YULAN, NY — A disagreement over political allegiances may have fueled the January 25 firehouse fight between a current and former Highland official.

Three Highland residents — Donald J. Haas, Jeffrey Haas, and Thomas Migliorino — are named in dueling incident reports filed with the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office. The town court issued all three men criminal summonses, the reports show, with charges of second-degree harassment with physical contact. It points to an intention by the men to sue one another.

Haas says Migliorino hit him in the face. Migliorino denies this and implies Haas was faking injury. He also says both Donald J. Haas and his son Jeffrey Haas harassed him that day, and he lists several witnesses.

The men, both volunteer firefighters, were at a Yulan Fire Department drill. The altercation happened outside, in the parking lot. 

Migliorino named Christopher Tambini, a former town board member, and Anthony LaRuffa, the town’s Emergency Service Board representative, as witnesses. They had not been interviewed at the time of the report.

The court clerk, Patricia Summa, and Judge Kathryn Sweeney both said the case will be relocated to a court outside of Highland because of a conflict of interest, considering the men’s roles in town government.

Haas’s report

The first incident report was filed on February 1 on behalf of Donald J. Haas, who is known in town as Jeff. He served as town supervisor from 2015 to 2023. 

“Haas stated that he did not want to press charges at this time and only wished a blotter entry to be made to get his side of the story in before anyone else reported what had happened,” wrote Deputy Keith Longden, who took Haas’s deposition that day.

The second incident report was filed on February 2, when Deputy Kearstin DeGraw traveled to Highland to take a supporting deposition from Haas. It reads, in part:

“Donald Haas [redacted] reports that Thomas R. Migliorino [redacted] were having a verbal disagreement at the Yulan Fire House at about 1915 hours when they took the discussion outside to the parking lot of the fire house. Haas reports Migliorino got into his face and Haas pushed him back and Migliorino then punched Haas in the right side of his mouth leaving his lip swollen.

“Haas states that multiple members of the fire department then came outside to separate Migliorino and Haas. Haas reported the incident to the SCSO when he got home.”

Haas signed a harassment complaint. DeGraw then “patrolled to the Town of Highland Court to request a criminal summons, as per the undersheriff,” the report states.

Judge Sweeney told DeGraw that she will be sending the paperwork to county court.

Migliorino’s report

The third incident report was filed on February 3, when Undersheriff Eric Chaboty received a complaint of past harassment from Migliorino. Deputy Markus Pratti followed up with the incident report, which reads in part:

“Migliorino who advises that on multiple occasions himself and Donald Haas [redacted] has had multiple arguments regarding Migliorino’s political position. Migliorino advises that D. Haas has always been the aggressor in these arguments.

"Migliorino advises that on 02/01/24 while at the Yulan Fire Dept for a monthly meeting, Migliorino approached D. Haas and shook his hand and asked how he was. Migliorino advises that D. Haas was [redacted] asked ‘when are you going to be a Republican again.’ Migliorino advises that he told D. Haas that he would speak to him but not tonight [redacted] D. Haas then began to call Migliorino ‘a piece of [expletive]’ and asked if Migliorino wanted to go outside. Migliorino agreed to go outside and talk, other fire dept members also went outside. Migliorino advised the other members that himself and D. Haas were going to only talk and the other members returned inside. At that time Migliorino reports D. Haas charged him and pushed him with both hands, Migliorino advises of stepping back, D. Haas then charged at Migliorino again, Migliorino advises of kicking D. Haas to keep him away. D. Haas then charged Migliorino a third time. Other members from the fire dept came outside and separated both parties. Migliorino advises that D. Haas began complaining that he was struck in the face and had injury to his lip. Migliorino advises did not locate injury.

“Migliorino further advises that after they were separated, Jeffrey Haas began yelling at him with abusive language, threatening to ‘kick his ass.’ Migliorino advises that J. Haas threatened to come after him and began calling him an [expletive]. Migliorino advises that J. Haas on previous occasions has verbally abused him.”

On February 5, Pratti delivered the original signed complaints and statements to the court clerk, Patricia Summa, according to the report. Summa reviewed the documents and will be issuing criminal summonses to both Donald and Jeffrey. 

Alcohol out in new firehouse policy

The Yulan fire chief affirmed to the new town board that, as of February 5, no alcohol is permitted on the premises or while firefighters are on duty. A few exemptions will be allowed for approved social events planned in advance. Pizzolato told the River Reporter he requested the policy because the firehouse altercation “seemed to be propelled by alcohol” (See related story, “Resignations, reappointments roil Highland.”)