Disagreements within the Fallsburg Town Board came to a head on May 20, when a debate over travel reimbursements led to a sharp exchange between Councilmember Sean Wall-Carty and Town Supervisor Michael Bensimon.
What began as a routine inquiry during the board’s meeting quickly escalated into pointed accusations. Wall-Carty asked about the procedure for submitting reimbursement forms following his attendance at the February 2025 Association of Towns conference. He explained that he had submitted complete documentation, including bank statements and receipts for Amtrak travel to New York City.
However, Wall-Carty said he received no guidance from the Supervisor’s office until late March. “The response was vague,” he said. “Then I was told my paperwork was incomplete. I had the receipts, the Amtrak change confirmation, and still I was shortchanged.” He eventually received a reimbursement in May, but it excluded the cost of his train fare.
The conversation turned confrontational when Wall-Carty accused Bensimon of hypocrisy, claiming the Supervisor used a town vehicle last year to travel to Brooklyn during the same conference. “You’re questioning my receipts, but you didn’t even attend the meeting?” Wall-Carty challenged.
Bensimon defended his participation, providing photos from the 2024 conference held at the New York Marriott Marquis. Although the metadata confirmed the photos’ location, Radio Catskill could not confirm whether Bensimon himself took them. One image showed Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli speaking at a session on February 19 at 9:39 a.m.—a detail consistent with the conference schedule.
Bensimon acknowledged leaving the event early to renew his Auxiliary NYPD ID. He presented documentation showing a renewal date of February 20, 2024. Town car EZ-Pass records indicated that the vehicle entered and exited the Queens Midtown Tunnel on that same date, raising further questions, since the timestamped photo from the conference was from the day prior.
A FOIL request was submitted to the NYPD to verify details of the ID renewal and whether such business can be conducted at the Queens Auxiliary Police station. No response had been received as of publication.
The town’s total EZ-Pass charges for Bensimon’s trip came to $85.87, including late fees. Bensimon said the pass failed to register properly and confirmed he paid the tolls from his personal account.
Wall-Carty also criticized Bensimon’s submission of a Record of Activities (ROA) to the state retirement system, suggesting it inaccurately documented time spent at the 2024 conference. Although Bensimon initially reported attending the full day, he later admitted to leaving early. He said he amended the form to correct the record, emphasizing that the ROA doesn’t impact his own pension because his benefits are tied to his work with Sullivan County.
Still, Bensimon said clear records are crucial for audit compliance. “I’m not singling out Sean,” he told Radio Catskill. “This is about tightening up a process that’s broken.”
Fallsburg is currently under audit by the Office of the State Comptroller, according to spokesperson Mark Johnson.
Councilmember Miranda Behan also expressed concern during the meeting, saying she was unaware of the reimbursement policy and had not been informed that forms were necessary. Bensimon responded that Behan’s mileage claim was reduced due to insufficient receipts.
The town’s employee handbook specifies that all travel reimbursements must include itemized receipts and be submitted within 30 days, or they may be denied by the department head—in this case, the Supervisor.
Wall-Carty argued the reimbursement dispute is part of a broader issue. “It’s not just about a $40 meal,” he said. “This is about a lack of communication and transparency.”
Looking ahead, Bensimon said the board plans to review and clarify reimbursement policies to avoid future disputes.