Clarkstown Code Enforcement Officer Suspended

NEW CITY, NY — Clarkstown officials have suspended Code Enforcement Officer Brian Wagner without pay. He is accused of collecting overtime pay while running personal errands and the like instead of working.

"The Town of Clarkstown has great staff who work hard, but I was elected to clean up town government and no matter who you are or what position you hold you are paid by people and work for the people," said Supervisor George Hoehmann in a statement on Thursday. "The people need to have trust in those of us who serve them. It is a sacred trust and if you break that trust there will be consequences.

"The era of no show jobs died with the last administration. And I will continue fighting to ensure the people get what they are entitled to: good and honest government."

According to News 12 Hudson Valley, Clarkstown has video that alleges to show months when Wagner was technically on duty but actually going to the gym, etc. The station is running the video.

Wagner's annual salary is $87,151. He is also the president of the Civil Service Employees Association in Rockland.

The town's move comes on the heels of the firing of Police Chief Michael Sullivan earlier this week. Sullivan erased everything on his cell phone when the investigation started into alleged political surveillance by the department's Strategic Intelligence Unit. After he was suspended, Sullivan became a candidate for Town Supervisor, challenging Hoehmann.

Clarkstown is known for having some of the most highly-paid employees in New York State. And at the end of 2015, the Clarkstown Town Board’s outgoing Democrats quietly approved a contract that gave town workers raises of more than 9 percent over four years. At the time, Clarkstown had 398 employees, with almost 300 in the civil service union.

Clarkstown staff pay was high by state and regional standards before the raises, according to the Empire Center’s 2015 “What They Make” report. Clarkstown’s general staffers were the second-highest paid town employees in the state, the Empire Center reported. The only town that beat Clarkstown was neighboring Ramapo.

SEE ALSO:

• Clarkstown Fires Chief Sullivan
• Clarkstown Police Chief Should Be Fired: Hearing Officer
• Clarkstown, Ramapo Cops Dominate List of Highest-Paid
• 4 Years of Raises OK'd for Clarkstown Employees