DPW head committed alleged offense while on the job; is facing up to $15,000 in fines for improper disposal
NORWICH – The head of the City of Norwich's Department of Public Works, Assistant Superintendent George Carnrike, Jr., who is currently on paid administrative leave for unrelated issues, is facing up to a $15,000 fine after he allegedly dumped city waste on private property following a clean-up organized by his department of an illegal homeless encampment.
The Department of Environmental Conservation charged Carnrike with unlawful disposal of solid waste, allegedly occurring on May 2––a day after the City of Norwich and the Chenango County Sheriff's Office cleaned-up two illegal campsites containing discarded drug paraphernalia, human excrement and garbage.
According to court documents he is facing a fine of between $1,500 and $15,000 for the violation.
The second area that was cleaned-up is referred to as site 2, and was handled by the Norwich DPW.
City officials believed site 2 was on city property at the time, however it was not. After the clean-up and alleged illegal dumping, officials discovered the location was actually on private property, explained City of Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike, who is also the sister of George Carnrike, Jr.
Appearances of bias
The mayor said she would recuse herself from decisions relating to her brother, including an investigation into unknown allegations that led to him being place on paid leave June 14,
Council President Matthew Caldwell commented, “I think any elected official has the right to make that decision on their own, if it were me and I were in that position, that is the decision I would make.
“Public perception is what people see, and what you see may not be the whole truth, but that is what I would do,” he said
Councilman Robert Jeffrey also said perception of a fair process was important, both for the public and the employees of the city.
“We need to have a vision and we need to start planning. We need to establish goals. Across the board we will be better as a city. That is what we are trying to work on,” he said.
Though the mayor said she would step away from decisions, she told the council at a meeting last week, “I will not be excluded.”
Monday the mayor said she would was not making decisions relating to her brother being placed on leave or the DEC charges, but she said still needed to be kept informed.
She said she should be made aware of all findings and developments relating to the DPW by the council and be included in meetings relating to it, citing her responsibility as mayor.
Council members and the mayor refused to confirm George Carnrike, Jr. was even on paid administrative leave until five days after he was placed on it.
At a June 19 meeting supporters and the mayor made several comments in favor of the job George Carnrike, Jr. was doing and the kind of person he is.
During those public remarks the mayor confirmed for the first time he was on administrative leave while also criticizing the council for how they were handling the issue.
In a letter, the Chenango County District Attorney's office recused itself from cases involving George Carnike, Jr., citing personal connections to the office and the appearance of bias, even if none existed. The case will be prosecuted by a specially assigned attorney from the Broome County District Attorney's Office.
City of Norwich judges, Michael Genute and Patrick Flanagan, took similar actions last week, and recused the city courts from hearing the case, also citing concerns over personal connections to George Carnrike, Jr.
The case has been handed over to the Town of Sherburne Court and will be presided over by one of the town justices, John Powell or Jack Stanley.
The city's liability
Due to a misunderstanding over a property line, the mayor said officials did not have permission from the private property owner before conducting the clean-up of site 2.
Asked if the city would look into the allegation she responded: “Should or will the city respond? I can't comment on that. It's my understanding the violation was issued to Mr. Carnrike personally, it was not issued to him as a city employee, it was issued to him personally, though he was acting as an agent of the city to clean up the site,” said the mayor.
However, since the alleged offense may have taken place under those circumstances, City of Norwich Attorney Steve Natoli reported the city could be facing possible liability from the private property owner if George Carnrike, Jr. was convicted.
“There is a potential for liability,” he said.
DEC investigators confirmed the materials that were improperly disposed of included solid waste, garbage and hypodermic needles taken from a homeless camp. They also said the waste did not pose a threat to public health or the environment.
"The waste has been removed and properly disposed by the property owner. DEC will seek restitution in addition to any criminal penalties imposed by the court,” said DEC Public Information Officer Kevin O. Frazier.
In May, just after the clean-up and before being charged George Carnrike, Jr. said, "The Sheriff’s Department took all of the needles that were present, the sharps, and put them in a sharps container."
The mayor said she was informed by police of the investigation June 13, a day after the DPW head was arrested, but members of the common council were not made aware of the charges until July 14, when outside parties began asking the city questions about the charges.
“We found out a day before the newspaper article ran,” said Caldwell.
“I was made aware on Wednesday two weeks ago” said Christine Carnrike on Monday. “That was a meeting the DEC had requested with me.”
Asked why the mayor did not inform the common council she responded, “It wasn't a group effort, they [the DEC] were just notifying me, or actually following up with me, I guess you could say."
Should the city take action?
Though officials have said George Carnrike, Jr.'s recent administrative leave was not related to the DEC investigation, Caldwell said it would likely be something the city would have to confront if he pleaded guilty.
“Do I believe we should address this? As an elected body, quite frankly, yes. But I'm just one of six [council members],” he said.
If George Carnrike, Jr. is found responsible for the alleged offense, Caldwell said it would be the city's duty to at least discuss the issue.
“I would think it would impact anyone's leadership role, in any department. To what level and severity is to be determined,” he said.
Jeffery also agreed, but said the council should wait until after the case has finished and take things one step at a time.
Caldwell said had been in routine contact with the DPW staff and George Carnrike, Jr., since he was placed on leave. He spoke highly of George Carnrike, Jr.'s work ethic and those of the department, but said everyone should follow the same processes as every other employee.
Noting several positive remarks made by the mayor and other supporters at last week's meeting Caldwell said, “In those ways, more people should be like him or look up to him,” he said of George Carnrike, Jr.
“Unfortunately we have a set a circumstances. We should be completely objective. It does not matter who they are,” he said.
