Why is Domenic Procopio, a man that can hardly speak English, who doesn’t have a degree from any accredited college or university within the United States or any other country, hold the position of Chairman of the Municipal Civil Service Commission, which is part of The New Rochelle City Government?
His background is in Barbering and being president of a small Italian social club.
Who in City Government appointed this man and why was he appointed?
I, along with every City Tax Payer, sense foul play and demand explanations as to who this man is and why he holds this position, knowing full well how unqualified he is?
NOTE: This story was originally published on October 20, 2008 but given recent interest in the story we are re-publishing today, June 8, 2009
Grand Larceny
Can Mr. Procopio account for the rents collected at the non-profit Casa Calabria? Is Mr. Procopio paying rent for his wine business of which he evicted the previous paying tenant there? Is Mr. Procopio accounting for all of the membership dues (over 400) collected. Where is all of this money going. I am demanding that the NYS Attorney General’s office investigate this matter. If he cannot, let the indictments begin.
John Calagia
Westchester County Watchdog Committee
Grand Larceny
You can include the illegal multi family dwellings in the west end. People have overburdened our school district with kids while hardly paying anything in school taxes because they are housing multiple families in single family homes.
Re: Grand Larceny
I believe this to be true as I have family members that belong to the Casa Calabria Society. The Attorney General needs to step in and make an investigation as what has transpired over the years is nothing short of criminal. The real question is, why does the Police Commissioner, City Manager, and other city officials choose to be so close to an obvious criminal. If he goes down, they should too. They, first should distance themselves from this man if they have any sense. Don’t turn a blind eye to the obvious. “You’re guilty by association.”
NY State Dept. of Civil Service defines job description:
Positions in local government fall under the jurisdiction of a Municipal Civil Service Commission or a Personnel Officer, who are responsible for administering the merit system in local government.
http://www.cs.state.ny.us/jobseeker/local.cfm
I guess he would be able to address all that is included in the following link:
http://www.newrochelleny.com/cservice.asp
Informative, but not applicable…
You see, Dominic Procopio never took a civil service exam for this position. And if there is a record that he did take an exam, then people within New Rochelle City Hall fabricated the results.
Quid Pro Quo
His power comes from getting friends and friends of friend’s city and school district jobs. Most are uneducated and some have criminal records. While he was appointed by Idoni his best wheeling and dealing has been in the school district. There is a custodian at the high school that was caught by the NRPD moving his bowels outside on school property which never made the light of day. This was someone he “helped” get the position.
There’s a much bigger story concerning civil service exams. I believe there is an employee who will be allowed to retire because she authorized payment to a proctor (family member) who never proctored.
It’s always about who you know not what you know when it comes to city and school district positions. How do you think Bramson’s political war chest got funded?
Procopio’s position
From what I read on the links provided he has an important job.In essence he is the Personnel director for the city? Is that right? He is responsible for filling any open positions at City Hall,the School district, DPW? So if I wanted a job at City Hall, he would know if there was a position open and tell me how to apply? If that is the case then now I know why there are so many Italians and there family members employed all over New Rochelle.
Hypocrites
Wow…why bring up the fact he speaks “broken english”. What does that have to do with anything. Oh, I get it, it’s with an Italian accent, so that makes it an issue. If it was “Spanglish” or “Ebonics” the issue wouldn’t of been brought up.
You have no clue…
If he spoke broken english, people would be able to understand him. He speaks close to no English. In fact, he doesn’t even have a high school diploma. That alone makes him ineligable for this position.
YOU are the one without a
YOU are the one without a clue! He speaks English very well, although with a heavy Italian accent. I have spoken to him many, many times and I don’t have a second language. As far as his position or status, I have no idea what the deal is. All I know is he is a gentleman.
Do whatever “investigating” you want to do and let the chips fall where they may, but Mr. Cox’s comment about his speaking ability, or lack threreof, is moronic, as you are.
its not what you know but
its not what you know but who you know in this corrupt city of new rochelle hes an idiot who knew people to get him wher he is today
english spanish italian
english spanish italian whatever he should never have had that position and should get caught for all his coruption
Whatever the City of New
Whatever the City of New Rochelle is paying this guy Procopio out of our taxpayer dollars for hanging around in the afternoons at Mama Francesca’s and going in and out of the stores mingling with the proprietors has to be a good salary, he just got a new Cadillac. You would think that someone who is milking a job at the taxpayers expense who be a little discret instead of advertising “Chairman of the Municipal Civil Service Commission” in the rear window of his car.
Commissioner Civil Service – Appointed position no salary
That is an appointed position and has no salary attached to it.
You can thank Tim Idoni for
You can thank Tim Idoni for this one.
Is he employed in another capacity by the City?
or is he just the Civil Service Commissioner?
