Over six months ago at a Mamakating Town Board meeting, the question was raised, “Why is the Town of Mamakating paying health insurance premiums for former town attorney Richard Stoloff and family?”

In 2006, the Mamakating Town Board passed a resolution that would pay premiums for lifetime health insurance benefits to an employee/family who had obtained 20/25 years of continuous employment with the town. Mr. Stoloff was town attorney from January 1992 until December 31, 1999. Another attorney represented the town from January 2000 until December 31, 2001. Mr. Stoloff again represented the town as town attorney from January 2002 until December 31, 2013.

Holding no other position in the town that I am aware of, even custodian, it seems Mr. Richard Stoloff does not have the requisite 20/25 years of continuous service, the main requirement for the town to pay health insurance premiums for life. The town has been dodging the answer for months, I believe for fear of a threatening lawsuit by Mr. Stoloff.

The simple solution to the question would be for Mr. Stoloff to prove he has the 20/25 years of continuous service. Case closed. That shouldn’t be hard to do. I also FOILed the town for the identity of the person who signed an authorization to allow the premiums to be paid. Town records access officer Jean Dougherty’s email reply: “I do not find any documents relating to that.”

It is noteworthy that Mr. Stoloff was appointed to the New York State Committee on Judicial Conduct a few years ago by none other than Dean Skelos.

Richard W. Morris

Wurtsboro, NY