The Westchester County district attorney’s office is investigating complaints filed from within the Harrison Fire Department related to the department’s accounting practices, a spokesperson for the DA has confirmed.
The investigation partially relates to the department’s fundraising practices, though no specific details relating to the probe have been released by the DA’s office.
As part of the investigation, the Public Integrity Division of the DA’s office is conducting interviews with Fire Department personnel.
According to the state attorney general’s charities database, Harrison’s volunteer Fire Department lost its tax-exempt nonprofit status three years ago after not filing the requisite form. Its last documented filing was in 2009.
The treasurer responsible for filing those forms, William Powell, was removed from both the office and the Fire Department in May.
Powell owns two restaurants in Harrison: Powell Catering and Hallstead Avenue Beer Garden. He also served as the chief of the fire department in 2004.
As a result of having a cancelled charitable organization registration, the Fire Department is barred from soliciting charitable contributions or grants, or conducting charitable fundraisers, according to the state’s charities website.
The donation page on the Fire Department’s website, which links directly to PayPal, is still functioning as of press time. The page details the department’s 2016 fundraising drive, asking for a donation of $25 or more.
Without a nonprofit status, the Fire Department must pay taxes on the money it collects through donations, and must follow more stringent guidelines in spending donation funds.
According to the department’s website, all volunteer firefighters enjoy financial benefits such as free life insurance, college tuition assistance, state income tax credits and discounts at some businesses within Harrison.
The department’s website lists 48 volunteers, and at least 16 have held or currently hold officer positions. The department also employs 13 full-time professional firefighters and a superintendent of fire equipment.
In a released statement, Harrison Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, stressed that funding for the professional division of the department—which is provided by tax collections—is not subject to the investigation.
The mayor added, “The town board has not been involved in the investigation as it was referred directly from the volunteer department to law enforcement.”
Frank Allegretti and Nelson Cantor, attorneys for the town, could not be reached for comment as of press time.
Neither Powell nor fire Chief John Masciola could be reached for comment as of press time.
