Mayor Challenges Comptroller About City's Bills

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Mayor Richard Thomas held a press conference Thursday to accuse Comptroller Deborah Reynolds of refusing to pay more than $1 million of the city's debts.

According to News 12, Reynolds said the mayor was not only lying about the amount, but said if there were any outstanding bills it was because the mayor refused to sign checks on his desk.

Thomas was joined by Council President Lisa Copeland, Council Member Janice Duarte, representatives of the Civil Service Commission, labor leaders, and city commissioners and employees.

They also said she had not funded two fire inspectors though the positions were approved by the Mayor, City Council and Board of Estimate. They alleged she also failed to authorize payment for the physical agility portion of the firefighter’s exam, flouting a federal court order they said was designed to ensure that the racial makeup of the Mount Vernon Fire Department reflects the city’s demographics.

Thomas said a vendor recently repossessed one of the DPW trucks after non-payment for six months. It was a bucket truck used to change street lights.

They floated the idea of abolishing the position of Comptroller by revising the city charter.