The Town of Clarkstown has released a series of internal memoranda and other documents related to its ongoing investigation into suspended Department of Environmental Facilities and Management (DEFM) Director Michael Gianatasio, with Town Attorney Kevin Conway asserting the records refute allegations made by the former official.
According to the Town Attorney’s Office, the documents include a detailed report prepared by Siemens Industry, Inc. regarding its contracted work for the Town, along with an independent review by the Town Comptroller that concluded the Siemens report was accurate and that payments issued by the Town were proper. The Town said its independent investigation is being conducted by the law firm Hodges, Walsh & Burke.
Town officials stated that all documents reviewed were found to be in compliance with the contract between Siemens and the Town of Clarkstown and that each payment was properly issued under the terms of the agreement. The Town also noted that the payments had been reviewed during annual independent audits in previous years, with no issues identified.
In a strongly worded statement, Conway rejected Gianatasio’s claims that he acted as a whistleblower, alleging instead that the released records show Gianatasio personally approved all 17 payment vouchers submitted to Siemens. The Town said the documents include Gianatasio’s signatures on the payment approvals, including one tied to the Town’s playground project, and that his deputy later confirmed the same payment amount in correspondence with the Comptroller’s Office.
The statement also addresses approximately $680,320 in labor-related costs under the Siemens contract, which Gianatasio has publicly questioned. According to the Town, the amount reflected a flat-fee agreement covering procurement, planning, project development, construction management, commissioning, safety, subcontractor expenses, insurance, bonding, contingencies, and other project costs—not just certified payroll. Officials said emails released with the documents show Gianatasio and his deputy were informed of what those labor charges included.
The Town further stated that the playground project was ultimately scaled back from its original scope, resulting in a $1.5 million credit to the Town. Officials argued that Gianatasio’s criticism of the project, as well as his claims regarding a separate boiler project, fail to account for the terms of the master contract with Siemens.
Conway said the Town’s records “incontrovertibly debunk” Gianatasio’s allegations and instead point to alleged misconduct and ethics violations by the suspended official. He said the Town looks forward to the completion of the investigation.
The Town also announced that the documents released Wednesday will be forwarded to the Clarkstown Ethics Board and any other agencies or entities currently investigating Gianatasio.
The documents released by the Town can be viewed here
