Covel legal case continues on January 6th
By John T. Ryan
The legal action related to a September 2008 indictment of Peru Town Supervisor Donald Covel continues. The next step is a January 6th Clinton County Court Conference. A Clinton County Grand Jury indicted Covel on three counts of official misconduct and one count of second-degree obstructing governmental administration, all misdemeanors. Covel is accused of abusing his powers in office by firing Code and Zoning Enforcement Officer Paul Blaine without authorization. He then allegedly approved an occupancy and building-permit application that his wife Linda submitted for Frosty Springs Bottling Company. Mrs. Covel is the legal owner of that company.
Donald Covel’s attorney Mark Cowen explained that a conference is an opportunity for the parties in a case to get together in the presence of a judge and determine if any resolution is possible outside of a trial. If no resolution can be reached, a trial date is set. An earlier conference was held and Judge Patrick McGill is reviewing the motions that were made at that time.
The Frosty Springs Bottling Company’s main building was destroyed by fire on February 3, 2007. At the time of the fire Donald Covel said he hoped to have the business back up and running within 90 days.
Posted: December 10th, 2008 under Town Board News.