Lawrence Gray, Esq.
Supervisor
Patrick Vecchio
99 West Main
Street
May 4, 2008
Smithtown, New
York 11787
Re: Robert Bonerba-Michael Dove-Country Pointe Homes-
Frank Esposito-Robert Fitzpatrick-Floor-Area Ratios
Dear
Supervisor Vecchio:
I have been given to understand that
the principal behind Country Pointe Homes is one Michael Dove. Unverified information about Country Pointe
condominiums in Kings Park and the Smithaven Mall prompts this inquiry.
Your former 18-year Chief Building
Inspector Robert Bonerba who took the 5th Amendment on his Financial
Disclosure Form, who escaped with his pension thanks to you and Council Members
Thomas McCarthy, Edward Wehrheim and Patricia Biancaniello, who Frank Esposito
and Robert Fitzpatrick pled guilty to bribing, appears to have engendered
questions about the above-referenced condominiums.
Complaints have been made about
alleged shoddy electrical work at Country Pointe in the Smithaven Mall such
that they posed a possible fire hazard.
Perhaps you will assign someone to check this allegation out, or, have
David Ambro of the Smithtown News do
the investigation followed by an expose that will not, of course, mention your
name. There are other questions.
Was the cement work for the
footprint foundations at Country Pointe in Kings Park inspected for quality by
Smithtown’s Engineering Department? Or,
was the Engineering Department preempted and co-opted by Bonerba? Word has it that your Engineering Department
was a bit put out about this matter.
Is it true that in order for Country
Pointe in Kings Park to be expedited, Building Inspector Alan Richards was paid
overtime to spend the weekend at the site performing inspections? Did Bonerba, so to speak, “engineer” said
expedition with your approval? Perhaps
rumors are just that. However, inquiry
on the Town Council’s part is warranted.
Assign Councilman Wehrheim. He
runs close to the ground and can sort this matter out best.
It is also a matter of concern that
Bonerba himself bought a condominium at Country Pointe in the Smithaven
Mall. Did he pay the actual full fair
market price? Can the developer, the
financial institution and the attorneys for seller and buyer provide
documentary evidence that Bonerba paid the full price and that what he bought
on paper matches what he in fact received for his money?
There are building permit
applications, etc. that are on file with the Smithtown Planning and Zoning
authorities regarding Country Pointe.
Do the floor-area ratios conform to the applications and permits issued
thereon? Do the floor-area ratios
include or exclude cathedral ceilings?
How about attic space above the 5’ 10” plate? A further concern warrants suggestion.
Over the years “Friends of Pat Vecchio” has vacuumed in large contributions from
builder-developers and the like – even lawyers looking for an edge – just like “Friends of Ed Wehrheim.” Until the scandal involving the Smithtown
Building Department is resolved it would be the best practice to have campaign
committees abjure the receipt of money from such entities. Appearances can be as important as making
sure one’s spouse’s checks clear the bank.
Perhaps “Friends of Pat Vecchio”
will consider returning money received from Robert Fitzpatrick to Frank
Esposito.
Yours
truly,
Lawrence
N. Gray, Esq.
Cc: Planning
Department
Building Department
Town Council
P.S.
Smithtown Conservative Vito Poveromo had nothing to do with the
electrical work at Country Pointe.