HIGHLAND – Former Highland Town Supervisor Donald Jeff Haas and current Town Board member Tom Migliorino were involved in a physical altercation before a Yulan Volunteer Fire Department drill at the firehouse on January 25. 

Both men are volunteers in the fire service and Republicans and had to be separated by fellow firefighters. The former Town Supervisor noted there were roughly 20 other firefighters present at the meeting. He also confirmed that both men remain in the fire service.

As a result of the altercation, both parties have reportedly filed charges against one another. The counter charges filed by Migliorino names Haas and his son, president of the fire department. Haas told the Democrat that he did not know why his son was also named in the charges, and that he was “sucker-punched.”

When asked what discussions led up to the physical incident, he noted there were personal talks between him and Migliorino regarding “life choices” and “local [town] politics.” 

As for what sparked the escalation, the two men have both refuted the accusations of being the aggressor in the moments leading up to the incident. In an article published by Mid-Hudson News on February 3, Haas quoted Migliorino as being the aggressor, to which the Town Board member called “an absolute lie.”

“This was a strictly personal matter that should have been handled between two men and then left alone. I had no choice but to file counter charges against both Jeff Sr. and Jr. I will not elaborate on the details of the incident at this time,” Migliorino said. 

Migliorinio noted that “the incident had nothing to do with any of the valued volunteers besides D. Jeff Haas and should not reflect negatively on either of these organizations.”

Haas also told the Democrat that the altercation had nothing to do with the fire department and its internal politics, and that the incident only happened to take place there. 

“20 feet over and we would’ve been [off the property],” Haas said. 

Migliorino said in the statement that he is apologetic to the Yulan Fire Department and Highland Ambulance Squad for “allowing [the altercation] to happen on the premises.”

Further information regarding specifics of the charges both filed by and against him were withheld pending the potential progression of the charges in court.