Trustee Fonvil Sues Mayor Delhomme Over Alleged Illegal Convention and Consulate Office

BY CAROL MCILMURRAY 

Spring Valley Trustee Vilair Fonvil has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Demezza Delhomme and the NY Haitian Consulate for allegedly holding an illegal convention and planning an unsanctioned Haitian Consulate satellite office at the Luis J. Kutz Civic Center on Wed, Oct 28.

Trustee Fonvil filed suit to stop the annexation of the Luis Kutz Center to the Haitian Consulate for a satellite office. The off shoot office’s main purpose would to help members of Haitian Community obtain passports, according to officials.

On Tuesday night, Oct. 20, Trustee Fonvil called Ramapo Police to the civic center to report improper unauthorized activity of a “large political group handing out T-shirts promoting a political candidate,” according to the police report.

The political party turned out to be NY Haitian Consulate, and they told police Spring Valley Mayor Delhomme had given permission for the gathering to a member of Haitian consulate staff.

A subsequent verbal fight broke out between Trustee Fonvil and members of the gathering. Police observed a large crowd exiting the facility, “yelling and screaming.” After the melee, the officer “observed people being pushed out of the way aggressively and all of a sudden Mayor Delhomme appeared flailing his arms at the Sgt.”

Delhomme is reported to question why the police were there.  The verbal dispute escalated between Fonvil and NY Haitian Consulate General Charles Forbin and Fonvil went to Spring Valley Police Dept. to file a complaint against Gen. Forbin.

Trustee Fonvil filed suit this week, on Oct. 28, to stop the unsanctioned Haitian Consulate’s satellite office in the Luis Kutz Center because the mayor did not seek board approval, nor follow any other procedures in village law. According to Fonvil, “The mayor acted without regard to the liability of the village.” Fonvil went on to say Mayor Delhomme did not obtain insurance for the event, and the civic center is designated for youth programs, prohibiting outside groups or events.

A court date has been set for November 18, 2015.

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