Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency Furloughs 10 Employees

The Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency furloughed 10 employees Thursday. Mayor Richard Thomas cited the lack of federal funding for the positions in the Agency.

There's an investigation ongoing into the agency's operations and finances. In July, Richard Frankel was appointed as special counsel. The former Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Newark field office is reviewing the agency's operations back as far as 2006 and investigating what Thomas called "irregularities."

Today's staffing news will not impact the investigation, Thomas said.

"It is deeply unfortunate that we have no alternative but to furlough these men and women, many of them who have worked for the Agency for decades," Thomas said. "Should federal funds become available to the city in the near future, we will make every attempt to rehire these individuals. Addressing the financial challenges that past mismanagement and misdeeds have brought to the Mount Vernon Urban Renewal Agency is critical.

"My administration informed the City Council and Comptroller Maureen Walker about the looming financial crisis within the Agency, that threatened taxpayers as well as the employees. My administration followed that notice with a resolution before the Board of Estimate and Contract, on Tuesday, August 15th, that would have funded these jobs and saved these employees but Comptroller Maureen Walker and City Council Roberta Apuzzo refused to even consider this job-saving measure. It is our sincere hope that the City Council and Comptroller Walker move to properly funds these roles so these employees may continue to work."