Beekman, Highway Super Sued For Harassment

BEEKMAN, NY — A Dutchess County man is suing the Town of Beekman alleging a misappropriation of highway department funds used for harassment that began over a speed hump. Hopewell Junction resident Dario Di Lello, who has a law office in Fishkill, filed a notice of claim accusing Beekman Highway Superintendent Anthony Coviello of "corruption, abusing his authority as an elected town official and using town funds and manpower to abet a personal friend and created structures which served no legitimate public purpose," according to an email sent to Patch.

Di Lello said, in December 2018, he was leaving for work and found that a speed hump was being installed in front of his house, which is at the very end of a cul de sac.

"After some investigation, I learned that my neighbor complained to his close personal friend, Highway Superintendent Tony Coviello, that my wife was speeding at the end of the cul de sac," Di Lello said.

He said that, within two days, the town's highway department put in the speed hump, with no notice to the community or any public hearing.

Di Lello said Coviello called him and threatened him if he tried to have the speed hump removed.

According to the lawsuit, Coviello subsequently personally directed the highway department workers to use their equipment to damage Di Lello's property while performing snow removal and other routine road maintenance.

The suit also claims that Coviello also tried to have Di Lello removed as a volunteer firefighter for the town in retaliation for opposing the installation of the speed hump.

The lawsuit, which was served Aug. 1, seeks unspecified damages and names the Town of Beekman and Town Supervisor Mary Covucci as defendants, along with Coviello.

In response to a request for comment, Covucci said it was not her policy to comment on a potential litigation case against the Town of Beekman.

Coviello did not response to an email asking for comment.

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