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A Social Media Fight Comes On The Agenda
Aroma Thyme's Fire Pit Brouhaha Becomes A Village Issue

ELLENVILLE – Controversial social media allegations regarding village building inspector Brian Schug made their way to the village trustee board's meeting on October 24.

"A local restaurant owner, Marcus Guiliano, has gotten very personal on Facebook and other social media with our building inspector," said mayor Jeff Kaplan. "It has gotten to the point where I believe it is appropriate for the board to acknowledge what is going on and to try to make some effort to both support our building inspector and to alleviate some of this issue."

Guiliano, owner of Aroma Thyme Restaurant, has developed a website and published multiple videos on YouTube alleging mistreatment by the longtime building inspector regarding his Canal Street eatery's creation of an outdoor eating area behind his building that includes a fire pit. In his one-sided videos, he claims Schug gave him a verbal go-ahead on the fire pit and tent, then reneged. Schug has said Guiliano never submitted the proper application and site plans to make the alterations to his restaurant legal.

"We have a lot of good things going on in the downtown area of Ellenville and we don't want this to get in the way of our continuing effort to revitalize the area," Kaplan said Monday night, adding that he has known Schug for fifteen years. "I've found Brian to be extremely professional. I've found him to go over and beyond his job description on many occasions."

The mayor added that Guiliano has suggested the village should remove Schug from his position or force him to resign.

"I think it's appropriate at this time to acknowledge the good Brian has done through the years and trust it will continue for years to come," Kaplan continued.

The social media comments, deputy mayor Ray Younger said, have been discriminatory "and what Marcus is doing is unprofessional."

"This is my administration. If there is criticism out in the public over things that are being done I want it to be with me — against me — and not against a dedicated employee," Kaplan said, describing Guiliano's use of social media as abusive. "From everything I've been told, this may very well be a safety issue. It shouldn't be 'Brian said this and Marcus said that.' "

In an effort to calm the situation that was originally brought on by a privately requested county health department inspection of Aroma Thyme, which Schug accompanied, the mayor has authorized village manager Joseph Stoeckler to retain an independent building inspector to review "the fire pit issue and other violations that are there," adding that the main concern is for village code to be followed.

Village police chief Phil Mattracion commented that while he respected the board's decision, spending money on an outside inspector while the board was equipped to investigate the allegations and violations themselves would give the wrong impression.

"I think when you go to an outside building inspector because somebody raises issues on Facebook, it empowers that person more than they should be empowered to be," the police chief and school board member said. "The building inspector has made a determination. If the board is not satisfied after reviewing the evidence presented to them in the form of a video, maybe the police department would be able to assist in an investigation."

Kaplan added that it's the first time since he's been mayor that such an issue has arisen. He added that while he appreciates the chiefs' comments, he still thought it would be in the department's best interest to remove some of the pressure from Schug.

"I've personally reached out to Marcus, the village manager has, and the chair of the village planning board has reached out to him," Kaplan said. "Nothing seems to work."

While not commenting on the issue itself, Schug added that Guiliano should be returning to the planning board next month with his site plan application.



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