Town of Poughkeepsie officials need to explain in greater detail how a canine training building got erected on town property without proper building permits.

The lack of accountability here is startling. The state Attorney General's Office has been asked to look into the matter, and it should.

The intentions behind the project seem laudable enough: getting a canine facility constructed with donated resources so taxpayers wouldn't be burdened. Canine units have certainly shown their worth over the years, tracking suspects and searching for lost children.

In 2002, the town board approved the site's use as a canine training area. But Supervisor Patricia Myers points out no town board had approved the construction of the building, nor were the proper permits ever obtained. Joseph Davis, the supervisor in 2002, said at a press conference Tuesday he was aware a structure was to be built and assumed proper building permits had been sought and approved.

The former supervisor said he would take responsibility for the oversight.

Various police officials, including Chief Peter Wilkinson, have been mostly silent on this particular subject. Former K-9 Officer Michael Burger, who retired this year, was described as the "point man'' on the project. Burger said the town K-9 unit was joined by similar units from Dutchess County and beyond to solicit materials and labor for the building. He also said he did not have a full list of donors and said some wished to remain anonymous.

These answers aren't good enough; the police department should release any relevant information it has about how the structure was constructed and who took part in the building.

The state Comptroller's Office told the Poughkeepsie Journal Wednesday that under state law the town board is responsible for determining whether donations of resources should be accepted by the government. That clearly didn't occur here.

Wilkinson did say when he found out that the construction lacked the proper permits, he ordered all work to cease. The unfinished structure has sat unused for the past year. Its future use needs to be resolved as well.

Follow letter of the law

While the building in question is small and apparently wasn't built with taxpayer money, Myers asserts the failure to comply with town codes could have resulted in fines of more than $1.4 million if any other applicant had proceeded with the project without approvals.

"The law should apply to everyone," Myers said.

She's right.

Residents have to go through all sorts of obstacles just to do basic extensions or other improvements on their homes and property. Town officials should be exacting in following the codes.

The town also has to decide what to do with the building off DeGarmo Road. Police officials say the project has stalled, in part, because they can't afford to pay for architectural plans needed to get a permit. Police also are waiting to see whether town officials will decide to use the land as a park. That would force police to move the training facility to another site. Whatever occurs, the building needs to be put in compliance with the law. And more details about what transpired have to be released.

The explanations given so far simply won't suffice.