As far as I know…
He is just the Civil Service Commissioner. But it doesn’t stop there. He has his hand in every department in City Hall. I’m not sure how he got to where he is, but it’s very fishy. As far as salary, there shouldn’t be one for this position, but the City flips the tab on many of his so-called “Official Meeting” at restaurant, especially Mamma Francesca’s who he’s good friends with the owner Nick, who’s another shady character.
He is the city’s spy!
He drives around all day spying on his neighbors and other law abiding citizens. He tips off city inspectors to investigate things like putting out the garbage at the curb too early or doing any work on your house.
That is why he is there
That is why he is there daily with Commissioner Carroll and four or five other guys. Even Tim Idoni and his girlfriend come down occasionally from White Plains to join them.
Tim’s girlfriend? Susie K?
Tim’s girlfriend? Susie K?
who one
who one the fight in city hall parking lot timmy or doc?
maybe no salary but he sure
maybe no salary but he sure got alot of stupid people great at the citys expense
paid pos.
3000 yr salary
Does anyone out there know
Does anyone out there know the answer to MakeNewRoBetter questions about Mr. Procopio? I do remember him being a Barber.
Domenic Procopio can be seen
Domenic Procopio can be seen everyday hanging around the shopping center down by Metfoods. Seems like Mama Francesca’s has turned into the annex for City Hall, with him and a group of others having lunch on a daily basis. Afterwards, Procopio just lingers around for hours. It looks like he has been given a job with a fancy title with nothing to do. Must be nice knowing people in high postions.
Here is just another wasted
Here is just another wasted job that we are paying for, with our taxes. It sounds like Mr. Procopio is abusing the system, like our carpenter on John Street. Doesn’t Mr. Procopio have something to do during his work hours. Then hang around Metfood. I WANT this job.
right on
right on
While it does seem “unusual”
While it does seem “unusual” that a man with mr. Procopios background is appointed chairman of the civil service commision, apparently it is more of an honorary posistion, with nominal compensation. The real story in the New Rochelle civil service office is far more disheartning, some would say “sinister”. Time will tell, if the city manager, and the council have the “guts” & “character” to confront what everyone at city hall have been whispering about for some time.
What is the real story?
What is the real story?
Yes, what is the real story?
Sooner or later the stories do eventually come out.
The Mayor & City Manager…
…are fully envolved with this scheme. I’m waiting for the DA’s office to offically launch an investigation within the inner dealing of all our crooked elected officials of New Rochelle over the past 10 years. I’d especially focus on the Capelli dealings between Idoni and all the Council Memebers and City Officials that were involved. Check there financials. You’ll be surprised on what you will find. That goes for Bramson and his lackeys too.
You can include David’s Island
The “deal” the city is making for the sale of David’s Island to the county for 6 million is a CRIME. The city could list David’s Island on Ebay and probably get legitimate bids of 50 million or more. I would like to see it developed, however selling it to a county gov’t that can’t even take care of Glen Island park is a disgrace. If they really wanted to make it a park they should sell it to the State. But then the Officials in New Rochelle that are giving the island away to the county wouldn’t get their sweatheart jobs latter on. IE IDONI.
Finally someone else noticed
Finally someone else noticed after all these years that this
Procopio has no business holding this type of position. He used to cut hair in a salon on Main street. What is this municipal civil service commission? How many members comprise this group? Who does he report to? As a taxpayer, I want to know.
He spends his days hanging
He spends his days hanging around Mama Francesca’s, everyday all afternoon. Some job he has, when he is finished having lunch he strolls in and out of the stores like he is running for mayor. If he does work it must be only in the mornings.
I hear Godfather Music in the Backgound
Sounds like a scene from the early 1900’s down in Lower Manhattan. I have nothing to offer on this guy don’t know him, don’t even know what he does but in reading these comments I get the feeling like you are describing “Don Corleone”.
The City of New Rochelle needs an overhaul governmentally speaking on all fronts.
Its rotten with many little featherbeds and cronies eating away at the quality of life. Strome is too busy helping Noam Bramson help Lou Cappelli to do anything to correct the rot.Until Governement represents the citizen and not the Democratic Party the process will always have a strong stench.
Dominic Procopio wishes
…he had power and respect like The Godfather. He’s nothing more then a [baloney] artist and a yes man. I only wish that the Westchester DA would launch an investigation on his dealings with New Rochelle City Officials as well as Westchester County Officials. If the DA doesn’t do anything, that means that they are somehow involved in the cover up. Procopio Must Go Down. Tim Idoni Must Go Down. Bramson Must Go Down. And all the other corrupt City Officials that are scamming hard working Tax Payers.
highway
its noams way or the highway
100 % agree
100 % agree
The Fire Commissioner is a
The Fire Commissioner is a joke, just a HS grad. His degree was as a beertender down at Dudleys.
