ThisIsRochester.com: Local Government

New police chief promoted from the ranks

April 9, 2019 -- Mayor Lovely Warren announced the appointment of La'Ron Singletary, 38, as Rochester's police chief effective July 1.

The appointment of the 19-year RPD veteran to replace interim chief Mark Simmons is pending City Council confirmation.

Singletary has served as a deputy chief since January 2018. He is a Rochester native who graduated from Monroe Community College and Keuka College. He earned a masters degree in public administration from SUNY Brockport.

Dinolfo opposes new tax on paper bags

April 1, 2019 -- Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo will opt out of the New York's newly approved tax on paper bags.

"While environmental protection is a worthy priority, the State's new 'bag tax' is an insult to every New York family," she said in a statement.

Dinolfo said the new tax, included in the 2019 state budget passed in Albany over the weekend, unfairly affects low-income earners.

City Council VP takes plea deal

April 1, 2019 -- Rochester City Council Vice President Adam McFadden faces a likely sentence of 12 to 18 months under federal guidleines after admitting in court that he profited from fradulant work on behalf of Rochester Housing Authority, the public agency that subsidizes housing for the poor.

McFadden, 48, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return in 2015. He also admitted that he lied on tax returns for 2016 and 2017 by claiming illegitimate business deductions. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 27.

McFadden must return $87,500 to the RHA and pay more than $46,000 in back taxes.

By entering the plea to two felonies in front of U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wolford, McFadden vacates his City Council seat. He had said after his arrest in February that he would not seek re-election this fall. He was first elected to City Councl in 2003.

The wire fraud crimes stem from his 2015 work for Rochester Housing Charities, a subsidiary of the RHA agency he breiefly led as interim executive director in 2014. A company owned by McFadden was the primary beneficiary of a no-bid contract for $87,500 from Rochester Housing Charities.

The FBI has also accused former RHA Chairman George Moses of offenses related to McFadden's illegal actions. Moses is accused of fraud and lying to the FBI, and McFadden's plea does not include any agreement to cooperate with that investigation.

Grand jury indicts Errigo

Feb. 4, 2019 -- A federal grand jury indicted former Assemblyman Joseph Errigo and Albany-based lobbyist Robert Scott Gaddy, accusing them of engaging in a bribery scheme.

Gaddy, 49, was arrested in November on charges similar to those in the indictment. Errigo was arrested in October.

Both are charged with conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and using an interstate commerce facility -- cellphones and the Internet -- in the course of illegal activity. Gaddy was also charged with agreeing to pay a bribe and paying a bribe.

Maximum penalties for each charge range from five to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The bribery scheme was concocted as an FBI sting to ferret out corruption, with a confidential informant approaching Gaddy to help derail the controversial Whole Foods supermarket proposal in Brighton. The informant offered Gaddy $15,000 to find a state legislator to move a bill forward to stop development of the Monroe Avenue property.

Authorities said Gaddy and Errigo split about $10,500 in bribes. However, the legislation made no headway in Albany and the FBI acknowledged in court papers that the scheme was fabricated.

Errigo, a Republican from Conesus, Livingston County, was defeated in his re-election bid in a party primary in 2018.

Change in Clarkson leadership

Jan. 15, 2019 -- The Clarkson Town Board appointed Christa Filipowicz to serve as supervisor two days after the resignation of Jerry Underwood, a Democrat who had just completed his first year on the job. Filipowicz is the first woman to serve in the position.

"After long, thoughtful and resourceful reflection, with the Clarkson Democratic Committee, Monroe County Democratic Committee, local and state politicians, close friends, my family and legal counsel, I have resigned as supervisor of the town of Clarkson, due to personal reasons, effective immediately," Underwood said in a statement. "I am grateful to the residents of our community who voted for me and who placed their trust in me. I will continue to be loyal, honorable and faithful to the town that we all call home."

In a November 2017 upset, Underwood had unseated longtime Republican incumbent Paul Kimball, who had held the position for more than 30 years.

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	A summary of noteworthy news about Greater Rochester government
	More from early 2019 New police chief promoted from the ranks April 9, 2019 -- Mayor Lovely Warren announced the appointment of La'Ron Singletary, 38, as Rochester's police chief effective July 1. The appointment of the 19-year RPD veteran to replace interim chief Mark Simmons is pending City Council confirmation. Singletary has served as a deputy chief since January 2018. He is a Rochester native who graduated from Monroe Community College and Keuka College. He earned a masters degree in public administration from SUNY Brockport. Dinolfo opposes new tax on paper bags April 1, 2019 -- Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo will opt out of the New York's newly approved tax on paper bags. "While environmental protection is a worthy priority, the State's new 'bag tax' is an insult to every New York family," she said in a statement. Dinolfo said the new tax, included in the 2019 state budget passed in Albany over the weekend, unfairly affects low-income earners. City Council VP takes plea deal April 1, 2019 -- Rochester City Council Vice President Adam McFadden faces a likely sentence of 12 to 18 months under federal guidleines after admitting in court that he profited from fradulant work on behalf of Rochester Housing Authority, the public agency that subsidizes housing for the poor. McFadden, 48, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return in 2015. He also admitted that he lied on tax returns for 2016 and 2017 by claiming illegitimate business deductions. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 27. McFadden must return $87,500 to the RHA and pay more than $46,000 in back taxes. By entering the plea to two felonies in front of U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wolford, McFadden vacates his City Council seat. He had said after his arrest in February that he would not seek re-election this fall. He was first elected to City Councl in 2003. The wire fraud crimes stem from his 2015 work for Rochester Housing Charities, a subsidiary of the RHA agency he breiefly led as interim executive director in 2014. A company owned by McFadden was the primary beneficiary of a no-bid contract for $87,500 from Rochester Housing Charities. The FBI has also accused former RHA Chairman George Moses of offenses related to McFadden's illegal actions. Moses is accused of fraud and lying to the FBI, and McFadden's plea does not include any agreement to cooperate with that investigation. Grand jury indicts Errigo Feb. 4, 2019 -- A federal grand jury indicted former Assemblyman Joseph Errigo and Albany-based lobbyist Robert Scott Gaddy, accusing them of engaging in a bribery scheme. Gaddy, 49, was arrested in November on charges similar to those in the indictment. Errigo was arrested in October. Both are charged with conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and using an interstate commerce facility -- cellphones and the Internet -- in the course of illegal activity. Gaddy was also charged with agreeing to pay a bribe and paying a bribe. Maximum penalties for each charge range from five to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The bribery scheme was concocted as an FBI sting to ferret out corruption, with a confidential informant approaching Gaddy to help derail the controversial Whole Foods supermarket proposal in Brighton. The informant offered Gaddy $15,000 to find a state legislator to move a bill forward to stop development of the Monroe Avenue property. Authorities said Gaddy and Errigo split about $10,500 in bribes. However, the legislation made no headway in Albany and the FBI acknowledged in court papers that the scheme was fabricated. Errigo, a Republican from Conesus, Livingston County, was defeated in his re-election bid in a party primary in 2018. Change in Clarkson leadership Jan. 15, 2019 -- The Clarkson Town Board appointed Christa Filipowicz to serve as supervisor two days after the resignation of Jerry Underwood, a Democrat who had just completed his first year on the job. Filipowicz is the first woman to serve in the position. "After long, thoughtful and resourceful reflection, with the Clarkson Democratic Committee, Monroe County Democratic Committee, local and state politicians, close friends, my family and legal counsel, I have resigned as supervisor of the town of Clarkson, due to personal reasons, effective immediately," Underwood said in a statement. "I am grateful to the residents of our community who voted for me and who placed their trust in me. I will continue to be loyal, honorable and faithful to the town that we all call home." In a November 2017 upset, Underwood had unseated longtime Republican incumbent Paul Kimball, who had held the position for more than 30 years. [ LOOK BACK AT OLDER STORIES ]