Asked if the city should look into the DEC allegations or take action against George Carnrike, Jr., if he was convicted, Christine Carnrike said she could not comment.
Attempts to contact council members Linda Kays-Biviano, Brian Doliver and David Zieno were made several times. None responded with comment.
The Department of Environmental Conservation charged Carnrike with unlawful disposal of solid waste, allegedly occurring on May 2––a day after the City of Norwich and the Chenango County Sheriff's Office cleaned-up two illegal campsites containing discarded drug paraphernalia, human excrement and garbage.
According to court documents he is facing a fine of between $1,500 and $15,000 for the violation.
The second area that was cleaned-up is referred to as site 2, and was handled by the Norwich DPW.
City officials believed site 2 was on city property at the time, however it was not. After the clean-up and alleged illegal dumping, officials discovered the location was actually on private property, explained City of Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike, who is also the sister of George Carnrike, Jr.
Appearances of bias
The mayor said she would recuse herself from decisions relating to her brother, including an investigation into unknown allegations that led to him being place on paid leave June 14,
Council President Matthew Caldwell commented, “I think any elected official has the right to make that decision on their own, if it were me and I were in that position, that is the decision I would make.
“Public perception is what people see, and what you see may not be the whole truth, but that is what I would do,” he said
Councilman Robert Jeffrey also said perception of a fair process was important, both for the public and the employees of the city.
“We need to have a vision and we need to start planning. We need to establish goals. Across the board we will be better as a city. That is what we are trying to work on,” he said.
Though the mayor said she would step away from decisions, she told the council at a meeting last week, “I will not be excluded.”
Monday the mayor said she would was not making decisions relating to her brother being placed on leave or the DEC charges, but she said still needed to be kept informed.
She said she should be made aware of all findings and developments relating to the DPW by the council and be included in meetings relating to it, citing her responsibility as mayor.
Council members and the mayor refused to confirm George Carnrike, Jr. was even on paid administrative leave until five days after he was placed on it.
At a June 19 meeting supporters and the mayor made several comments in favor of the job George Carnrike, Jr. was doing and the kind of person he is.
During those public remarks the mayor confirmed for the first time he was on administrative leave while also criticizing the council for how they were handling the issue.
In a letter, the Chenango County District Attorney's office recused itself from cases involving George Carnike, Jr., citing personal connections to the office and the appearance of bias, even if none existed. The case will be prosecuted by a specially assigned attorney from the Broome County District Attorney's Office.
City of Norwich judges, Michael Genute and Patrick Flanagan, took similar actions last week, and recused the city courts from hearing the case, also citing concerns over personal connections to George Carnrike, Jr.
The case has been handed over to the Town of Sherburne Court and will be presided over by one of the town justices, John Powell or Jack Stanley.
The city's liability
Due to a misunderstanding over a property line, the mayor said officials did not have permission from the private property owner before conducting the clean-up of site 2.
Asked if the city would look into the allegation she responded: “Should or will the city respond? I can't comment on that. It's my understanding the violation was issued to Mr. Carnrike personally, it was not issued to him as a city employee, it was issued to him personally, though he was acting as an agent of the city to clean up the site,” said the mayor.
However, since the alleged offense may have taken place under those circumstances, City of Norwich Attorney Steve Natoli reported the city could be facing possible liability from the private property owner if George Carnrike, Jr. was convicted.
“There is a potential for liability,” he said.
DEC investigators confirmed the materials that were improperly disposed of included solid waste, garbage and hypodermic needles taken from a homeless camp. They also said the waste did not pose a threat to public health or the environment.
"The waste has been removed and properly disposed by the property owner. DEC will seek restitution in addition to any criminal penalties imposed by the court,” said DEC Public Information Officer Kevin O. Frazier.
In May, just after the clean-up and before being charged George Carnrike, Jr. said, "The Sheriff’s Department took all of the needles that were present, the sharps, and put them in a sharps container."
The mayor said she was informed by police of the investigation June 13, a day after the DPW head was arrested, but members of the common council were not made aware of the charges until July 14, when outside parties began asking the city questions about the charges.
“We found out a day before the newspaper article ran,” said Caldwell.
“I was made aware on Wednesday two weeks ago” said Christine Carnrike on Monday. “That was a meeting the DEC had requested with me.”
Asked why the mayor did not inform the common council she responded, “It wasn't a group effort, they [the DEC] were just notifying me, or actually following up with me, I guess you could say."
Should the city take action?
Though officials have said George Carnrike, Jr.'s recent administrative leave was not related to the DEC investigation, Caldwell said it would likely be something the city would have to confront if he pleaded guilty.
“Do I believe we should address this? As an elected body, quite frankly, yes. But I'm just one of six [council members],” he said.
If George Carnrike, Jr. is found responsible for the alleged offense, Caldwell said it would be the city's duty to at least discuss the issue.
“I would think it would impact anyone's leadership role, in any department. To what level and severity is to be determined,” he said.
Jeffery also agreed, but said the council should wait until after the case has finished and take things one step at a time.
Caldwell said had been in routine contact with the DPW staff and George Carnrike, Jr., since he was placed on leave. He spoke highly of George Carnrike, Jr.'s work ethic and those of the department, but said everyone should follow the same processes as every other employee.
Noting several positive remarks made by the mayor and other supporters at last week's meeting Caldwell said, “In those ways, more people should be like him or look up to him,” he said of George Carnrike, Jr.
“Unfortunately we have a set a circumstances. We should be completely objective. It does not matter who they are,” he said.
Asked if the city should look into the DEC allegations or take action against George Carnrike, Jr., if he was convicted, Christine Carnrike said she could not comment.
Attempts to contact council members Linda Kays-Biviano, Brian Doliver and David Zieno were made several times. None responded with comment.
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