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City Manager Richard Leins announced the suspension of Joe Minnerly in an e-mail to members of the Common Council Friday afternoon.
"I wanted to let you know that based on information brought to this office, Joe Minnerly has been suspended with pay effective immediately pending a continuing investigation," Leins wrote.
Minnerly told Mayor Frank Catalina about the break-in, saying a door was forced open with a screwdriver, according to LoHud. Peekskill Police said they are investigating.
The break-in followed Councilwoman Drew Claxton and her son receiving a $15,000 grant from the Preservation Company in Peekskill to fix up a house that she was ineligible to receive. The grant was part of a $75,000 grant from the Affordable Housing Corporation.
Claxton said she did not know she was ineligible to receive the grant and Claxton and the Preservation Company have said they will return the money. Jeannette Phillips has called it an oversight, according to LoHud.
Robert Wolf of the Westchester County District Attorney's Office said they are reviewing the matter.
At Tuesday's Committee of the Whole Meeting, Mayor Frank Catalina ordered a complete report on all transactions and dealings between the city and the Preservation Company over the past 10 years.
Catalina, who is in Florida, was unaware of Minnerly's suspension when reached by Daily Voice, but blamed the Peekskill Democrats.
"The Democratic majority is circling the wagons," Catalina said. "Anyone who does anything to bring up Councilwoman Claxton's misconduct is going to get fired. I'm not surprised, Joe's been a good employee for years."
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