TOWN OF WALLKILL – Town of Wallkill Councilman Mark Coyne has filed complaints with the State Police and State Comptroller’s Office over allegations that Supervisor Frank DenDanto allowed Neil Meyer, who is not a town employee, to obtain a security badge and remote access to town systems.
“The State Police and Comptroller’s Office are looking into it,” said Coyne, a Republican. Neither agency has commented on the allegations.
“Everybody agrees with me that if the allegations are true, the law was broken. Neil should know better as a CPA about the integrity of financial records and the importance of following proper procedures. If he’s saying this about politics, he’s just deflecting.”
Meyer addressed the allegations on Wednesday, saying they were political retribution for his outspoken criticism of the previous administration’s finances, which the State Comptroller’s Office has also scrutinized.
Meyer, the Town of Chester’s Comptroller, did not answer specific questions about whether he had swipe-card access to Town of Wallkill facilities.
According to Coyne, multiple guests at DenDanto’s latest “Spill the Tea” community event saw Meyer’s swipe badge. Coyne said DenDanto described Meyer as “a consultant” when asked about it. Coyne alleges Meyer had remote access to town computer systems that included accounting and payroll functions.
Coyne said he confirmed the alleged breach with the Town of Wallkill’s remote-access vendor, BAS, and revoked Meyer’s access. He said Meyer had remote access beginning in June.
Former FBI agent David Shapiro, director of the Inspection and Oversight Program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, said Meyer’s alleged access to Town Hall could pose legal risks for both Meyer and whoever allegedly granted him access.
“The alleged privileged access goes way beyond a lapse in judgment,” said Michael Alcazar, a John Jay College professor who spent 30 years in the NYPD. “It would be a complete violation of municipal security. Unauthorized access to the town’s financial records is exactly the kind of conduct that may trigger a criminal investigation.”
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