[ Virginia A. Buechele and Kurt J. Hornick are voters, residents and taxpayers in the Fairview Fire District and are the co-coordinators of Fairness For Fairview, a citizen's advocacy group whose mission is to raise public awareness of the issues facing the Fairview Community and to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community's residents, taxpayers, firefighters and emergency responders. ]

FAIRVIEW SOLD OUT ??

On February 17, 2009 Town of Poughkeepsie residents and Fairview Fire District taxpayers, Virginia A. Buechele and Kurt J. Hornick filed complaints with the New York State Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity against the Fairview Fire District Board of Commissioners, Marist College, and Town of Poughkeepsie 4 th Ward Councilman Michael Cifone [See attached file - the cover letter and complaint forms].

During their investigation they uncovered a letter of understanding dated March 9, 2006 [See attached file-the March 9, 2006 Letter of Understanding] executed by Executive Vice President Roy. H. Merolli of Marist College , and John Anspach, Chairman of the Fairview Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners. Marist College agreed to make periodic payments to the District in exchange for the District's support of all of the College's future construction projects and refraining from making any negative remarks when responding to a SEQR request.   Page 2 Item 5 - “The Fairview Fire District will not oppose future development at Marist.  It is understood that in responding to a SEQR request from the Town for a construction project at Marist, the Fairview Fire District will continue to indicate the District's support requirements, according to applicable state and local standards.”

“When I first read that the fire district agreed to take money for supporting all future development at Marist, I nearly fell off my chair. I felt betrayed by our elected officials on the Fairview Fire District Board of Fire Commissioners,” said Virginia Buechele. “But this agreement does explain the lack of fire district opposition with respect to the 2007 Marist College Phase IV Townhouse planning board application. I found it odd that the District would vehemently oppose the 2003 Marist Phase III Townhouse development and the 2008 Dutchess Community College Dormitories because of the Life Safety issues yet stand mute in 2007” Buechele continued.

“It is common knowledge that the Fairview Fire District operates at dangerously low manpower levels. So I consider it an unforgiveable breach of trust that our 4 th Ward Councilman Mike Cifone, who is on the public record as facilitating this agreement, failed to disclose its details to his constituents, the voting residents and taxpayers of the fire district” said Kurt Hornick. [See attached file - Exhibit F - Pages 12 -13 - Town of Poughkeepsie Town Board Meeting Minutes May 2, 2007]. “This agreement potentially puts at risk the lives and safety of everyone who lives in the District including those who serve and are employed by the District. This is an outrage to us all,” Hornick concluded.

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Virginia A. Buechele

Kurt J. Hornick