Syracuse City Councilman charged with using public position for personal profit

FARMINGTON — A Syracuse city councilman faces charges for allegedly using his position on the North Davis Sewer Board to pocket about $3,000 from a real estate deal.

According to charging documents filed Tuesday in 2nd District Court, Councilman D. Matthew Kimmel used his position on the board and personal business connections in real estate between Oct. 14, 2010, and April 21, 2011, to connect a specific realtor with the sewer board for a land transaction.

Kimmel, who has a background in commercial real estate, didn't disclose to the sewer board his true relationship with the realtor or that he would be getting a finder's fee of approximately $3,000 for the transaction, the charges state.

Kimmel also instructed the realtor not to disclose their relationship — or the finder's fee — to the sewer board, saying he would take care of the proper disclosures, according to the charges.

"For months, the realtor assumed (Kimmel) had done so," the charges state.

Kimmel is charged with one count of using his public position to secure privileges, a class A misdemeanor. He's scheduled to appear in court March 12.

Kimmel is midway through his four-year term on the Syracuse City Council. He served on the North Davis Sewer Board as part of his City Council assignments but was replaced in May when allegations of misconduct began to surface.

Attempts to reach Kimmel for comment Thursday were unsuccessful.

E-mail: jpage@desnews.com