In testimony earlier this morning, Sylvester described his perspective of that meeting, saying he’d brought Gelfuso to see Barr because he, Sylvester, was concerned about the bribery allegations and wasn’t sure who to talk to. He recommended Gelfuso contact the state police, which Gelfuso ultimately did.

Sylvester also testified that some time after that session, Picerno invited him Picerno’s house. Sylvester said when he arrived, around noon, his was the only car in the driveway. He said when Picerno let him in much of the interior was covered in drop cloths because painting was going on. He said Picerno asked him if he had heard rumors of kickbacks and payoffs in town.

“My response was I didn’t know what you’re talking about,” Sylvester testified.

Sylvester said he then noticed a shadow on the floor and turned to see Stephen Balestra, the town official who was overseeing the Fairlawn project, in Picerno’s house. He said he became concerned about Balestra’s presence and left.

On cross examination, defense lawyer C. Leonard O’Brien pressed Sylvester on who he passed his concerns on to. Sylvester mentioned that he passed Oster in the hallway at Town Hall and told the administrator that Picerno “isn’t doing you any favors.“

“That’s all you said,” O’Brien said. Despite having talked to Gelfuso about the shakedown at Fairlawn, and his surprise encounter with Balestra at Picerno’s house, he didn’t mentioned those events.

“No, I did not,” Sylvester said.

But, O’Brien continued, after he mentioned his general discomfort with Picerno, Picerno’s presence in Town Hall decreased. He saw evidence that Oster “heeded your warning.”

"Picerno was no longer there,” Sylvester said.