Cerminaro on GroWest scandal: "the city is getting hosed"
Story Created:
Sep 9, 2010 at 12:25 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Sep 9, 2010 at 6:46 PM EDT
Cerminaro contests political motivation in GroWest report
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Former Utica Mayor Tim Julian, and current Utica City Comptroller Michael Cerminaro were named in Attorney J.K. Hage's executive summary as being ones to blame for a lack of oversight in the GroWest scandal.
The report specifically claims that when former Mayor Julian reorganized the city's Urban and Economic Development Department back in 2003, he did so illegally. Hage says Gro West was not operating well prior to 2003 and Julian's reorganization "made it worse."
Of Cerminaro, who took office in 2006, Hage says he and his office is "an office that has not worked well over the past few years."
Cerminaro says the claims against him are politically motivated.
"David Roefaro and his administration's mind boggling, and at times, contradictory statements and secretive actions regarding GroWest and its investigation have raised many more questions about this party investigation than have been answered," Cerminaro said in a statement released late Wednesday night. "Mr. Hage never had the courtesy to (talk) to me about his allegation against me and my office."
Both Hage and Mayor David Roefaro deny the claims.
"I cant help what the political people are going to say. The report is what it is," said Roefaro. "It is factual. It is true."
"I had no political motivation in any of my findings or recommendations," Hage said.
Cerminaro says he will not pay hage when the bill comes due to the city. Hage said Wednesday he plans on submitting a bill for "six figures".
"As of right now I am not paying that bill", Cerminaro said. "I don't care at this point and time, because all I care about is doing what is right. I think the city is being hosed on this. It was a needless investigation."
There were several people - former GroWest board members and employees along with former contractors for GroWest - all of whom received summons to appear in court to face charges. However, neither Julian nor Cerminaro received a summons.
NEWSChannel 2 did get in touch with former Mayor Tim Julian Thursday, who said he is not making any comments right away. Julian said he was in the process of reading the report and figuring out what his next course of action will be.
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