MAMAKATING – The Oct. 15 town board meeting was much less contentious than the one two weeks prior, but that didn't stop a former councilman from making a bombshell announcement.

During the public comment portion of the otherwise mundane meeting, Teddy Brebbia stood before the board. First, he asked that councilwoman Regina Saunders refrain from "voting" on what he had to say, since it had to do with the village's annexation of town property several years ago, of which she was a part.

"I've been working for quite some time with attorneys regarding what happened with the annexation, revolving around the presupposition that the people and the town of Mamakating were misled," Brebbia said. "Turns out that there was, in fact, a contract that led directly to the town and people of Mamakating being misled in regards to the direction the annexation was going."

He was referring to published reports of a confidential 2006 contract, signed by former supervisor Duane Roe before the village of Bloomingburg annexed some 200 acres of town property into village boundaries, which showed Roe was the "front man" in buying up land to allow more than 400 townhouses. According to the agreement, Roe was to make more than $1.4 million from the deal; however, during the annexation talks Roe portrayed the development as being made up of 125 luxury homes with a golf course.

"Would this board be open to reviewing the potential for filing criminal charges relative to that annexation?" Brebbia asked.

He went on to say that the statute of limitations to file charges of fraud, on which the accusations would be based, is six years. But an addendum, he said, extends that limit to two years after such fraud is discovered. The size and scope of the final 396-unit project, he added, wasn't common knowledge until last year.

Supervisor Harold Baird asked Brebbia to give him his research for review, and added that he would ensure the rest of the council would review it too. Brebbia then asked the councilmembers for their thoughts.

Councilman Robert Justus said he has pursued justice in the past when he's believed something was wrong. This is no different, he told Brebbia.

"If something's been done wrong, I'd like to see people punished," Justus said.

Councilman Russ Wood, who is also planning board chairman for the village of Bloomingburg, was absent from the meeting.

Councilman John Moul, who is challenging Baird for the supervisor post, appeared lukewarm to Brebbia's idea.

"I'd go for (fighting) anything that has to do with fraud," Moul told Brebbia. "But you are not qualified to do that."

Brebbia clarified that the state attorney general's office would be handling it, and he would even pursue it to the U.S. Department of Justice if necessary.

"It's not only criminal charges; there could be governmental charges as well," he said.

Audience members applauded him as he left the podium.

Lesleigh Weinstein asked board members why some of them, who are running for re-election, did not attend a recent candidates' meeting in Philipsport.

Moul said he agreed to attend only the "meet and greet" in Summitville. Saunders said she had explained before the meeting that she had a personal conflict and could not attend.

"I don't know what the other candidates' problems were," she said, to the obvious consternation of Moul.

Weinstein then asked that if not elected, what the incumbents would do to ensure a seamless transition to new members. Baird, Moul, and Saunders are up for re-election.

"We'll get there when we get there," Baird replied.

"But do you have a plan?" Weinstein pressed.

"I have many plans," Baird answered curtly. "I plan to be re-elected. And what we'll get is a lot better than what we have now."

He wouldn't explain further.

An audience member Frank addressed rumors that the new village development is the beginning of an Hasidic settlement.

"My house will be devalued and I see the future town board being taken over by them," she said. "I am of the same tribe as them [of the Jewish faith] but I believe they should be upfront and honest."

She then asked when board members knew about the plan for high-density housing.

Saunders said she didn't know about it at the time. Moul said he didn't join the board until 2010. Town Attorney Richard Stoloff, who has been Roe's attorney from time to time, said he didn't represent him back then.

Another resident approached the podium and asked why there was no state trooper at the meeting, yet there one was at the previous meeting.

Baird referred to a recent meeting in Pennsylvania where a disgruntled resident shot and killed people during a town meeting.

"I've asked them [troopers] that when they come back to the barracks, which is right next door, if they could walk through Town Hall during our meetings," he said.

In normal meeting business, the town board passed a resolution requesting that the state Department of Environmental Conservation, and not the Town of Thompson planning board, be named "lead agency" in an environmental review of the China City plan for a college.

Baird said plans were continuing on a town building moratorium.

The board also met in a short executive session regarding tax-certiorari issues with the former Homowack property in the town, near Spring Glen.