Did Mayor McKee’s Brother Get Special Treatment in Cumberland?

Friday, October 24, 2014

Kate Nagle, GoLocal Contributor

Dan McKee

A GoLocal investigation has learned that Cumberland Mayor -- and Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate -- Dan McKee's brother's housing development in Cumberland had its bond threatened to be called in before taking years to pave a development road as required -- and that a number of individuals associated with the project, and town, are major donors of Mayor McKee.

James McKee, whose Dedicated Builders, LLC, whose LLC certificate was revoked in 2013 following DEM violations cited against the company in 2011, was responsible for the Clover Court housing development in Cumberland which saw residents complain about Dedicated Builders' unpaved road for years, prior to its recent completion.

"We want to be clear that Dan McKee has no personal interest or ownership in Dedicated Builders," said Mike Trainor, McKee campaign spokesperson. "In addition, he has not participated in any planning or zoning board consideration of any residential development in Cumberland, including. Clover Court."

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McKee has served as Mayor of Cumberland as 2004.

Protracted Paving

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Meeting minutes from an April 2011 Cumberland Town Council meeting show that Cumberland Town Council President James Higgins requested a plan of action for paving the Clover Court unpaved road before winter from the developer - and that the road paving was to be done by August 1st, or else the project's bonds would be called in.

Two years later, meeting minutes from a May 30, 2013 Cumberland Planning Board meeting show that due to a wetlands issue, final paving, as required by the developer to undertake, had still not yet been completed. Town Planning Director Kelley Morris said at the meeting that it was her position that the neighbors were "happy", but one neighbor, Mathew Pappas, stated he was not happy the road had still not been paved for four years.

A Valley Breeze article by Marcia Green in June 2013 following that meeting reported the countering of Morris' claim by Pappas, and that the town promised to plow the road, even though it had yet to be accepted by the town. Green also reported that when Board Member Kenneth Bush questioned whether it was time to call the bond, Morris urged board members to not take that direction.

A subsequent meeting on June 26 showed that Dedicated Builders' attorney Nicholas Goodier came forth to say that a consent agreement circulating among board members was in fact signed and recorded in land evidence records showing that James McKee was taking the necessary steps to move forward with his next development.

"The developer's insurance carrier was notified by the Town that the bond would be called because the paving of the road in question had not been completed," said Trainor. "The developer did complete the paving of the road in question and, therefore, the bond did not have to be called. The property owners in the development, who were paying full property taxes, requested Town services and they were provided."

McKee's Contributors

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The registered agent for James McKee's Dedicated Builders is listed as Alfred Thibodeau, Esq. Thibodeau currently serves as the probate judge in Cumberland, and since 2004, along with his wife, the couple have given $6,400 in campaign donations to Dan McKee.

The June 2013 Planning Board minutes lists attorney Nicholas Goodier as coming forth on behalf of Dedicated Builders. Goodier, who lists Law Offices of Michael Kelly as his employer, has given Dan McKee $1500 in campaign contributions since 2013. Kelly has given McKee $2700 in donations since 2004.

"Messrs. Thibodeau and Goodier are personal friends of Mayor McKee and their donations to Dan McKee's political campaigns had nothing to do with their representation of paths developer," Trainor told GoLocal.

Campaign finance records show that Cumberland City Planner Morris has given McKee $1500, and City Solicitor Tom Hefner -- who is referenced in the 2011 meeting minutes - has given, along with his wife, $6,600 to McKee since 2004.

Editor's Note: GoLocal contributor Kate Nagle's father is Treasurer for Republican candidate for Lt. Governor, Catherine Taylor.