Deerpark Ethics Accusations Revealed
An anonymous complaint detailed problems with Deerpark legal procedures indicative of influence peddling.
By David Ofshinsky
In response to a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request, the NYS Office of Attorney General (OAG) has provided a copy of the complaint alleging possible unethical conduct by one or more Deerpark officials.
Last September it had been sent to the Deerpark Town Board, the Orange County Ethics Board, the Orange County District Attorney, the NYS Comptroller and NYS Attorney General.
The complaint had stopped work on updating the Deerpark ethics code at the October 2024 Town Board meeting. Town Supervisor Gary Spears deferred the matter to the OCEB.
A typed signature attributed the complaint to the Deerpark Rural Alliance (DRA). However, Grace Woodard, the leader of the organization, has disavowed that the DRA had crafted it.
Deerpark officials recently denied a FOIL request for the documents, saying that the matter might be under investigation, and its release would “impinge upon the privacy rights of the Town's Board Members, employees or agents”.
The Orange County Ethics Board (OCEB) denied the FOIL request last November, since the complaint was unsigned and not on their forms. The Orange County District Attorney responded to the FOIL request last November, responding that the matter had been referred to the OAG. A response to the FOIL request to the Office of the State Comptroller is still pending.
In its response the OAG stated that that portions of the records were exempt from disclosure and had been redacted from the response pursuant to Public Officers Law § 87(2)(b), as their disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.
Aside from a few minor redactions, the majority of the 102-page document was made available. Roughly a page and a half details the issues, which are supported by 100 pages of planning board minutes and property records.
The complaint begins by stating that Deerpark has created an environment that gives preferential treatment and consideration to Town officials for their private benefit by refusing to update its 50 year old ethics code and not having an active ethics committee.
The document then describes three real estate transactions involving Councilmember Arthur Trovei, who was represented in all three by Glen Plotsky, Esq., who is also the Town and Planning Board attorney. The complaint alleges that these dealings indicate a pattern of influence peddling and use of inside information.
The transactions are:
- IPPSolar Maple Crest RP, LLC is one of several projects that IPPSolar, LLC, a NYC based company that develops, finances, owns and operates solar power plants, is involved with in Deerpark. The land for the project on Maple Crest Lane was purchased from Trovei’s company, Triplet, LLC. A deed for Trovei to buy back four acres for recreational use contained a clause stating that Trovei would never oppose or speak in opposition to any use IPPSolar Maple Crest pursues on its adjacent land, and he would affirmatively support any proposed solar or other clean energy projects they pursue. To make such an agreement would appear to be a conflict for a Town Councilmember .
- Quarry Management. The property on U.S. Rt. 6 was purchased from Trovei in 2020; the sale was contingent on Planning Board approval. Work on the property has been the subject of many complaints and was shut down twice by the DEC. Neighbors contend that the use is inappropriate for the area, but it was pushed through the Planning Board process by Trovei and Plotsky, so that Trovei could sell the property.
- 8 Johnson Lane, Sparrowbush. Trovei purchased this property in 2022. Years ago, the Town Board had placed a restriction on the property, requiring that it remain open and vacant. Trovei applied to the Planning Board to use the property for his adjacent truck sale business. The application was referred to the Town Board and then to the Zoning Board, who then removed the restriction, as the zoning had changed from Residential to Highway Mixed Use. Several neighbors voiced their opposition at the June 8, 2022 Planning Board Public Hearing, but the proposal was approved.
At the February 2025 Town Board meeting Spears reported that the OCEB would not take action on the complaint since it was unsigned, and that discussions on revising the ethics code would resume at the March meeting.
At the March Town Board meeting Spears instructed Town Attorney Glen Plotsky, Esq., to contact the District Attorney, Attorney General and State Comptroller and inquire whether they will be taking any action on the complaint. He said any work on the ethics code would depend on the response.
At present, plans for actions or investigations regarding the allegations in the complaint are not known.
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Seems legit to me. If the laws say its ok
Finally.