Mount Vernon – Accusations of impropriety continue for Mayor Richard Thomas, who is already facing corruption charges as the Mount Vernon Board of Ethics has accused Mayor Richard Thomas of collecting more than $100,000 as a trustee of the Amani Public Charter School in violation of state education law.

In a report (see below) given to the City Council this week, the board cited Thomas’ financial disclosure forms submitted last May on which he listed his position as Amani trustee and Category F, signifying more than $100,001.

Specific payment amounts are not required on the forms, only a dollar range from Category A, under $5,000, to Category F.

The report, issued Monday and made public Thursday, came a week after Thomas was charged by the state Attorney General’s Office with stealing nearly $13,000 in campaign funds and failing to report on his city financial disclosure forms more than $75,000 he received from individuals, companies and his inaugural committee.

Amani’s executive director said Mayor Thomas has never been paid by the school.

Debra Stern, the school’s executive director, said she could not explain why the mayor listed the dollar figure he did. She offered that the school gets an annual $165,000 grant from the city through its Youth Bureau for Amani’s STRONG, or Students Taking Responsibility and Ownership Now and Graduating, program.

Black Westchester was informed that the BOE Report has been passed onto the New York State Attorney General’s office.

Stay tuned to Black Westchester for more on this developing story.

Richard Thomas BOE Report by BLACK WESTCHESTER on Scribd

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