PITTSFORD, N.Y. — A legal battle has erupted at the prestigious Oak Hill Country Club, where current and former members of the board of governors are clashing over issues of governance and financial oversight. The dispute centers on the ousting of Eugene Baldino, a former board governor, and concerns raised about the club’s financial practices.
Last month, five current board members and one past member initiated legal proceedings in the state Supreme Court against other board members. They seek to have Baldino reinstated and to secure a court order for an in-depth review of the club’s finances, including an independent audit to evaluate the club’s financial health and specific transactions.
Baldino’s tenure as a board member lasted from April 2022 until June when his removal came by a narrow 8-7 vote. The plaintiffs argue that his dismissal was improper, suggesting that it was a retaliatory act linked to his inquiries into the club’s finances and operational management.
However, the defendants, in a robust rebuttal filed recently, denied these claims. They contend that Baldino’s removal was justified due to instances of his mistreatment of staff at the club, thus violating the board’s code of conduct.
Robert Sansone, who served as president of the club from October 2023 to October 2024, strongly criticized the lawsuit in a recent affidavit. He dismissed the claims as baseless and accused the plaintiffs of misrepresenting the situation to frame Baldino as a whistleblower facing retaliation from a non-transparent board. “These allegations are solely designed to paint an inaccurate narrative and distract from the legitimate grounds for Mr. Baldino’s removal,” Sansone stated.
Sansone also argued that during Baldino’s time on the board, he consistently approved meeting minutes and never raised any concerns about financial wrongdoing. Although Baldino was part of the club’s finance committee, Sansone claims that he never acted upon nor disclosed any financial improprieties.
Moreover, Sansone took issue with the portrayal of Baldino as surprised by the club’s expenditures. He argued that Baldino was fully aware and involved in the governing processes, challenging the narrative that Baldino was shocked by the club’s financial management.
Refuting the notion of Baldino being a whistleblower, Sansone concluded that Baldino’s dismissal stemmed from documented incidents where his behavior towards staff members contravened the club’s standards for conduct and its fundamental values.
The case reveals deeper issues within one of the region’s most famed country clubs, suggesting a potentially overarching concern regarding governance and ethical management in high-profile clubs. As the court proceedings advance, further details are expected to emerge about the operations at Oak Hill Country Club and whether any financial improprieties have occurred.
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