What’s Going On At Ramapo Town Hall?

Posted on 20 July 2015 by Editor

townoframapoboardlawsuit

The Town of Ramapo, including Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and Brendel Logan-Charles, was recently served court papers related to a lawsuit by Resolution Energy. St. Lawrence and Logan-Charles stand together right-center in the above photo.

Just as the Town of Ramapo readies to finally count those controversial Ward ballots comes more strangeness.

Councilman Daniel Friedman reported that his fellow Ramapo Town Council member Brendel Logan-Charles was served with a federal lawsuit on Thursday morning, July 16, related to a bid-rigging suit by plaintiff Resolution Energy, which is still under contract with the town, serving as a consultant.

There are two Ramapo council seats up this election cycle. Both Friedman and Logan-Charles have filed, along with an anticipated run by Shmuel Tress. Friedman ran an aggressive ballot signature initiative and  submitted some 2000 signatures in support of his re-election effort. Friedman believes he’ll need all the support he can get as his council activity has become increasing combative with Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence. Friedman opposed the Bernard Charles town contract last year, which was cut in half after public scrutiny. 

Daniel Friedman

The plaintiff is Resolution Energy, the town’s energy contractor. Certain people tried to obstruct and bypass their contract even though they saved the Town over $300,000. The contract lapsed and our rates went up 300%.
More · Jul 16 at 4:15pm

Daniel Friedman

Brendel and St. Lawrence were involved in conversations and took actions that violated the Town Board’s vote hiring Resolution Energy, and worked to feed the business to another vendor and used taxpayer money to undermine the existing contract. It’ll all come out shortly and in federal court.
3More · Jul 16 at 4:55pm

 

FriedmanFBtweetIn March 2014, Friedman sent letters to state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, inviting both to visit Town Hall and investigate “abuse of power” by the town supervisor — a fighting attitude, for sure.

Friedman said in a statement at the time: “It is clear, from what I have uncovered and what I continue to uncover, that this town needs major legislative reforms that will put an end to criminal activity and any form of corruption in Town Hall.”

His re-election bid advocates 37 transparency reforms he’d like to see the town adopt that Friedman believes will lead to better government relations.

 

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