Akiko Matsuda

amatsuda@lohud.com

Ramapo official calls for %22reform%22 of the town government.

He says his move was prompted by an %22illegal activity%22 by town supervisor.

He is holding a Town Hall meeting at 6 p.m. June 24.

RAMAPO – Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence is getting a stiff broadside from within his own party as a Town Board member prepares to host a meeting to discuss reform to "put an end to criminal activity and any form of corruption" under the supervisor.

Daniel Friedman said Tuesday that at the public meeting, he wants to get input from residents on his legislative proposals, which he will then present to the Town Board.

His action was prompted by a "clear record of illegal activity by Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and his administration," Friedman wrote in an emailed statement.

Through his spokesman Phil Tisi, St. Lawrence said he had no comment on Friedman's remarks.

Michael Castelluccio, PreserveRamapo.org editor and a frequent critic of St. Lawrence, was skeptical about Friedman's motives, saying that he has been voting along with St. Lawrence on a variety of important items.

"His voting record does not match what he's saying here in terms of reform," Castelluccio said. "Because he has been ... totally cooperative. ... Every now and then, some small incident sets him off. But generally, he has been as compliant as the rest of the board."

Castelluccio said even though Ramapo voters defeated a financing plan to build a baseball stadium in a 2010 referendum, town officials, including Friedman, went ahead to build it anyway with private funds.

Friedman said he supported the ballpark project based on misinformation that was given to him at that time.

In its 2011 audit, the state Comptroller's Office raised serious concerns about the financing of the project. The FBI later raided Town Hall and confiscated materials. No charges have been filed.

Friedman was first appointed to the Town Board in April 2010 to fill a vacancy after Edward Friedman died of cancer. He secured the seat through a special election in November 2010 and successfully ran for re-election, along with fellow Democrat St. Lawrence, in November 2011.

Friedman, who has a bachelor's degree in government and a master's degree in public administration, works as a clerk for the Rockland County Legislature's Public Safety Committee for eight hours a week and as a constituent service representative for 25 hours a week on a total annual salary of about $46,000.

Friedman has been taking on St. Lawrence on different issues since earlier this year.

In March, he went public with his concerns about St. Lawrence's handling of town business after he learned that the town's job contract with two people — both family members of town officials — differed from what he believed had been agreed upon by the Town Board.

About two months ago, Friedman submitted letters to state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, seeking investigations into an "abuse of power" by the town supervisor, and, on some issues, the town attorney.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Ramapo Town Hall at 237 Route 59, Airmont.

Twitter: @LohudAkiko