RTM irked by Howard Stern parody; Jenkins pulls out bag of feces she found in mailbox

Old Greenwich resident Gary Dell'Abate, better known as Baba Booey as the producer of "The Howard Stern Show," during an interview by the Representative Town Meeting's Appointments Committee at Greenwich Town Hall, Feb. 8, 2011. Dell'Abate was previously nominated for a seat on the townís Board of Parks and Recreation. less Old Greenwich resident Gary Dell'Abate, better known as Baba Booey as the producer of "The Howard Stern Show," during an interview by the Representative Town Meeting's Appointments Committee at Greenwich Town ... more Photo: File Photo Photo: File Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close RTM irked by Howard Stern parody; Jenkins pulls out bag of feces she found in mailbox 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Wasn't satellite radio supposed to be static-free?

Not in the case of Howard Stern sidekick and producer Gary Dell'Abate -- aka Baba Booey.

The controversial choice to serve on Greenwich's parks board is encountering interference from some members of the Representative Town Meeting, who are less than amused at being lampooned on air by the shock jock himself.

"I am concerned that (Dell'Abate) will turn the town and the RTM into a circus and an ongoing circus," said Lucy Krasnor, a member of the legislative body's Appointments Committee.

Dell'Abate earned the committee's endorsement by an 8-1 vote with two abstentions earlier this month, but not before enduring a fusillade of tough and, at times, cringe-inducing questions that were parodied by Stern about the show's racy content and treatment of women.

Krasnor missed the vote and interview, which was covered by a reporter from Howard 100 News on Sirius Satellite Radio, who accompanied Dell'Abate to the meeting.

"I would like to see the committee re-vote," Krasnor said. "What happened the next day on `The Howard Stern Show,' I think, frankly, merits re-looking at this candidate."

Things came to a head at Tuesday night's meeting of the RTM's Appointments Committee, when members voted 6-5 to reject a proposal to overturn Dell'Abate's appointment.

A two third's vote was needed for it to succeed. One committee member was absent.

The meeting turned truly foul when member Coline Jenkins whipped out what she said was a bag of feces that she found in her mailbox on Feb. 13. Jenkins, who has been a vocal critic of Dell'Abate's nomination, says a Howard Stern fan left the bag along with a note supporting Stern and blasting Jenkins.

The meeting, which was held in the employee lunchroom of Town Hall, dissolved into some chaos when Jenkins pulled out a plastic bag she said contained the feces. She removed the bag from the room and brought it out to her car after fellow members objected to its presence.

Board of Selectmen member Drew Marzullo, who was in attendance, was angered at Jenkins' move.

"Town employees eat at this table," he said. "This was both disgusting and grandstanding."

Marzullo said Jenkins also brought the bag into a meeting in his selectman's office last week when he brought Dell'Abate and her together to meet.

"We told her we believed her," Marzullo said Tuesday night. "She put it back into another bag. I had to spray my office with Lysol after that."

Appointments Committee Chairman Christopher von Keyserling also expressed his outrage.

"I was appalled that she would feel it necessary to place dog feces on the conference table in the middle of a meeting," von Keyserling said. "I was shocked it is absolutely unacceptable. She endangered everyone in the room."

Interviewed by a reporter after the meeting, Jenkins defended her actions.

"Why isn't anyone concerned about my health in opening my mailbox? It is a double standard," said Jenkins said, adding that she wiped the table with Purell disinfectant that is just outside the employee lounge.

She maintained it was necessary to bring the feces to the meeting.

"Absolutely," she said. "I think sunshine is an excellent disinfectant. I have decided to be absolutely transparent about this."

Dell'Abate's appointment to the volunteer board is subject to confirmation by the full 230-member RTM on March 14.

Playing an advisory role in town government, the nine-member parks board has been a springboard for everything from beach-access policies and playground projects to park fees and a master inventory of available playing fields. Terms run for three years.

Dell'Abate's chief inquisitor during the committee's interview was Jenkins, the great-great-granddaughter of suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Stern parodied Jenkins on his program the next morning, reading her quotes from Greenwich Time in a snobbish, feminine voice.

Krasnor rallied behind Jenkins.

"I think the way she was treated on the show was unpardonable," Krasnor said.

A resident of Old Greenwich for the past 16 years who is married with two sons, Dell'Abate was unanimously nominated last month by the selectmen for the parks board.

Dell'Abate, 49, is active in youth athletic coaching, as well as raising money for local organizations and schools.

Among those to go to bat for Dell'Abate is former Tax Collector Louis Caravella, who said he met the radio personality at Greenwich Point while campaigning more than a decade ago.

"I find him to be a great asset to the town of Greenwich," Caravella said. "I think he adds to the flavor of the town being who he is. I don't believe that a man's job should be any criteria for putting him on or off the board. The man is willing to serve."

Several RTM members who are said to have been pushing the committee to re-vote did not return messages seeking comment.

Dell'Abate quickly condemned last week's prank and met with Jenkins to try to iron out their differences.

Marzullo, who recruited Dell'Abate for the parks board, said the level of scrutiny over his nomination is unprecedented.

"We as elected officials are not the morality police," Marzullo said. "To my knowledge, no candidate has come under this kind of microscope. I would ask the members of the RTM to vote yes on Gary because he'll make an excellent addition to the parks board. He wants to do right by the town. He wants to volunteer his time and give back to Greenwich. That's it. There's no agenda."

RTM members received an e-mail last week from a person identifying himself as 20-year town resident Michael Obrien, who expounded upon the concerns expressed by Jenkins.

"He hires young women models, prostitutes and porn stars to go on his show just to have Howard Stern and other members of the cast (including himself) treat the women like garbage," the e-mail said. "In other cases, they have even put young girls in chains or tied them up and called them `slaves' as a `so-called' joke."

An e-mail message seeking comment was left Monday for Obrien, who questioned whether Dell'Abate is an appropriate role model for children.

"I honestly would not leave my daughters alone with this man," the e-mail said. "Please protect our community, daughters, young men and our fine parks from Gary Dell'Abate."

Dell'Abate was saddened by the tenor of the e-mail.

"I've coached over 400 kids in the last nine years and no one's ever complained," Dell'Abate said. "There's been girls in there as well."

Dell'Abate is a coach of the North Mianus Bulldogs of the Greenwich Youth Football League, a position he has held for the past nine years.

He has also coached baseball for the Old Greenwich-Riverside Community Center, as well as the Cal Ripken and Junior Babe Ruth leagues. The elder of Dell'Abate's two sons, who are 16 and 13, plays football at Greenwich High School.

Dell'Abate regularly volunteers on the organizing committee of the North Mianus Pow Wow, the school's biggest fundraiser, held each May.

"Gary was instrumental in getting the bands for the Pow Wow and also soliciting donations for the fundraiser, which benefitted the North Mianus School children," said Roseann Benedict, a former chairman of the event.

Benedict said Dell'Abate has immersed himself in helping the community and shies away from recognition.

"He really is an amazing guy and has worked hard to benefit our children," Benedict said. "I, certainly, am not surprised that he's been put the through the ringer. If you knew Gary, you would know that he's a perfect fit for the job."

Staff writer Neil Vigdor can be reached at neil.vigdor@scni.com or at 203-625-4436.