fbpx
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
    • Get Home Delivery
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Submit Your Event
    • Customer Support
    • Submit A News Tip
    • Send Letter to the Editor
    • Where’s My Paper?
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial
Hudson Valley One
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s UP
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Subscribe to the What’s UP newsletter
  • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Log Out
No Result
View All Result
Hudson Valley One
No Result
View All Result

Shady doings at the Coppergate Motel

by Jesse J. Smith
April 14, 2016
in News, Politics & Government
1

A contractor hired in a handshake deal with the city to do pre-demolition work at the former King’s Inn may have cost the city $143,000 in additional asbestos removal fees after he allegedly stole copper pipes there, releasing the deadly toxin into the air in the process. The total could climb higher as at least one worker on the job has filed notice that he intends to sue the contractor and the city for asbestos exposure.

The strange tale, which observers have dubbed “Coppergate,” began in July when Mayor James Sottile approached contractor Joseph McGowan with an offer — $4,000 in exchange for clearing out the rooms at the motel, which is slated to be demolished by personnel from an Army Reserve engineering unit later this month. The pre-demolition work would have to take place before another company, Classic Environmental, begin removing asbestos contained in the buildings’ roofs and in joints around the elbows on copper water pipes. Sottile said that he made the offer and put McGowan in touch with Fire Chief Rick Salzmann, who was overseeing the demolition as head of a steering committee charged with redeveloping the site. The undocumented agreement fell within city regulations, which do not require a bidding process for jobs under $20,000.

The deal, consummated without any written documentation or any kind of indemnification clause to protect the city from liability, allowed McGowan to take and sell salvaged fixtures including refrigerators, doorframes and other items. But Sottile and Salzmann both say that that the asbestos-encased copper was specifically excluded from the agreement.

“I made it very clear, he was supposed to empty the rooms out, but nothing attached,” said Sottile. “And I specifically mentioned the copper.”

Work proceeded during the last week of July and the first week of August. According to Kingston Police Chief Gerald Keller, city Building Inspector Jim Brunner was at the site during the cleanout (he later told police that he was there to look for traces of lead paint and was unaware of the terms of the salvage deal). So was recently retired KPD detective Gerald Schatzel, who drove a dump truck hired by McGowan to haul away items (but not, he told police, copper) from the site on July 30.

On Aug. 8, Salzmann called police to report that copper had been stolen from the site. Detective investigating the case asked McGowan for a roster of workers on the cleanout job, hoping to find a lead. According to Keller, McGowan refused to provide the list. Keller said that police were about to obtain a subpoena for the information when a Kingston man, Steve Augustine, came forward to report that he had cut and removed the copper between Aug. 2 and Aug. 4, on orders from McGowan.

Page 1 of 3
123Next
Tags: Andi Turco-LevinCoppergateKing's InnMayor Sottilemidtown
Join the family! Grab a free month of HV1 from the folks who have brought you substantive local news since 1972. We made it 50 years thanks to support from readers like you. Help us keep real journalism alive.
- Geddy Sveikauskas, Publisher

Jesse J. Smith

Related Posts

New York’s speeders targeted in traffic enforcement surge through June 15
Crime

Ellenville woman arrested for allegedly abusing disabled patient

June 20, 2025
Bear cub rescued by Ulster County Sheriff’s deputy
News

Bear cub rescued by Ulster County Sheriff’s deputy

June 19, 2025
New Paltz police officer indicted on range of charges
Crime

New Paltz police officer indicted on range of charges

June 19, 2025
Woodstock music option draws ire
Politics & Government

Back to the future for Woodstock noise ordinance 

June 19, 2025
Woodstock sports bar opens at golf club 
Business

Woodstock sports bar opens at golf club 

June 19, 2025
Bill to blanket social media with warning messages in NY awaits governor’s signature
News

Bill to blanket social media with warning messages in NY awaits governor’s signature

June 18, 2025
Next Post

Dream Festival returns to Kingston

Please login to join discussion

Weather

Kingston, NY
73°
Mostly Cloudy
5:19 am8:36 pm EDT
Feels like: 73°F
Wind: 6mph SSW
Humidity: 86%
Pressure: 29.99"Hg
UV index: 6
MonTueWed
99°F / 72°F
100°F / 73°F
93°F / 70°F
Kingston, NY 10 days weather forecast ▸

Subscribe

Independent. Local. Substantive. Subscribe now.

  • Subscribe & Support
  • Print Edition
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Contact
  • Our Newsletters
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Free HV1 Trial

© 2022 Ulster Publishing

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Crime
    • Politics & Government
  • What’s Happening
    • Calendar Of Events
    • Art
    • Books
    • Kids
    • Lifestyle & Wellness
    • Food & Drink
    • Music
    • Nature
    • Stage & Screen
  • Opinions
    • Letters
    • Columns
  • Local
    • Special Sections
    • Local History
  • Marketplace
    • All Classified Ads
    • Post a Classified Ad
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe & Support
  • Contact Us
    • Customer Support
    • Advertise
    • Submit A News Tip
  • Print Edition
    • Read ePaper Online
    • Newsstand Locations
    • Where’s My Paper
  • HV1 Magazines
  • Manage HV1 Account
  • Log In
  • Free HV1 Trial
  • Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    • Hey Kingston
    • New Paltz Times
    • Woodstock Times
    • Week in Review

© 2022 Ulster Publishing