Lack of transparency, incompetence, betrayal, and conflicts of interest
Originally Published on February 3, 2026
Mount Vernon residents deserve transparency, lawful process, and trustworthy professionals, especially when private negotiations may affect public infrastructure and private property rights.
We are deeply concerned that the City of Mount Vernon is engaging in behind the scenes settlement negotiations involving the Bronxville Field Club while relying on an Engineer of Record whose professional credibility has been repeatedly questioned by the New York City Department of Buildings (“NYC DOB”).
1 Public DOB enforcement records show that engineer Shahin Badaly, P.E. has been subject to multiple disciplinary actions, including audits by the Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) that found major Building Code and Administrative Code violations.
2 These findings included improper application filings that avoided legally required levels of review, submission of plans lacking required fire safety, egress, and structural information, and other material non compliances.
3 Most significantly, DOB imposed $10,000 in penalties on Mr. Badaly for filing a false statement in a special inspection report following a structural collapse, after investigators determined that site conditions did not conform to the representations made and that repairs and drawings were not completed as claimed.
4 In multiple enforcement matters, DOB required the voluntary surrender of Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges, reflecting a determination by the City of New York that self certification by this engineer could not be relied upon.
5 This history alone warrants heightened scrutiny. Emerging Conflict ofInterest Concerns.
Additional questions have now surfaced regarding the integrity of the negotiation process itself.
It has recently come to light that a daughter of Council Member Cathlin Gleason (Boncardo) has reportedly been employed by the Bronxville Field Club since approximately June 2023, during the period in which the club’s application and related matters were actively before the City. At the same time, Council Member Gleason has reportedly participated in discussions surrounding the proposed settlement.
We are not asserting wrongdoing. However, when an elected official is involved in matters affecting an organization that employs an immediate family member, the appearance of a potential conflict alone can erode public trust. Best practices in municipal governance typically call for full disclosure and, where appropriate, recusal to avoid even the perception of divided loyalties.
Given the stakes, including land use decisions, drainage infrastructure, easements, and impacts on neighboring property owners, residents deserve clear answers:- Was this relationship formally disclosed?- Has the Council Member recused herself from negotiations or votes? What ethics guidance, if any, was sought from the City?Transparency is not optional when public confidence is on the line.
Why This Matters.When a municipality relies on technical representations from professionals with documented credibility failures and questions arise about potential conflicts among participating officials, the risk is not eliminated, it is shifted onto residents.
Closed door settlements do not substitute for lawful process. They heighten the need for:• Independent professional review • Full Planning Board oversight• Public notice and participation• Formal conflict disclosures• Compliance with zoning, environmental, and land use lawIf the Bronxville Field Club’s proposals are lawful and sound, they should withstand transparent review in the open, not be resolved through private agreements that bypass established safeguards.
We urge Mount Vernon officials to:- Pause any settlement approval- Publicly disclose all participants in negotiations- Clarify whether any conflicts exist- Ensure that affected residents are fully informed- Return this matter to a transparent process that respects the law and the publicIntegrity in government is not optional. It is the foundation of public trust.
Footnotes1. NYC Department of Buildings, public enforcement and disciplinary records concerning professionally certified applications.2. NYC DOB Special Enforcement Team (SET) audit findings involving professionally certified filings by Shahin Badaly, P.E.3. Id. (findings including improper Alteration Type filings, inadequate life- safety documentation, and code non-compliance).4. NYC DOB enforcement action imposing $10,000 in penalties for filing a false statement in a special inspection report following a site collapse (Bronx, Echo Place).5. NYC DOB enforcement resolutions requiring voluntary surrender of Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges following failed audits.