NEWBURGH – The Newburgh City Council is not going to renew City Manager Joseph Donat’s contract, a source close to the situation told Mid-Hudson News.

Donat has been city manager for two years and the council has decided not to sign a new agreement with him.

Donat came to Newburgh after serving as Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney’s Mid-Hudson chief of staff and was instrumental while in that capacity securing federal funds for the city’s fire department.

He could not be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

Mayor Torrance Harvey would only say there would be some announcement on Friday.

POUGHKEEPSIE – City of Poughkeepsie Economic Development Director Paul Calogerakis is stepping down from his post and returning to the private sector.

He joined the administration of Mayor Rob Rolison in 2018 and oversaw the reconstruction of the city’s economic and community development team by 2016, as a result of the city’s fiscal challenges.

He also oversaw the deployment of special assistance for economic development, which was awarded by the state Financial Reconstructing Board, the launch of the city’s new branding “PKGO,” and other development projects.

Calogerakis worked on acquisition of the former YMCA building and reimaging the property as a community center.

In the past, he also served as chairman of the city’s Industrial Development Agency, and president and co-founder of the Poughkeepsie Alliance.

“Paul has helped this city get back on track,” said Mayor Rolison. “His experience and love for Poughkeepsie has been a key ingredient on our recipe for success.”

The city will begin recruitment efforts for a successor immediately and plans to fill the position by September 1.

NEWBURGH – A first-degree rape charge against Mount Saint Mary College Student Anthony Pennachio has been dismissed in Newburgh City Court.

Pennachio, 19, of Queens, was alleged to have sexually assaulted a female college student in a dormitory room back in March.

But, his attorney, James DiPietro brought the case before City Court Judge Paul Trachte on Tuesday and after hearing evidence, dropped the charge on the recommendation of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

DiPietro was highly critical of the way the Newburgh Police handled the case.

“I asked them to do their investigation independent of the Newburgh detectives because I thought they were jaded, and these guys quite frank were not very professional. They lived up to my expectation and all the felony rape counts were dismissed and my client was permitted to enter a plea to a low-level B misdemeanor. All he had to tell the judge was that, ‘I gave Kristen – I’m not going to give you her last name – a hickey without her consent,” said DiPietro.

The judge sentenced Pennachio to a conditional discharge.

DiPietro interviewed the 20-some-odd students outside the dorm room at the time of the encounter and entered a telephone recording between the two students three days later in which the girl admitted they had consensual sex, the attorney said.

CORTLANDT – A 67-year-old East Fishkill man was killed when he lost control of the motorcycle he was operating on the Bear Mountain Parkway in the Town of Cortlandt and struck a guiderail.

State Police identified the victim as Gary Malstrom, Sr.

Police said at around 6:40 p.m. on Monday, he was traveling eastbound on the parkway when the accident occurred.

Malstrom was transported to Westchester Medical Center by Mohegan Emergency Medical Services where he was pronounced dead.

Mohegan Fire Department was also on the scene rendering assistance.

The investigation into the crash is continuing.

MIDDLETOWN – A Jamaica, Queens man has been arrested and charged in connection with assault and fire Monday night that damaged 10 apartments at the Buttonwood Hills Apartment complex at 360 Concord Street in the City of Middletown.

Police charged Larry Hickmon, Jr., 39, with arson, assault, and criminal obstruction of breathing. This was not the first brush he has had with the law.

The 37-year-old female victim of this domestic assault that appears to have precipitated the fire was treated for facial injuries. Her three children were unharmed.

When police arrived on the scene, they found Hickmon standing next to the burning building, but when he spotted officers, he attempted to flee, but was apprehended by Officer Kelly Conklin.

(Videos: Mark Lieb,  Rockland Video Productions)

At the same time, Officer Louis Scialabba entered building 8 and went door-to-door checking for occupants, all of whom evacuated safely.

Scialabba and a firefighter sustained minor injuries.

A computer check found Hickmon was wanted on a felony assault charge by Newburgh City Police and an assault charge in the Town of Wallkill.

Assisting Middletown firefighters were Circleville, Silver Lake, Howells, Pocatello, and Mechanicstown fire departments.