MASH actor under fire in Crystal River

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CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (WFLA) Gary Burghoff, the actor who played Radar OReilly on the television series MASH, is under fire. Its not the North Koreans this time.

Fellow members of an RV association claim Burghoff and others were out of line when they spent twice as much as approved on generators for their resort. The generators will operate the sewage lift station in the Nature Coast Landing RV Resort, so that if there is a power outage, waste will not back up into peoples RVs.

Gary Burghoff

Some members of the resorts board of directors ended up buying much larger generators than those recommended by a generator committee, for twice the cost voted on at a board meeting in January.

So, who signed one of the checks? Gary Burghoff, who was vice president of the board at the time and was also serving as the boards acting president.

Folks who live in the Nature Coast Land RV resort asked 8 On Your Side to attend Octobers association meeting. When we arrived, association attorney Joseph Cianfrone, attempted to block our camera and grab our microphone.

I would ask you to leave, this is a private meeting, Cianfrone stated. When we met up with Burghoff at the October meeting, he was the acting president of the board.

Gary Burghoff as Radar in a M*A*S*H promotional photo. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons public domain

Do you want an interview? he asked as he approached our camera. First of all I want to know who invited you here?

8 On Your Side asked Burghoff why the association ended up paying twice as much for generators as the board approved. The motion was for about $10,000, it was not at all clear to all board members or owners whether that included installation or not, Burghoff stated.

Really?

We checked a video recording from the January board of directors meeting. It was explained that $9,597 would cover purchase and installation of 11KW and 14KW generators. And Burghoff should know that, because the tape shows he asked the question about the total cost.

Is $9,597 going to cover it? he asked.

Yes, said maintenance man Keith Pape. We never could get a clear answer on why he co-signed a check for $17,900 dollars for something that shouldve cost only $9,500.

People saw the video and it was pretty darn clear what was approved and it included all the costs for under $10,000, lot owner John Whitney stated.

There should have been a meeting called to get emergency approval to spend this money, and thats how it should have been handled, lot owner Boyd Simmons added.

In a letter, board attorney Joseph Cianfrone contends Burghoff did nothing improper. But on the day we were there, Cianfrone wasnt as interested in answering questions as he was in grabbing our camera and microphone and throwing us out of the association meeting.

Source: http://wfla.com/2015/11/12/actor-who-played-radar-on-tvs-mash-at-center-of-local-rv-resort-controversy/