Letters to the Editor, June 20

Five years of late financial filings not “fantastic”

To the Editor:

In the June 13 Recorder article titled ”Rematch: McCown Challenges Hansan for supervisor seat,” Supervisor Kevin Hansan claimed that “the finances are in fantastic shape” and “all good.” This statement is not only misleading — it’s deeply disrespectful to the residents of Pound Ridge.

As of June 16, 2025, the town of Pound Ridge has still not filed its 2024 annual financial report with the New York State comptroller. This legally mandated report was due May 1. Under Mr. Hansan’s leadership, the town has now failed to meet this deadline five years in a row. (Source: NYS Comptroller’s Office)

This is not a harmless oversight. It is a troubling pattern of chronic mismanagement.

Despite this record, Mr. Hansan is asking residents to trust him with the proposed $10.5 million Scotts Corners water project. But if he cannot fulfill the town’s most basic financial obligations, how can taxpayers trust him to manage a multimillion-dollar infrastructure plan?

This failure has already led to litigation. Yet Mr. Hansan refuses to clarify whether the town’s $7.6 million grant application falsely certified that financial filings were current.

Rather than take responsibility, Mr. Hansan has chosen to attack the Pound Ridge Party for lawfully substituting two candidates on its petitions — a fully legal and transparent action that John McCown publicly explained. Mr. Hansan, by contrast, continues to deflect and evade accountability for far more serious issues.

Pound Ridge deserves leadership that values truth, transparency, and competence. Mr Hansan’s record shows none of the above. If he cannot deliver simple annual financial reports on time, or tell the truth about a multimillion-dollar grant, Mr. Hansan has no business asking for another term. 

Five years of late financial filings is not “fantastic.” It’s unacceptable.

Nick Cianciola Sr.

Pound Ridge