Rochester Smoke Out

Believe it or not, there was a time when Carl Chipman didn’t mind answering my questions, probably in deference to all those years he called me Papa.

Seeing that Chipman was starting his first term by asking “how high?” every time O’Halloran was telling him to jump, I asked the obvious question:

Q: Carl, why do you kiss David O’Halloran’s ass?
A: Because he has the money, that’s why!

Say it ain’t so, Carl!

As there was no bigger supporter of Terry Bernardo than him (the Pride of Rochester and all that), I asked Carl Chipman the obvious question:

Q: Carl, why do you kiss Len Bernardo’s ass?
A: Because he gave me the Independence line, that’s why!

Do you remember the moment, Carl? By Tavi Cilenti’s barn, the evening before his Pig Roast?

After the recent Town Board interviews and pre-determined appointment, I wanted to ask Carl Chipman another obvious question. I did not, because I already knew the answer:

Q: Carl, why do you kiss Brian Drabkin’s and Gerry Fornino’s collective ass?
A: Because Drabkin has the money and Fornino will give me the Conservative line next year, that’s why!

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

What follows is a 2007 article by Carl Chipman exposing the authors of “How to get rid of Manuela” (the early chapters). Amazing how fast Carl Chipman discarded his moral compass, becoming himself the writer of new chapters.

Porn allegations are reprehensible

On Wednesday, January 24, 2007 the Rochester Town Board met in executive session in order to conduct certain interviews, including a second interview for one seat on the Historic Preservation Commission. Manuela Michailescu was shown by Councilman Gray multiple pages of color pictures of people performing sexual acts, details of private parts and ejaculations.



There are instances when certain events occur that are so outside the realm of cognitive reasoning and acceptable standards of behavior that one begins to wonder where reality ends and a distorted fantasy world begins. I am writing to you about such an event that has occurred in the Town of Rochester this past week. It is about the deplorable and unethical treatment of one of our citizens by our Supervisor and certain members of our Town Board.

That citizen’s name is Manuela Michailescu. 

Many of you know Manuela from the Rochester Republican Club meetings as she is a very active Life Member of our club. I would like to share some history and knowledge of Manuela for those of you who have not had the privilege of getting to know her. To know her only highlights the gravity of the Town Board’s actions. Manuela emigrated from repressive Communist Romania in 1980, so that she could practice her religion and express her political beliefs without fear of government reprisals and persecution. Daughter of a political prisoner, she was granted political asylum in the United States. Manuela and her husband, Jon Dogar-Marinesco, settled in New York City, proudly became U.S. citizens, and began their quest of the American Dream. They labored endlessly and were successful in business. Manuela also furthered her education and received a Master in Marketing to go along with her Master in Fine Arts/Film & Theater. They embraced traditional American Values and never took for granted their newly found freedoms.



Manuela and Jon moved to our area in November of 2001 when they purchased the Gazlay Brick House on Route 209 in Kerhonkson. The natural beauty surrounding them as well as the kindness of their new neighbors made them feel happy and comfortable in their new home. Manuela and Jon quickly became involved with their new community and will soon be opening their new antiques shop. They joined the Chamber of Commerce, the Accord-Kerhonkson Business Alliance, Rochester Republican Club, Friends of Historic Rochester, Antiques Dealers Association of Ulster County and The Society for the Preservation of Hudson Valley Vernacular Architecture. Manuela has regularly attended many of the various meetings of associations, boards, and commissions in our town. Historic preservation is one area of great importance to Manuela. Manuela and Jon just received the largest historic preservation grant in the history of our town for the restoration of their Old Dutch Barn. Manuela has been regularly attending meetings of the Historic Preservation Commission, not as a member but as a person with a keen interest in this area. At the suggestion of the Town Historian and the Chairwoman of the Historic Preservation Commission, she submitted her application for the HPC when the Town Board called for volunteers.



On Wednesday, January 24, 2007 the Rochester Town Board met in executive session in order to conduct interviews for appointments to the Youth Commission, ECC and transfer station. Manuela Michailescu was also asked to appear before the Town Board for a second interview for appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission. 

Manuela was a little apprehensive about being called before the Town Board for a second interview as she was the only applicant to be asked to do so. Nevertheless she still felt confident and came to the interview with an updated application, prepared to talk about historic preservation in our town.

Rod Futerfas, Attorney for the Town of Rochester, ushered Manuela in for the interview. The line of questioning did not begin with or had anything to do with historic preservation. Manuela was informed that “it had been brought to the Town Board’s attention” that her name is associated with an adult site. Manuela was asked repeatedly if she was associated with such a website. Each time she vehemently responded that “nothing could be further from the truth.” 

Manuela inquired to the Town Board as what they were talking about. She was told by Councilman Alex Miller that if one submits Manuela’s name to Yahoo Search, it would be found under item #9 or #10. Councilman Francis Gray then chimed in that it’s “Manuela’s early American literature text book” search taking you to the porn site. Manuela again vehemently denied having any involvement or awareness of the site. 

