Tax Watch columnist David McKay Wilson dug into Carmel Town Board member Michael Barile's financial disclosure statement.
From Carmel Town Board member Michael Barile's financial disclosure statement,you could assumehe was a wealthy pensioner, livingin retirement at his mansion on the shores of Lake Mahopac.
The only property he listed was his residence on 336 West Lake Boulevard, according to the filing, which Barile signed under oath on Oct. 26, 2018. His daughter, Emily, an attorney who has an office in Barile's building at 888 Route 6, Mahopac, notarized the sworn statement.
Barile, 65, disclosed that he was retired, with his only income exceeding $1,000 in 2017 coming from Social Security.
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Document: Michael Barile financial disclosure statement
A Tax Watch investigation has found that Barile, his wife, ora real estate company have financial interests in 11 commercial properties on 27 acres in Carmel, valued at $9.3 million, according to town assessment records.
Interviews with tenants of Barile buildings along Route 6 say he remains involved as their landlord. Tax Watch has interviewed Barile at his Lynlil Associates real estate office at 888 Route 6.
"I'm in the office from 5 a.m. in the morning until 6 p.m. at night," he said at the March 28, 2018 Town Board meeting, according to the meeting video.
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The town’s disclosure form requires elected officials to disclose all property in the town that they or their spouse have – or had – a financial interest in.
Barile was previously a partner in the Swan Cove condominiumproject on the shores of Lake Mahopac that was sold to Swan Cove Manor LLC in 2016. Barile championed the sale of the land to the town of Carmel in 2017, and negotiated on the town’s behalf to buy the property for a park in 2018.
Elected officials are also required to list the source of any income earned in compensation in excess of $1,000.
Before the Town Board meeting on March 13, Tax Watch asked Barile why he did not disclose his ownership in his portfolio of commercial property.
“Everybody knows what I own,” Barile said.
Barile then made a vulgar hand gesture, became angry, and walked toward Tax Watch, yelling about his former partner, who had lost his leg from an illness.Tax Watch retreatedinto the hallway.
Jennifer Maher, chairwoman of the Putnam County Business Council, said Barile was an active member of the local business community.
"Mike has always supported the business community and has collaborated with us," she said. "He's very active and he's smart. He's a good landlord."
The disclosure forms are filed with the Carmel Board of Ethics. Board chairman Guilio Cefaloni said the board reviews statements, but does not verify what’s submitted unless it receives a formal complaint. He added that the board could conduct an inquiry if it receives sufficient proof that the official has failed to comply with the town code.
A person is guilty of offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree, a Class A misdemeanor, if "knowing that a written instrument contains a false statement or false information, he offers or presents it to a public office," the law states.It's a Class E felony if the false instrument was filed with the intention to defraud the government.
Barile's daughter, Nicole, in a March 14 statement to Carmel police, provided a list of 15 properties owned by the Barile family that Tax Watchwas prohibited from entering. It includes the 11 commercial properties listed on assessment rolls that are owned by Michael Barile or one of his companies, but were not listed on his financial disclosure statement.
It includes several buildings that houseMahopac businesses Tax Watch has frequented and conducted personal business, includingVerizon Wireless, Blu Restaurant, Arturo's Tavern, Ramiro's 954and Enterprise Rent-a-Car.
On March 15, Emily Barilesent a letter,threateninglegal actionif Tax Watchattempted to speak to her father or sister,send them emails, orphotographthemwithout theirpermission.
"I will be forced to take further legal action against you and your employer, The Journal News, for the continued harassment of my clients should you enter anyof the properties owned by my clients, intimidate, stalk, pursue, conduct surveillance, take unwanted pictures, threaten or attempt to contact my clients in person, via telephone, electronic messaging or through social media," wroteEmily Barile.
Another daughter filed a harassment complaint with police, objecting to questioning of her and her father prior to the town board meeting.
Tax Watch on March 5 provided Cefaloni with a list of properties owned by Barile or his wife, which are detailed on the town’s assessment rolls.
Cefaloni did not respond to an emailed question regarding whether the board would launch an inquiry.
Interviews with two of Barile’s tenants on March 13 found that Barile is active in the business.
Mark Graham, manager of Enterprise Rent-a-Car, at 419 Route 6, said Barile stops by regularly.
“He checks in a couple of times a month,” Graham said.
Matt Stern, manager of Bad Mikey’s gym at 571 Route 6, said Barile was his landlord.
“He comes around,” Stern said.
Emily Barile declined comment regarding her father's sworn statement that she notarized.
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Here's a list of properties in Carmel owned in part by Michael Barile, his wife,and his companies, according to town assessment records. The list includesBarile's tenants at those properties.
- 129 Route 6: Verizon Wireless
- 288 Route 6: Odyssey Gymnastics
- 407 Route 6: Rich’s Stiches, Salon Escape and East Hudson Soccer
- 419 Route 6: EnterpriseRent-a-Car
- 571 Route 6: Bad Mikey's
- 878 Route 6: Arturo’s Tavern
- 888 Route 6: Lynlil Associates
- 954 Route 6: Ramiro’s 954 Restaurant
- 960-962 Route 6: UPS Store
- 250 Croton Falls Road: four apartments
- 825 South Lake Boulevard: Blu Restaurant
Follow Tax Watch columnist David McKay Wilson on Facebook at on Twitter @davidmckay415.
