• Document Cloud
  • FOIL–Your Right to Know
  • See Through NY
  • Tax Exempt
  • Environmental Justice
  • Campaign Finance Reports

Preserve Ramapo

www.preserve-ramapo.com

  • Home
  • Join our email
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • The Archive
You are here: Home / Alan Simon / Spring Valley Mayor Alan Simon dismisses fire inspector

Spring Valley Mayor Alan Simon dismisses fire inspector

January 28, 2018 by Michael Castelluccio

Fire Chief John Zajac at his desk

West Haverstraw Fire Chief John Zajac

“With the village Building Department and inspection program being monitored by New York state for ineffectiveness, Mayor Alan Simon has dismissed the village fire inspector just before his six-month probationary period was set to expire this month.

The village hired John Zajac, a longtime West Haverstraw fire chief, in July as a full-time fire inspector to succeed the retired Raymond Guarnuccio, a former Spring Valley fire chief. Zajac was paid about $47,000.

Zajac finished third with a score of 99 on the civil service exam for the position. Zajac, 62, a retired safety compliance official for Sharpe Electronics and Pfizer, has been in the fire services for 42 years.

Simon, who won election in November and took the reigns of government in early December, did not return several messages left with his office for comment on why he dropped Zajac or his plans for the beleaguered Building Department.

STATE: Monitors to oversee building departments in Ramapo, Spring Valley

PREVIOUS: Spring Valley board signs onto state monitor for building department

What Albany has and hasn’t done in Ramapo

Zajac said Simon claimed not enough inspections were being done as the reason for letting him go. If Zajac made probation, the village would have had to hold hearings under civil service laws to dismiss him.

Simon’s decision on Zajac was met with criticism from several people who monitor the village’s inspections.

“Zajac is qualified and he’s the type of person you want,” said Justin Schwartz, who chairs the Rockland Illegal Housing Task Force. The task force has pressed for improved inspections and enforcement of the state fire codes and local zoning.

“He’s restored trust,” Schwartz said. “John’s honest and hard working. He needed time to get the program restarted with the other inspectors. What was the basis for the mayor’s decision? He’s not an inspector. We’re disappointed.”

Schwartz said what’s equally upsetting is reports that Simon has been seeking advice from former Ramapo Building Inspector Anthony Mallia, who was convicted of felony charges and resigned his job. Mallia’s wife is the mayor’s top office aide.

Mallia once worked for Simon when he was Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence’s building and zoning administrator. Simon’s tenure was marked with controversy as he overruled engineering and inspections to push through the office’s approvals for development projects.

Ramapo’s Building Department also is being monitored by the New York state Department of State code enforcement’s unit.

“Now he wants to hire Anthony Mallia, who is hanging around and meeting with people in the village,” Schwartz said. “We had hoped the situation would get better.”

Read the complete Journal News story here.

Filed Under: Alan Simon, Fire Safety, Inspections

Preserve Ramapo tree no border

Preserve Ramapo online since 2003

Recent Posts

  • Judge sets up trial about East Ramapo voting that could alter how school board is elected
  • State comptroller audit questions payouts to East Ramapo bus contractors
  • Rockland elections: Foley wins Low-Hogan’s legislative seat after absentee and affidavit ballot count
  • Ramapo Town Clerk Christian Sampson is retiring; Town Board will name Osherovitz
  • Nov 2019 Election Results

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015

Calendar listing for Posts

December 2019
M T W T F S S
« Nov    
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  

Other Links

Airmont,

Pomona,

Montebello,

Suffern,

Sloatsburg,

Hillburn,

Spring Valley,

Chestnut Ridge,

New Hempstead,

Wesley Hills,

Town of Ramapo,

Town of Clarkstown,

Rosa4Rockland,

Rockland Water Coalition

East Ramapo Central School District

Power of Ten -- East Ramapo for the Children,

Strong East Ramapo,

East Ramapo Videos,

Copyright © 2019 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in