Scuffle Breaks Out Between Councilman, Journalist Over Hookup Controversy
A rancorous brawl broke out at the end of the Carmel Town Board meeting September 18 between Councilman Mike Barile and The Journal News columnist David McKay Wilson.
At the end of the meeting about 25 people witnessed Barile lash out at Wilson for allegedly harassing him and blamed Wilson for biased reporting with slanderous implications resulting in a scuffle between the two men. Barile grabbed Wilson’s cell phone, opened the emergency door and tossed it out into the night, cracking the phone’s screen. Town Supervisor Kenny Schmitt pulled Wilson away from Barile and kept the men apart until calmer heads prevailed.
Wilson later filed a report with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department alleging Barile attacked him during the meeting and threw a plastic water bottle at him, according to The Journal News. The Putnam Examiner reached out to Wilson, but he declined to comment.
The escalating feud between Wilson and Barile stemmed from Wilson’s reporting about Barile’s alleged unauthorized connection to a sewer system to Blu at the Lakehouse, Barile’s Lake Mahopac restaurant, resulting in a septic violation issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). In June, Wilson reported that Barile violated a county permit 26 years ago when he installed a line to the sewer system. Since then, investigations were launched by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Putnam County Department of Health and the Carmel Town Board.
Tensions heightened during the meeting’s public comments when questions were directed to the board about the Barile situation. Jean Hopper, a Carmel Democrat running for a town board seat in November against two Republicans, said, “This is a very divisive issue. I wanted to get some answers and make sure our rules and regulations are enforced.”
Hopper asked the board about a 1990 resolution that had a contingency clause relating to sewer line installations. While the board couldn’t answer her specific question, Schmitt told Hopper, “The board is in the process of interviewing outside legal counsel to advise and assist the board with respect to this whole matter. We’ve been advised not to comment on the issue while we are reaching out to firms to represent the town in this matter.”
Hopper was concerned that local rumors and social media were driving misinformation. “I think it’s important that the town board share their reassurances with town residents and get the truth out. It’s unfortunate that the taxpayers are bearing the cost of an outside counsel,” Hopper said.
Councilman Jonathan Schneider seemed to defend Barile, who was elected in 2017 to the Carmel Town Board and is a Carmel Sewer District No. 1 commissioner. “The accusations that are out there don’t help the town at all. I’m going to give the gentleman [Barile] the benefit of the doubt. But we want to do it right and our transparency to the public is extremely important,” Schneider said.
While Hopper asked questions, Barile piled two stacks of paper on the dais in front of him. Hopper acknowledged the stacks. “I see all your papers there and I’m curious if you wanted to answer any questions to clear the air?” Barile had no response, other than a statement he had prepared to read after everyone else had spoken.
Norman Marino asked Barile directly, “Have you been paying tax bills to the sewer district since 1993?” Barile said, “I’ve been paying three people in this room: myself, my family and my partner. I pay over half a million dollars in taxes every year to this town.” Marino, pressing Barile about his sewer bill, cited a regulation about theft of services for sewer services not paid for. “Since 1993, the restaurant has been hooked up to the sewer and the town hasn’t gotten its money,” Marino said. “Under the penal law that is theft of services and a class A misdemeanor. I want to know when you hooked up and did you pay a sewer tax?”
Barile remarked, “You’re not worthy of an answer.” Councilwoman Suzanne McDonough quickly followed by saying, “We will all get answers. Mike is innocent until proven guilty.”
Wilson, who pens the Tax Watch columm, reported that Barile faces up to $37,000 in fines. Throughout last Wednesday’s meeting, Wilson was snapping pictures of Barile and taking video of those commenting on the issue at the end of the meeting.
Finally, Barile addressed the board and the audience. “I won’t respond to anything written in – I think it’s called The Journal News – anything written by Mr. Wilson – also known as Dr. Seuss to me.” Barile blamed Wilson for printing what he called a misleading headline just recently. “It was a headline that he understood was wrong. The Putnam County Attorney requested a retraction and to print the correct information. Don’t hold your breath,” Barile asserted.
Braile referred to Putnam Democratic Committee Chairman Scott Reing, who previously stated that Barile should resign from the town board if had indeed hooked up to the sewer without the correct authorization. As reported in the last issue of The Putnam Examiner, Reing compared Barile’s alleged theft of services to a board member stealing $100 bill from a lockbox in town hall.
“I don’t know if he’s mentally all there or what,” said Barile of Reing. “But to compare me to a $100 pocket thief . . . – you can kiss it where the sun don’t shine.”
Barile was emphatic about how devoted he was to the town by his service and multiple donations. “I’m 66 years old and I’ve lived in this community with my family and my partner for almost 50 years. My history speaks for itself. I have to remind everybody that I’m not getting any money for sitting here.”
As reported in The Putnam Examiner, a letter from the DEP stated that Blu at the Lakehouse was connected to the sewer and not using a septic system. Earlier this year, Barile said that the property did use septic. A dye test on the existing septic field was done on September 4 by the DEP and discovered the force main for the Blu Restaurant was online. According to Barile, the cap on the force main at Route 6N and Clark Place had been removed the previous week. The Putnam County Department of Health sent a violation to Barile last week for non-compliance.
On September 3, Barile told The Putnam Examiner that he disconnected from his septic field and connected to the sewer so the DEP could run a test to inspect the manhole and sewer line. He also claimed that the town engineering department had been aware of the sewer hookup.
Abby is a local journalist who has reported on breaking news for more than 20 years. She currently covers community issues in The Examiner as a full-time reporter and has written for the paper since its inception in 2007. Read more from Abby’s editor-author bio here. Read Abbys’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/ab-lub2019/