Poughkeepsie Journal

Town of Poughkeepsie water maintenance supervisor George Knapp submitted his resignation Wednesday after nearly 30 years on the job.

But the town board opted not to accept Knapp’s resignation during its meeting Wednesday night at town hall, instead voting to refer the item to the town’s personnel committee.

Knapp, who has worked for the town since 1971, gave no reason to town officials in his letter of resignation and did not attend the meeting. He could not be reached later for comment.

Knapp was second-in-command at the water department under former town Water Superintendent Fred Andros, who resigned last May 26.

The next day, Andros pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy after striking a deal with authorities. Andros admitted he acted as a bag man for former town and Dutchess County GOP Chairman William Paroli Sr. by delivering illegal cash bribes to Paroli at his county elections office.

Andros’ plea is part of a nearly three-year state and federal investigation into the Town of Poughkeepsie that has resulted in convictions of three former town employees on corruption charges and Paroli’s arrest on 16 counts of corruption.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cari Robinson would not comment Wednesday when asked if Knapp has been under investigation.

Paroli said he knows little of Knapp.

‘‘I know who he is, but I don’t know anything about him,’’ he said.

Paroli was arrested May 26 — just hours before Andros’ resignation — for allegedly running a six-year scheme to shake down contractors on town developments with more than $100,000 in illegal bribes going to Paroli and the GOP.

Paroli has pleaded not guilty and remains free without bail. He faces a March 27 trial.

Councilwoman Marlene Galow said she needed more information before accepting Knapp’s resignation.

‘‘Nobody seems to know why he is resigning,’’ Galow said.

Andros, 60, has also been charged with second-degree murder in the death of former town personnel director Susan Fassett, 48, who was shot to death last Oct. 28.

Andros remains in the Dutchess County Jail’s infirmary, where he is recovering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police said he shot himself last Dec. 29 when authorities arrived to conduct a search of his Hyde Park home in connection with their investigation into Fassett’s slaying.

Greene County resident Dawn Silvernail, 50, also has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Fassett’s death. She pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail at the Dutchess County Jail.

Dutchess County District Attorney William Grady has offered no motive for Fassett’s slaying.

But in a statement to police made public last week, Silvernail said she, Andros and Fassett were sexually involved. Silvernail also claimed that Andros pressured her into carrying out the killing because Andros feared Fassett would give authorities information that could hurt his deal with federal prosecutors.