Got his job the ol’ fashioned way, screwed those below him. Very bizarre the way he operates. Uses fear tactics like denying promotion to those he doesn’t like. Has no control over the job, there’s 4 Deputies running seperate operations from one another. The Buffalohead won’t do a thing to keep order. Morale at an all time low.
S##tcan the buffoon.
The Fire Commish has got the
The Fire Commish has got the whole town conned, except those in the know. He’s got the gift of gab, but carries a long knife in his back pocket.
He’s like the wizard of oz, smoke and mirrors. Poor manager to say the least.
Spends as much time out of
Spends as much time out of town as in town, goes to every fire within 20 miles,maybe more. He should spend more time with his wife, if he can pry her away from Timmy.
be nice
they work & play together
Correct
More play than work though.
all you people have nothing
all you people have nothing else better to do so go get a friggen life and grow up if you think the city is so corrupt then go move somewhere else were they will care about all this baby bs so grow and leave the guy alone !
mr.bob
can someone own 2 houses in nr and get the star on both. because i found one.
I am not familiar with STAR program policies,,,
…but it sounds like it would be worth looking into further.
The place state to start is here: http://www.orps.state.ny.us/star/index.cfm
That site states:
From the looks of it, the recipient is a homeowner living in their own home. It is a state tax program. So, if a taxpayer were somehow getting STAR Property Tax Exemptions on two properties it would seem that one of the two properties would be ineligible.
If they are getting the Enhanced STAR Property Tax Exemption that would be an even bigger problem because there is an income verification process.
So, it would seem that if one taxpayer were caught receiving STAR Property Tax Exemptions on two different properties they would have all sorts of legal and tax problems.
To learn more I would send an email here: nysorps@orps.state.ny.us
In the email I would ask the following questions:
I have information that there may be a taxpayer in New Rochelle who is receiving STAR Property Tax Exemptions on two properties.
I have a few questions about that.
1) Are there cases in which a taxpayer would be entitled to receive more than one STAR Property Tax Exemption?
2) If the answer is “no”, can I make a FOIL request for the STAR Property Tax Exemption files for a particular individual other than myself?
3) If the answer is “no” on the FOIL, is there a department that investigates these sorts of matters and would I contact them?
4) What sort of penalties are involved for this sort of thing?
If you like to discuss this further click here: http://www.newrochelletalk.com/node/29
dominick
check city web site portal properties mr.procopio is gettting star at 7 pinebrook rd. and leland av.house
double dipping star
Notify Paul Vacca’s office (NR Building Dept?)- his office uncovers and gets revoked about 40 to 50 STAR rebate abuse cases a year. He just talked about that very subject on the Chuck Strome radio show (In the City) on WVOX . Good luck!
I would need EXACT addresses
what # on Leland.
BTW, unrelated to this exchange today was the day I disabled anonymous comments so if you a tip you need to email me. Click the CONTACT link at the top.
star
126 liberty ave. is his second property. and 7 pinebrook rd. is his other both clame star rebate. go to citys web site and click portal properties and type his last name. and then click on both properties and you will see.
An Answer from NYS Office of Real Property Services
By statute, the STAR Exemption, as spelled out in section 425 of the Real
Property Tax Law, is available only on the “primary residence” of a
property owner. While it is true that a person may live in or occupy more
than one dwelling, he or she can only have one “primary” residence. A
primary residence is that place in which a person has voluntarily fixed his
or her abode with a present intention of making it his or her permanent
home.
Nevertheless, there could be a situation where an individual owns several
properties, but such individual can have only one primary residence. For
example a man can own a property that is his primary residence, but he is
also the co-owner of another property with his sister. If it is the
sister’s primary residence, it also would be eligible for the STAR
Exemption. Thus, the property need not serve as the primary residence of
all of the owners, but the property must be the primary residence of at
least one of the owners. Then the exemption may be granted even if one of
the owners primarily resides elsewhere.
Therefore, an assessor may grant individual STAR Exemptions to two separate
properties if he/she believes each is the primary residence of at least one
of their owners.
An improperly granted STAR Exemption may be revoked and recovered. In
addition, there are penalties for making a “material misstatement” on a
STAR application, where the applicant “shall be disqualified from further
exemption pursuant to this section [RPTL, §425] for a period of five years,
and may be subject to prosecution pursuant to the penal law.”
The exemption information you are looking for may be found on the town
assessment roll or individual property records. This information is
generally regarded as public record and should be openly available to you
from the town assessor’s office.
The duty of administering exemptions falls upon the assessor, who
annually—in signing his or her assessment roll—attests to the validity of
the valuation decisions found on that roll. Assessors do their best to
ensure that only those properties that qualify will receive particular
exemptions. New York’s Constitution and laws are clear that the functions
of local government should remain with localities, with certain exceptions.
As such, our agency does not have the authority to investigate charges of
official malfeasance and cannot intercede in this matter.