Manuela was then shown by Councilman Gray multiple pages of color pictures of people performing sexual acts, details of private parts and ejaculations. Manuela asked for at least a copy of the first shown page so that she could check out the Internet path and defend herself from the allegations. She was refused on two occasions. Councilman Miller remarked that it would be unfair to vote on Manuela’s appointment at this time as the result would be no appointment.

The “interview” then concluded and a very shaken and distressed Manuela Michailescu left the room, told two other applicants waiting for interviews what happened to her, got into her car and hit another car when backing up, her first accident in 37 years of spotless driving record. The accident is documented in a Police Report.



There are so many things wrong with what happened to Manuela on January 24 that it is difficult to decide where to begin. Firstly, Manuela Michailescu did not go to an interview. She went to an inquisition. The discussion at this so called interview had absolutely nothing to do with historic preservation and her qualifications to join the commission. I see an uncanny parallel to the witch trials of the 16th and 17th Centuries. A rope would be attached round the body and the person put into the water. The idea was that, if you sank, you were innocent, and if you floated, you were guilty. It was a no-win situation just as Manuela faced before the Town Board. 

Absurd accusations were thrown at Manuela without any advance notice and she was not shown any evidence to support them. The allegations made by members of the Town Board are totally absurd and unfounded. Only people ignorant of the ways of the Internet would support it.



The actions of Supervisor Pam Duke, Councilman Miller, Councilman Gray, and Councilman Spano are reprehensible. The harsh treatment and exposure to pornography of an innocent member of our community by these elected officials must not be tolerated. Their actions lack the most basic respect of individual rights and standards of ethical behavior. I urge each and everyone of you to attend the Town Board meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 1 and call for their resignations. The rights of all citizens of our town must be respected and protected regardless of gender, political affiliation, national origin, ethnic or racial background, religious preference, or sexual orientation. The time has come for the distorted nightmarish reality they have created in the Town of Rochester to end. 



Carl Chipman — President

Rochester Republican Club

As we all know, Manuela Michailescu had her day in court and won her suit
against that Rochester Town Board. She won a Town Board seat in the 2007 election, and proudly served for four years. In 2011, David O’Halloran’s shenanigans stopped her from running for a second term. Instead, Brian Drabkin – David’s tool – ran unopposed.

A few weeks ago, in total disregard of common sense, applications and interviews, the current Town Board – Carl Chipman, Antonino “Tony” Spano, Brian Drabkin et al. – appointed the wife of the Conservative Party chairman to a Town Board seat.

Nothing describes their actions better than Carl Chipman’s second paragraph of the above article:

There are instances when certain events occur that are so outside the realm of cognitive reasoning and acceptable standards of behavior that one begins to wonder where reality ends and a distorted fantasy world begins. I am writing to you about such an event that has occurred in the Town of Rochester this past week. It is about the deplorable and unethical treatment of one of our citizens by our Supervisor and certain members of our Town Board.

You got that right, Chipman! Way to go!

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
– George Santayana

Every seven years a Rochester Town Board crosses the line, and the current one just did it. Moreover, the “unanimous” idiotic actions were directed against the same person, Manuela Michailescu.

Thanks to the people’s comments on Carl Chipman – just another dirty deals addict, I was reminded of the above drawing. Seven years passed by and here we go again, different Town Board, same ugly behavior.

I hope that Councilman Antonino Spano remembers this cartoon. Seven years ago he was a member of that other Town Board too. I hope that seven years from now he would remember what people had to say:

September 24, 2014 at 6:51 PM
This whole thing is pathetic. I can’t believe in this day and age we are still trying to make friends rather than doing what we know is right. Doesn’t anyone grow up anymore? Our Supervisor and the entire town board sound like a bunch of incompetent idiots!

September 26, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Rochester politics have not been kind to so many. Manuela has come to this country and made Rochester her home. She has not been treated fairly yet she continues to work for the best interest of our Town and its citizens, When she takes on a cause, she researches, she attends meetings and gives her all — yet she is snubbed by an ignorant self serving Town Board. The caucus was an embarrassment to all Rochester Republicans. And who came, the TAKERS. Family members and everyone who got something for nothing by the crooks holding office. To Manuela, I say thank YOU. Thank YOU for following your convictions and doing what you felt was right. Thank YOU for caring enough about Rochester to stand above the neglect, the corruption and the liars. You deserve so much more.

September 26, 2014 at 12:18 PM
I got out of Rochester late last year, after sticking around just long enough to cast one last vote against Terriblenardo. But 9:39 has it exactly right — crooks and takers. At some point, the local GOP needs to stop kissing up to the Independence and Conservative parties, especially by handing seats to the wives of these parties’ chairmen.

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco