Monticello mayor considers appointing his girlfriend to fill trustee seat

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Published: 10:17 AM - 07/26/13
Last updated: 11:00 AM - 07/26/13

MONTICELLO ? Mayor Gordon Jenkins said he is giving serious consideration to appointing his girlfriend Rochelle Massey to fill a vacant board seat.

While Jenkins said Friday he has not absolutely made up his mind, he said he could possibly appoint Massey to the $6,588 annual post during the board meeting on Monday.

She would fill a seat automatically left vacant by T.C. Hutchins, until a special election in March. Hutchins was convicted on July 11 in a felony corruption case of attempting to get his friend a job on the police force.

?I have been looking at people but they can't take the heat,? Jenkins said. ?They get criticized and they have jobs and they don't want to do it. The thing about Rochelle and myself is ? we don't need any favors, money or jobs. We can be fair?for all.?

After Hutchins' seat was vacated, Jenkins said he preferred to wait until a special election. He said that the two board members assigned as auditors ? Larissa Bennett and Carmen Rue ? need to sign off on checks before they can be released. Jenkins, who is serving as the acting village manager, said the consulting attorney Dennis Lynch is owed money for litigation. Jenkins said he needs three board votes to override Rue and Bennett so bills can be paid.

?Larissa and Carmen are refusing to sign checks because they don't like certain people,? Jenkins said. ?How do you move forward when they don't sign checks??

Rue has posted a statement on her web page, accusing Jenkins of incompetence. She appeals for any local attorney to represent her in attempting a court action to have Jenkins forcibly removed for ?misconduct, maladministration, malfeasance and malversation in office.? Bennett has declined to talk about the turmoil in the village.

Massey has been Jenkins' domestic partner for many years and works behind the counter at his store, G. Man Beauty Supplies on Broadway. She was also Jenkins' co-defendant in early 2010 when both were arrested at the store and charged with felony trademark counterfeiting after a state police investigation of counterfeit goods. They ultimately pleaded guilty to misdemeanors, admitting to selling knock-off Nike brand shoes and other items and were fined.

Jenkins said he consulted with the New York Conference of Mayors and was told he could legally appoint Massey. He said he ?didn't give a crap? if his political opponents accuse him of nepotism.

?It is perfectly legal,? he said. ?Those are the laws that I follow.?

vwhitman@th-record.com

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