Bluestone Press Article No. 1

ROCHESTER ROCKED BY POLITICS AND PORN SCANDAL
Board allegedly accuses Commission candidate of being involved in adult Web site
by Melissa Lajara
Blue Stone Press — February 2, 2007

It only lasted about 20 minutes, but that was more than enough time for all hell to break loose at the Town of Rochester Board meeting Thursday night.

Much of the tumult centered around Kerhonkson resident Manuela Mihailescu, an applicant for a position on Rochester's Historic Preservation Commission who says she was accused in an interview with town board members of being associated with a pornographic Web site. The town board has not yet confirmed or denied the accusations because the interview took place in an executive session.

But the Rochester Republican Club quickly rallied around Mihailescu, one of its members, and mailed out about 2,000 glossy fliers asking for residents to attend the board meeting and call for the resignation of its members, who are mostly Democrats.

"I'm guessing 90 percent of the people who came here, came on (Mihailescu's) behalf," said Accord Fire Commissioner Wayne Gray.

Resident Don Dunn was of the minority who attended the meeting, and said he thinks the controversy takes away from the real business of the board: running and improving the Town of Rochester. "Let them just do their job," he said.

Dunn said he received an email asking him to attend the meeting to support the Democrats.

Mihailescu said she was accused of being involved with a pornographic Web site in her second interview for the Commission position on Jan. 24 by board member Francis Gray. She said she asked to see the report and accompanying photographs, and eventually was permitted to look. "Tens of small photos on a page, all showing sexual acts, private parts, ejaculation," Mihailescu said. None of them, she said, involved her in any way.

For many in attendance at the meeting Thursday, the issue quickly evolved into a fight over public participation in the meeting, especially after more than 50 people were locked outside when the small town hall building reached its 78-person capacity. New York State troopers manned the doors at the behest of the town board.

Those kept out of the meeting didn't leave. Instead, a cacophony of blaring horns, booing and shouts began within about five minutes of the start of the meeting, and could be heard clearly within the meeting hail. It persisted, uninterrupted, for about 15 minutes, even after police went outside to investigate.

"If the disruption does not end, I will move to close this meeting and see you next month," said Councilman Alex Miller, a statement which angered some in attendance.

One called out "shame on you" and another pointed out that the disruption was outside, and was not caused by those permitted inside the building. Several people called the meeting "illegal."

Gray was among them. He said he believed the meeting was well over capacity when the police stopped allowing people in, and said that it should have — and could have — been moved to another venue. One councilman, Ron Santosky, did make a motion to move the meeting, but none of the other board members would second it.

Resident Kurt Kortright took a small hand-held camera outside of the building to record the crowd protesting outside, and was barred from re-entering by police. "They were extremely upset out here, believe me," he said. "The trooper told me to turn my camera off."

Several hours before the meeting, the Town of Rochester clerk indicated that the time and place of the meeting had not changed, but said that if it was moved, it would likely be to a large garage adjacent to the town hall building. Other meetings have been held in the local firehouse, according to residents.

Duke did not return calls for comment, and no one answered the phones at town hall after the meeting ended.
Calls to Councilmen Gray and Tony Spano were not returned by press time Thursday; Miller was reached at home but refused to comment.

The meeting ended before the requisite public comment period, but that didn't stop members of the public from commenting before it was adjourned.

Rondout Valley School Board member Imre Beke was the last to speak. He first was addressed by Town Attorney Rod Futerfas, who cautioned Beke not to "get on a soapbox" and said that his points "would be better taken if you knew what the heck went on" in the executive session.

"You, sir, and the rest of the town board answer to us," Beke said, prompting a burst of applause from those in attendance. "We will have our say tonight, whether you like it or not."

Miller made a motion to adjourn the meeting after Beke's comments; this time, it was seconded and the two troopers began clearing the town hall.

"I think it was the chicken way out," said Councilman Ron Santosky late Thursday night. "I think people were more upset. I think we should have moved it, been nice to everyone, let them blast us and get through the meeting."

"I think this is a culmination of a lot of things taking place in this town behind the scenes. People aree fed up," said Accord resident Lisa Chichkov. "The sleeping giant has awoken."

Chichkov said she got upset when elderly residents were not allowed into the meeting until 7 p.m. Some residents began to gather as early as 6:15. "The supervisor was in the building and she knew there were old people out here," said Chichkov, adding that she appealed to a police officer on their behalf "The police officer said it"s not (his) responsibility, it's the town board's," she said.

Mihailescu never got to read a statement she prepared for the public comment session of the meeting, but distributed it to press. She said she wasn't surprised the meeting was adjourned early, "but I didn't expect it to end in two seconds."

"They said 'let us conduct our business,' Mihailescu said. "What they did to me, was that government business?"
As the crowd dispersed, Beke questioned the town board's motives in holding a contentious meeting in such a limited space. "They didn't think the opinion of their neighbors was important enough to move one mile," Beke said. "All we wanted was to be heard."