Insurance Fund.

Robbins claimed to have strained his back when picking up a water pump while working at a day camp. He collected disability benefits from the Insurance Fund for nearly 10 years and testified at two workers’ compensation hearings that the injury left him totally disabled and unable to work.

However, Joseph W. Kochetta Jr., of the Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau, said investigators subsequently recorded videotape of Robbins while he was driving, power washing and repairing vehicles and fishing.

Robbins was charged with insurance fraud, committing fraudulent practices and workers’ compensation fraud. He could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison if convicted. He was released in his own recognizance pending his hearing.

The case is being prosecuted by William Andrews of the Insurance Department, who is acting as a special prosecutor for Ulster County District Attorney D. Holley Carnright.
(Released By NYS Insurance Dept)

Friday, November 20, 2009

Ulster Health Department report reveals “culture of incompetence”


Ulster Health Department report reveals “culture of incompetence”


Documents piled up in the health department

KINGSTON – Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach Friday called the former operation of the county Health Department “a culture of incompetence.”

He released his 45 page report that talks over the violation of public trust, safety and health issues, questionable payroll practices and a culture of incompetence.

The report was prompted following the dismissal of Director Dean Palen earlier this year by County Executive Michael Hein. That was precipitated by the discovery of $32,000 in uncashed checks and unissued permits found in a locked safe behind the desk of Palen’s wife, who was his administrative assistant.

The comptroller’s office also discovered piles of sanitary sewer applications, public reports and employee grievances that indicated both ineffective internal management and a lack of meaningful external oversight.

“The Palen era was riddled with questionable leadership and a ‘general lack of timely enforcement of the Public Health Law and State Sanitary Code’,” said Auerbach. “The only saving grace was the dedication and commitment of the staffs of the Environmental Sanitation and Public Nursing Divisions. Without them the county would have been in jeopardy.”

(Copyright © 2009 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc.
This story may not be reproduced in any form without express written consent.)

Comptroller's investigation reveals mismanagement, nepotism at Ulster County Health Department | recordonline.com

Comptroller's investigation reveals mismanagement, nepotism at Ulster County Health Department | recordonline.com

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Monday, November 16, 2009


Ulster Health Department audit to be completed shortly

KINGSTON – Ulster County Comptroller Elliot Auerbach’s audit of the county Health Department should be finished in the next several days.

Auerbach said his staff has been working on it for months and it should be ready soon.

“We hope that the Health Department report will be ready for publication somewhere in the middle of this month,” he said. “We worked diligently on reviewing and looking back at every fact that is in the report. We want to insure that all the ‘I’s’ are dotted and the ‘T’s’ are crossed before it’s released.”

The comptroller has been examining why large numbers of uncashed checks were in a department safe for years and other possible irregularities in the operation of the agency.

(Copyright © 2009 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc.
This story may not be reproduced in any form without express written consent.)

Thursday, November 12, 2009


Ulster lawmakers hold off on appropriating funds to cover jail inmate’s medical bills

KINGSTON – The Ulster County Legislature has again decided to wait before it approves covering $188,000 in medical expenses of county jail inmate Anthony Passaro, Jr., the man who shot and killed his wife.

He remains in jail, too sick to be sentenced. That means the county must continue to pay his medical bills.

County Comptroller Elliot Auerbach urged lawmakers not to jump into things until his office had an opportunity to go over each bill line by line.

Legislator Jeanette Provenzano Wednesday said the consensus was to hold off on a vote.

“The Ways and Means Committee has requested the comptroller to review it for us because we have too many different interpretations so it’s referred until we have adequate information to pay that expense,” she said.

Officials hope the bills will be reimbursable through Medicaid.

(Copyright © 2009 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc.)

Monday, November 9, 2009


Auerbach urges lawmakers to hold off on paying inmate medical bills..
KINGSTON – Ulster County Comptroller Elliot Auerbach Monday urged the county legislature to postpone paying the medical bills of convicted killer and county jail inmate Anthony Passaro, Jr.

He is awaiting sentencing on the conviction that he shot and killed his wife.

The legislature is ready to approve paying the $187,978 in medical bills incurred while he remains in jail, but Auerbach asked lawmakers to hold off.

“There are too many unanswered questions about these medical expenses,” he said. “We need to review not only the appropriateness of each bill, but also the chain of custody and scope of responsibility for the incurred costs.”

Auerbach said the bill cannot be paid without verification and audit by his office, “so it is too soon to move such funds from the contingency fund.”

Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the resolution at Tuesday evening’s meeting.

Copyright © 2009 Mid-Hudson News Network, a division of Statewide News Network, Inc

Thursday, November 5, 2009


KINGSTON, NY (November 4, 2009)…Over thirty people, representing twenty agencies and non-profits will be attending the PIRATES OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT training on Thursday, November 5, 2009 hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Ulster County and presented by Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach and NYS Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Garin.

The program will discuss fraud prevention, improving internal controls and conflicts of interest
and provide board members and officers with the tools to safeguard their resources.

Sponsored by the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce as a Business Roundtable, the event will be held on Thursday, November 5th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Kingston Holiday Inn, 503 Washington Avenue. Breakfast will be served and the event is free with an advance reservation. Contact Bob Hirsh at 845-338-5100 or bob@ulsterchamber.org to reserve.