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Trustee objects to batch approval of $163,756 warrant, cites lack of consolidated financial reporting
Summary
The Board approved Warrant #2509a for $163,756.03 on a 4–1 vote while Trustee Aleena Olivia said trustees lack regular consolidated financial reports and questioned snow-removal contracting and identical vendor invoices.
The Village of Highland Falls Board of Trustees approved Warrant #2509a totaling $163,756.03 at its Feb. 17 workshop meeting, with four trustees voting yes and Trustee Aleena Olivia voting no.
"When the board votes to pay bills, they are spending taxpayer money," Trustee Olivia said, adding that trustees do not receive regular consolidated financial reports, monthly revenue tallies or payroll totals, and that several vendors submitted identical billing. Mayor DiSalvo responded that board members receive operating reports when requested and denied any improprieties, noting the village had just weathered a 20-inch storm and used contractors and county trucks to maintain public safety.
The warrant lists expenditures across funds: General $96,198.99; Water $18,790.54; Sewer $20,895.50; Capital $27,871.00. Trustee Gargiulo moved to approve and Trustee Ramus seconded; the motion carried on a roll-call vote (4 ayes: Ramus, Gargiulo, Carroll, Mayor DiSalvo; 1 nay: Olivia).
Trustee Olivia urged the board to insist on clearer, periodic consolidated reporting and more enforcement of resident sidewalk-clearing requirements to reduce payments to private contractors. Mayor DiSalvo said staff will continue to provide documents to trustees who request them and reiterated the extraordinary staffing and equipment demands during the recent storm.
