Many Lake Mahopac lovers dream of owning a cozy pontoon boat with enough seats for friends and family to chill out on a sunny summer afternoon, bobbing about with a cold beverage in hand.
Putnam County Legislator Erin Crowley’s dream came true this past summer after she found a vessel that met her needs — a 2020 Bennington SX21, with a 150 horsepower Yamaha outboard motor and plush seating for 10.
Crowley, however, still had an issue: she lacked the cash to purchase the boat.
To her good fortune, Crowley had a friend who stepped up — Kevin Fitzell, a retired marble finisher, who she knew from the barroom at the Mahopac VFW on East Lake Boulevard. He fronted Crowley $40,000 to buy the boat, with Crowley agreeing to repay him within a week, according court documents.
Fitzell received the boat’s title — in Crowley’s name — as collateral.
Crowley docked her pontoon boat at McDonald Marina, alongside the other pontoon boats and personal watercraft that cruise around Putnam County’s legendary lake in spring, summer and fall.
But five months after promising to repay Fitzell in a week, Crowley has yet to make good on the loan.
In mid-December, Fitzell filed suit in state Supreme Court in Putnam County, seeking a judgment against Crowley for $40,000, plus interest and attorney’s fees.
The loan has engaged Putnam County political and legal circles, with the husband of former Putnam County Attorney Jennifer Bumgarner representing Fitzell and the brother of current Putnam County Attorney Compton Spain representing Crowley.
Fitzell says he wants Crowley to make good on their handshake deal, which soured when an infusion of cash she expected to cover the cost of the watercraft failed to materialize.
“Said monies were loaned to defendant based upon defendant’s representations that the monies would be repaid to plaintiff within a week of the monies being lent,” the court summons stated.
Putnam County Legislator Erin Crowley, right, was sued in state Supreme Court in December for $40,000 after she failed to make good on a handshake loan agreement to purchase a pontoon boat.
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Crowley: Fitzell won’t accept loan repayment for political reasons
Crowley, in a statement to Tax Watch, insisted that the lawsuit was a politically motivated attack. She said she had attempted to start repayments on the loan, but Fitzell would not accept her payment.
“I borrowed money from a friend and have made every effort to repay it,” said Crowley, who serves as district representative in Rep. Mike Lawler’s office in Carmel Town Hall. “For reasons I can’t explain, he has refused to accept repayment.”
Fitzell, who said he cut the check to the boat owner on Aug. 2, recalled that Crowley’s husband, Putnam County Deputy Sheriff Kevin Osika, wired him $1,000 on Nov. 20 after weeks of unfulfilled promises of payment from Crowley.
But Fitzell returned the money, unwilling to have the repayment drag on for months or years.
“I was told not to accept it because agreeing to the partial payment meant I was accepting a payment plan,” Fitzell said. “I didn’t want to have the next payment be $10. I gave her $40,000 in one chunk and expected it to be repaid.”
Fitzell: ‘I can’t believe (Crowley) would do this to me’
Fitzell said he regrets making the loan.
“I felt like an idiot,” he said. “I can’t believe she would do this to me.”
Crowley said criticism of her boat-loan-gone-bad were reminiscent of those hurled at her when she burst on the Putnam County political scene in 2022 after moving there from Dutchess County.
“Since entering politics, I’ve faced relentless personal attacks – on my appearance, my history as an abuse survivor, and even my family,” she said in a written statement. “These attacks have nothing to do with my values or work I’m doing on behalf of my community.”
Lawler’s presence in Carmel has grown since Crowley’s appointment to his Putnam district office, which was set up at Carmel Town Hall in 2023. During the 2024 campaign year, the Republican-controlled town administration erected a 4-by-8 foot sign at the town’s Chamber Park in downtown Mahopac, thanking Lawler for obtaining $2 million in federal funds to address chronic flooding at the adjacent Swan Cove park and parking lot.
The sign touting Lawler’s work in Washington remains in the town park.
The town of Carmel installed a thank-you sign for Rep. Mike Lawler’s $2 million community project grant for the Swan Cove project that states its located in downtown Carmel. The project is at the intersection of Route 6 and 6N in downtown Mahopac.
Crowley also helped organize a Sept. 14 Republican campaign rally at Swan Cove at which Lawler was the featured speaker.
More: Mike Lawler brings $2M to Mahopac, gets thank you sign on town land in election year
Well known Putnam figures are on both sides of dispute
Fitzell’s filing in state Supreme Court has garnered attention on a Facebook page called Mahopac Dads and Moms Uncensored, which is administered by Frank Ciano, a loquacious local contractor. He’s a Carmel Republican who this week announced he’ll challenge Carmel Supervisor Mike Cazzari for the Republican nomination this spring.
“Right now, Lawler should be letting her go,” said Ciano. “She’s an embarrassment to Mike Lawler, and an embarrassment to the county.”
Lawler media spokesman Nate Soule did not return messages seeking comment.
Crowley eyes re-election in 2025 but could face primary
Questions about Crowley’s financial situation come as she prepares to seek a second three-year term on the Putnam County Legislature.
Crowley surprised Carmel’s entrenched Republican hierarchy in 2022 when she challenged then-county Legislature Chairman Neal Sullivan, R-Carmel, in a 2022 Republican primary. But Sullivan never made it to the June contest after the county Board of Elections sustained objections to Sullivan’s nominating petitions, clearing the way for Crowley’s election.
Crowley in recent months has showed her independence from the county’s ruling Republican clique by joining with legislators Nancy Montgomery, D-Philipstown, and Bill Gouldman, R-Putnam Valley, on several issues. Those issues include the county’s agricultural policies as well as an ongoing feud over the appointment of Compton Spain as county attorney.
Crowley now faces a Republican primary challenge of her own in the 9th District from Tricia Simone, former chief of staff to former Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell.
Crowley said she has hired Spain’s older brother, William, who chairs the Putnam County Conservative Committee, to defend her in the loan dispute. Representing Fitzell is attorney Craig Bumgarner, whose wife, Jennifer, a former county attorney, was succeeded by Compton Spain.
William Spain filed an appearance on Crowley’s behalf, which means Fitzell must file a complaint by Jan. 22, detailing the terms of their loan agreement and his desire to be paid back.
Meanwhile, Crowley on Dec. 4 put the 2020 Bennington on the market during a traditionally slow season for boat transactions. But a quick sale in the dead of winter could resolve the lawsuit now pending in state Supreme Court.
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David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Putnam NY legislator Erin Crowley in court over $40K loan for boat