Montgomery mayor accused by residents of vandalizing safe, passing frivolous laws
Rita Santo says the safe had roughly $200 in cash inside and belonged to her group, which oversaw the Montgomery Senior Center for decades - until Hembury took office.
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Political tensions are running high in the Village of Montgomery where the new mayor is being accused by some residents of creating frivolous laws, keeping people from meetings and breaking into a safe.
The latter incident was partially caught on video in September when Mayor Mike Hembury, who took office in April, is seemingly seen hovering over an open safe that allegedly had the door removed.
“It was taken apart and the mayor was bopping numbers,” says Montgomery Advisory Board President Rita Santo. “Not only was it open, but the door was on top of it. The underside of the door was laying on top of it. I ran over and said, 'Where’s the money in the safe?'”
Rita Santo says the safe had roughly $200 in cash inside and belonged to her group, which oversaw the Montgomery Senior Center for decades - until Hembury took office.
Santo says the Advisory Board was “evicted” from the center Sept. 3 without any notice, and that Hembury broke into the safe two days later, before they could remove it from the building.
Hembury says the village board declined to renew the Montgomery Advisory Board’s contract, which had expired years earlier, and says the safe was open when he arrived to check on a new staff member.
“I said, 'You know what, this has to be secured. Put it over there. I will bring it up to Village Hall.'”
Hembury says the Montgomery Advisory Board’s contract wasn’t renewed due to mismanagement, which its members deny, and says the group called the police falsely claiming he stole money from it.
The controversy isn’t the only recent upset when it comes to Hembury’s reign.
Dozens of residents were seen on village video being turned away from Village Hall Sept. 17 during a packed, standing room only board meeting due to occupancy limitations. Residents were heard on the recording yelling to stop the meeting and demanding it be held at the senior center, where a larger number of residents can be accommodated.
“Really, it’s only 19 people, villagers, who can come in there and view a meeting,” says Karen DeCosta.
DeCosta and other residents say Village Hall isn’t big enough anymore for board meetings and claim new local laws about flags, migrants and people sleeping in cars and tents are taking the focus off more important issues.
“They seem to be non-effective. None of these laws are really affecting positive change,” says resident James Kiernan.
Hembury says a larger space for meetings is in the works and that most people agree with how the village is being run.
“We are still the best place around," says Hembry.
Village of Montgomery officials are expected to discuss a proposed law banning people from sleeping in their cars and tents Tuesday night.
News 12 is told state police were called to investigate the alleged safe theft, but they didn’t return our call for information.
