Spring Valley government avoids shutdown

SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. (WABC) -- Spring Valley's government has settled its financial dispute and will avoid a shutdown.

The problem was that the insurance policy that covers the village's liability expired Friday. But this week the village's board of trustees refused to sign off on a new $1.8 million policy because members said the mayor wouldn't provide them a copy until Thursday.

Ultimately, the board voted Friday to pay the insurance company for the policy. The company would not give the village a 60-day extension.

Spring Valley is the second largest village in New York state, with 60,000 residents in two and a half square miles.

Corruption has been a problem. The former mayor and deputy mayor were arrested last year. The current mayor has made some controversial decisions, such as sending snow plow operators home during a storm to save money on overtime. As for this dispute, Mayor Demeza Delhomme said the trustees were just being difficult.

Government workers have been in a state of limbo because of the dispute.

(Citizens) "should always be concerned with the people that are running their lives basically," said Walter Booker, Spring Valley buildings inspector.

"It can be frustrating at times. But that's life," said Booker. "There's no guarantee it's going to be a piece of cake."