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Resident alleges 'backroom deals' with developer O'Neil; mayor and council say approvals followed process
Summary
At the March 18 meeting Gloria Sandow alleged elected officials and staff colluded with O'Neil Group on a Hamilton Street development and cited past legal problems for the developer. Mayor Yvonne Flowers and council members pushed back, saying the project was approved under applicable zoning and that a handshake does not equal a deal.
A resident accused city officials and appointees of improperly coordinating with a developer during public comment at the Poughkeepsie Common Council meeting on March 18; the mayor and council responded that approvals followed established procedures.
Gloria Sandow told the council she believed the administration had "jumped into bed" with O'Neil Group Hamilton LLC on a South Hamilton application and accused the developer's principal, Finbar O'Neil, of past criminal and civil actions. Sandow said O'Neil "did jail time for violating federal regulations leading to the death of 1 worker and injury to a second" and cited press accounts and court excerpts during her remarks. "Is it any wonder that neighbors are concerned about this development and developer and need the opportunity to speak and have their concerns definitively addressed in writing?" she said.
Mayor Yvonne Flowers pushed back on the allegations during her comments, saying there were "no backroom deals" and that interaction with a developer—such as a handshake—does not constitute improper conduct. "Just because someone shakes someone's hand doesn't mean that you have made some backroom deal somewhere," Flowers said, adding the project was approved based on zoning and the planning process. Council member Grant also acknowledged he shook the developer's hand but said he had pursued constituents' concerns about the project. "I did shake the hands of the developer from Hamilton Street ... I did fight hard to, you know, to address their concerns," Grant said.
The mayor also addressed conduct at the planning board meeting, saying she intervened to restore order when public commenters were disruptive and that volunteers on boards should not be yelled at. The transcript records an exchange in which Sandow was asked to sit down during a planning board meeting and was told she could be escorted out if she continued to disrupt proceedings.
Ending The claims aired during public comment were presented as allegations by a resident and were rebutted by the mayor and at least one council member, who said approvals followed zoning rules. The council did not vote on the underlying planning-board action at this meeting; the mayor encouraged use of the established public-comment and planning processes for further questions or appeals.
