TOWN OF WALLKILL – Neil Meyer on Wednesday fired back at Republican critics who allege Town Supervisor Frank DenDanto gave him a security badge and access to Town Hall despite Meyer not being a town employee.
Critics say the alleged access raises security concerns and questions about compliance with access-control procedures. Meyer, the Town of Chester comptroller, said it was political retribution for his outspoken criticism of the previous administration’s finances, which the State Comptroller’s Office has also scrutinized.
When reached via text, Meyer declined comment, referring a reporter to a statement on his Friends of Neil Meyer Facebook page. Meyer’s social media statement did not address whether he had swipe card access.
“The Town is in a financial crisis,” said Meyer, a CPA. “To try and paint a CPA and Credentialed Municipal Financial Officer as unknowledgeable about municipal finance is completely laughable. At a time when volunteerism is down throughout the community, just ask your fire departments and your EMS, I would think that a financial crisis in our community would count as an emergency for which volunteering my unique skillset would garner “thank yous.” I am once again attacked by the Republican Party, which has spent over a decade trying to keep me out of the books of this town, which are public records, a town that now finds itself in a financial crisis.”
While Meyer did not address his alleged swipe card access on his post, he did take a swipe at the town’s former administration.
“By the way, the Town paid for iPads for (former Town Councilman) Eric Valentin and (former Supervisor) George Serrano, where are they?” Meyer wrote in the comments section of his post. “Why weren’t they returned to the town since they were town property and have Town software on it.”
DenDanto previously told Mid-Hudson News that Meyer has a “visitor’s pass” that are not “uncommon.” However, Republican Town of Wallkill Councilman Mark Coyne on Monday alleged that Meyer had access to the Town of Wallkill’s computer security remote access app, and he could see everything in the accounting office and payroll.
Coyne said he has removed Meyer from the app and has ordered an audit trail.
The State Comptroller’s Office routinely audits local governments for physical and digital access control breaches, including building access systems, key cards, key fobs, and IT user accounts. The State Comptroller declined comment for this story.
“So for clarification, I have had nothing to do with creating the town budget or performing any other financial function for the town,” Meyer said. “My volunteerism has been strictly limited to advising when asked, not unlike past Supervisors and Councilmen to the town.”
“This unfortunately is nothing more than the Town of Wallkill Republicans distracting residents from the fact that they were misappropriating funds from water and sewer for townwide general fund expenses, thus overtaxing those of us in the second and third ward,” Meyer added. “Something they desperately want to continue if the Republicans in town get power again.”
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