The Northern Westchester Examiner

Grant Given to Claxton, Family Raises Eyebrows in Peekskill

Rick Pezzullo
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A not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping residents afford upkeep on their homes is taking the blame for a whirlwind of controversy centered around Peekskill Councilwoman Drew Claxton and her son receiving a state grant in 2007 for a residence they co-own on Fremont Street in the city.

Alan Steiner, a member of the Board of Directors for The Preservation Company, the corporation that assisted the Claxton’s in being awarded a grant of $14,968 as part of the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation’s home improvement program, maintained Claxton, her son Frederick and daughter-in-law Sabina were unaware of eligibility restrictions that required The Preservation Company to seek a waiver if a local elected official or their family members applied for funding.

“In an oversight on our part, the contracts that were drafted between the Claxtons and the contractors who were to execute the work at 110 Fremont Street, included no language, nor did any communications or correspondence between The Preservation Company and the Claxtons, that would have made the applicants aware of the eligibility restrictions that the Preservation Company was subject to, because of our independent contract with the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation,” Steiner stated in an email statement. “We deeply regret this oversight. We regret the confusion this oversight has caused, we take full responsibility, and are working diligently to rectify the matter.”

“We want t to also publicly apologize to Frederick Claxton and Peekskill Deputy Mayor Drew Claxton, who at no time were informed, in any contract or correspondence with the Preservation Company, that they were not eligible to receive this grant, without a waiver,” Steiner stated. “In fact, they would have had no reason to believe, based on the documents they signed, that they were not eligible to receive the grant without a waiver.  That notification and disclosure was the responsibility of the Preservation Company. They qualified for the grant, like all of our applicants, based on need, determined in part, by household income.”

Lucian Chalfen, a spokesperson for the Westchester District Attorney’s Office, confirmed Friday, “We are reviewing the matter – and will make a determination as to whether this warrants further action.”

Meanwhile, Peekskill Mayor Frank Catalina triggered a firestorm of bickering at last week’s Common Council work session after he asked City Manager Richard Leins to do a complete review of any transactions involving The Preservation Company, city elected officials and city employees over the last 10 years.

“The city deserves a response to a horrible allegation. I hope it’s not true,” Catalina said. “Let the chips fall where they may.”

Councilman Vincent Vesce maintained Catalina had every right to make a request for the information he sought.

“For any individual to sit on a council or this council and approve money for a private organization and then take that money for their own personal use and gain is not appropriate in my opinion,” Vesce said. “If you think that is an appropriate action by any sitting council member than I think you misunderstand the responsibilities of protecting the public’s interest.”

Claxton, who has been on the council since 1999 and serves as deputy mayor, said Vesce had “misconstrued” information that appeared in a published report by a local daily newspaper.

 

“The state and The Preservation Company appear to be working this out,” Claxton said. “Let them do their job before you start throwing this out to the press.”

A few days later, Claxton took aim at Catalina for claiming the DA’s Office had opened a “criminal” investigation.

“This is nothing more than high drama and gutter politics,” Claxton stated. “This is exactly what Frank does when he wants to get rid of someone: he lies, he accuses them of illegal actions, and he trashes them in the press to ruin their reputation and career. Personally, there is way too much city business, things that need to get done to provide real services to our taxpayers, for me to focus on bogus allegations.”

Councilwoman Vivian McKenzie also lambasted Catalina at the work session for not discussing his request with the council before giving Leins an official assignment.

“You threw this in our face,” remarked McKenzie while defending Claxton, saying, “She took a loan that she was told she was eligible for.”

Steiner said The Preservation Company wasn’t interested in being pulled into a political fracas.

“What we will not do, is be party to local politics that seek to sully and publicly malign members of our community who have spent their entire lives, selflessly working to help those most in need,” he stated.

In another matter possibly linked to the grant controversy, a longtime city worker was suspended Friday following a reported attempted break-in at the Building Department in City Hall.

Leins alerted the Council to the matter in an email, stating, “I wanted to let you know that based on information brought to this office, Joe Minnerly has been suspended with pay effective immediately pending a continuing investigation.”

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