Building Inspector Accused Of Lying On County Job Applications

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Troubles are multiplying for Raymond Canario, Spring Valley's building inspector and a longtime volunteer firefighter with Rockland Hook & Ladder Co., who is now accused of providing false information on applications he filed seeking jobs with Rockland County.

Canario was indicted in 2021 in connection with the fire at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults that killed a firefighter and a resident. SEE: Former Fire Chief Arraigned Over Building Code Fraud.

On Wednesday, an 8-count indictment was unsealed and he was arraigned in Rockland County Court on four felony and four misdemeanor counts of offering a false instrument for filing.

Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh said the charges relate to information provided on four employment applications Canario filed with the county's Department of Personnel.

Canario, 45, was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled for a court appearance on April 6.

"The integrity of civil service positions are essential in keeping the highest of standards in our public workforce," Walsh said. "My office will continue to work with our county partners to ensure those standards are adhered to."

It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic and SupervisingAssistant District Attorney Ryan Sweeney.

Canario and Wayne Ballard, the former head of Spring Valley's building and public works departments, are two of the six people charged in the Evergreen Court fire, accused of filing false inspection reports. Rabbis Aaron Sommer and his son, Nathaniel Sommer, are charged with manslaughter, assault and arson. Denise Kerr of New York City and Manuel Lema of Pomona face charges including reckless endangerment, criminal impersonation and obstruction of governmental operations for their actions at the facility.

The converted 1903 hotel in Spring Valley was destroyed in the massive blaze that killed firefighter Jared Lloyd and 79-year-old resident Oliver Hueston and injured about a dozen people. More than 100 people had to be saved. Lloyd, 35, who had been rescuing residents, sent out a Mayday call from an upper floor, but could not be reached before it collapsed.

Canario, then an assistant to Ballard, now runs the Spring Valley building department. However, he has been excluded from code and safety inspection and enforcement; New York State officials tasked Rockland County with that job temporarily the day after Canario and Ballard were indicted over the fire. The new Office of Buildings and Codes launched in mid-February with a 30-day moratorium on building permit applications in Spring Valley.

SEE ALSO:

• Rockland: 30-Day Moratorium On Spring Valley Building Permits
• Adult Home Fire: Manslaughter, Arson, False Report Charges