<!--Mark Scheer--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Mark Scheer</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com">mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
Town of Wheatfield Supervisor Timothy Demler fired back Tuesday against his political rivals who have accused him of wrongdoing.
Demler, who is locked in a primary race against former Town Justice Robert Cliffe, said records on file with the town refute claims made by board members who say he overstepped his authority as supervisor by paying bills and taking action without going through the proper channels.
“Every one of these so-called issues were decisions made by me, properly, to address a concern for residents at a particular time,” Demler said.
Earlier this month, Town Board member Larry Helwig — a Cliffe supporter — released information to the media that called into question several actions taken by Demler, some going as far back as 2005. The list describes in detail moves Helwig says should be questioned, including Demler’s decision to make what he called unauthorized payments to politically connected companies and individuals. The items on the list formed the basis for the Wheatfield Republican Committee’s decision to dump Demler as its endorsed supervisor candidate earlier this year.
“Invoices that were held by the town board were paid by Mr. Demler without town board approval on several occasions,” Helwig said.
Committee members have since turned the information over to the Niagara County District Attorney, the FBI and the offices of the New York state controller and attorney general.
“I hope that if there’s anything there, that the authorities will call him on it,” Helwig said.
Demler characterized the accusations as a smear tactic conveniently launched by the Wheatfield Republican Committee a week before the primary in an effort to drum up support for Cliffe. Demler, citing board meeting minutes and claims for payment audited by town board members, said he has the records to show his actions were not only appropriate but authorized. Demler claims some of the items questioned by Helwig were actually released for payment on board documents signed by Helwig himself.
“Although they tried to say that I did something wrong, they truly know the truth and they never once asked me for details of the issues I addressed as supervisor for our residents,” Demler said.
The list of committee concerns released earlier this month by Helwig included:
n Payments made in 2004 and 2005 to Fontanese Architects for design work on the proposed town aquatic center. Helwig claims the town paid $9,000 to the company for work on the project, which has yet to be built. Helwig suggested that Fontanese Architects was brought into the project by Savarino Construction Service, another Demler campaign contributor.
• A February 2006 payment made to local contractor Mark Cerrone. According to Helwig, Demler paid the contractor $13,000 without board approval for work conducted at the Willow Lake subdivision. Helwig said the board moved to put a hold on the payment because it did not authorize the company to perform work at the site. In his list of claims, Helwig notes Cerrone donated $1,800 that same year to the political committee that supported Demler’s failed bid to become lieutenant governor.
• A 2008 Knoll Drive demolition project also involving Cerrone. Helwig claims the contractor received an extra $2,500 he did not deserve for the project with Demler’s blessing. Helwig notes the contractor later made a pair of contributions totaling $600 to Demler’s political campaign.
• Payments made in 2006 and 2007 to Harvey Albond who served as Demler’s preferred candidate for representative to the Niagara Greenway Commission. The town paid Albond a total of $7,100 for the service. Helwig claims the board never authorized Albond’s appointment and said he and fellow board member Art Palmer are the town’s designated Greenway representatives.
• Water and sewer bill reductions. Helwig says Demler has reduced water and sewer bills for several town residents and also has prevented some delinquent water and sewer bills from being posted on the county tax.
• Treatment of the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals. Helwig claims on at least two occasions Demler attempted to overturn denials for projects that were issued by the Zoning Board. Helwig contends that, as supervisor, Demler had no legal standing to overrule or modify Zoning Board decisions.
“It’s awfully coincidental that some of these things were happening when they were happening,” Helwig said.
Demler accused Helwig of taking “great liberties with the truth” and denied doing any favors for politically friendly contractors or individuals. Demler said Cerrone’s work at Willow Lake involved completion of a project for which the town already had paid. He also said Cerrone was hired for the job because of his relationship to the subdivision developer, not because of any political connections to Demler. The supervisor also defended his decision to bring Cerrone in to conduct what he called an “emergency” demolition of a rat-infested building on Knoll Drive. Demler said the structure, which was filled with rat feces, posed a health hazard to the neighborhood. He said the contractor earned the extra money it was paid for the job, which included hauling the waste to a landfill. As for Fontanese, Demler said he selected the company for the aquatic center work and the decision had nothing to do with Savarino. As for Albond, Demler said he deserved payment for his Greenway work. By law, Demler said the town supervisor is responsible for choosing the town’s Greenway representative.
Demler noted many of the items mentioned on the committee’s list occurred years ago at a time when his campaigns enjoyed the support of the local GOP. Demler had the party’s endorsement in his last election victory in 2007.
“I am proud of my record as supervisor and will continue to represent and fight for our residents, regardless of the issue, whether all of the councilmen agree with me or not,” Demler said. “Unfortunately for Mr. Helwig, the documents speak for themselves.”
Demler and town Budget Director Udit Sharma insisted there are currently no investigations being conducted by outside agencies in the town.
“To our knowledge, there is no such investigation going on and the only person who has been in town hall is the New York state auditor as part of their normal routine audit that takes place in Wheatfield every three to five years and there have been no issues raised thus far,” Sharma said.
Contact reporter Mark Scheer at 282-2311, ext. 2250
