Laws of 2018 of interest to public employers and public employees in New York State

Laws of 2018 of particular relevance to public employers and public employees in New York State

Perhaps 2018's must significant legislative action was the amendment of Section 209-a.2 of the Civil Service Law by §4 of Part RRR of Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2018. This amendment set out New York State's response to the United States Supreme Court's decision in Janus v American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31, et al, 138 SCt 2448.

In Janus the high court held that states and public-sector unions may no longer require "nonconsenting employees" in a collective bargaining unit to pay an "agency shop" fee in lieu of joining the certified or recognized employee organization representing employees in a negotiating unit for the purposes of collective bargaining.

§209-a.2 of the Civil Service Law now provides that it is not a violation of an employee organization's duty of fair representation if the employee organization limits its services to, and representation of, nonmembers by declining to provide representation to the nonmember in the relevant negotiating unit at any stage of a grievance, arbitration or other contractual process concerning the evaluation or discipline of a public employee where the non-member is permitted to [i] proceed without the employee organization and [ii] be represented by his or her own advocate; during questioning by the employer; or as an advocate to enforce statutory or regulatory rights alleged by the nonmember or in administrative or judicial proceedings where the nonmember is a party.

Other bills signed in to law by the Governor during 2018 include the following:

CHAPTER	Bill No.	Title
16	S7289	CROCI -- Relates to authorizing additional paid leave for certain employees
47	S7431	MURPHY -- Provides that each state agency that maintains a website shall ensure its website provides for online submission of requests for records subject to FOIL
49	A8929	Rozic -- Relates to requiring the president of the civil service commission to prepare a triennial report relating to programs within state agencies that allow for alternative work   schedules or flexible work hours
67	A9728	Lentol -- Relates to tuition waivers for police officer students of CUNY
71	S7440A	GOLDEN -- Relates to terms and conditions of employment of certain nonjudicial officers and employees of the unified court system
72	S7715	BONACIC -- Relates to the terms and conditions of certain nonjudiciary officers and employees in the unified court system
76	A10606	Abbate -- Relates to compensation, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment of certain state officers and employees;appropriation; repealer
207	A208E	Lupardo -- Provides for pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing of school bus drivers
214	A2954B	McDonald -- Authorizes educational institutions to agree to pay for all or a portion of the salaries and compensation payable to municipal school crossing guards
220	A7070A	Abbate -- Relates to residency requirements for members of municipal departments of sanitation
231	A8177	Skartados -- Relates to justices presiding in an off-hours arraignment part
233	A8382B	Galef -- Requires immediate notification by law enforcement of the filing of an accusatory instrument alleging a sex offense by an employee
248	A10327A	Gunther -- Relates to the cost of insurance to provide firefighters with an enhanced cancer disability benefit insurance program
262	A11128	Rules (Jones) -- Includes persons appointed as Indian police officers within the definition of the term "law enforcement agency" for the purposes of the law enforcement accreditation council
263	A11227	Rules (Abbate) -- Relates to implementing an agreement between the state and an employee organization; appropriation
271	S8973	GOLDEN -- Relates to disciplinary action against persons employed in the labor class
308	A3076	Cymbrowitz (MS) -- Relates to the qualifications of members of the gaming commission
330	A11020	Rules (Epstein) -- Relates to authorized absences by healthcare professionals who volunteer to fight the Ebola virus overseas; extends effectiveness
331	S2496B	HANNON -- Enacts the "living donor protection act of 2018"
355	S8805	RULES -- Relates to salary adjustments according to plan and step-ups or increments
356	S1124B	MARCHIONE -- Provides for an increase in the rates of compensation for gold star parents
368	A10615	Titus -- Relates to permitted deductions from wages; extends the effectiveness of such provisions
387	S8251	ROBACH -- Relates to warranties of fire vehicles and ambulances
403	A2549	Lifton (MS) -- Directs the president of the civil service commission to study and publish a report evaluating wage disparities among public employers

New York State Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Audits

New York StateComptroller DiNapoli Releases Audits

On December 14, 2018 New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli issued the following audits and examinations

Click on text highlighted in color to access the full report

State Education Department (SED): Volunteers of America – Greater New York Inc.: Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual (2017-S-32)
Auditors identified $1.6 million in reported costs that did not comply with requirements for state reimbursement, including $541,775 paid to 38 individuals who did not work in VOA-GNY’s SED preschool programs.


Department of Health (DOH): Medicaid Program: Improper Medicaid Payments for Childhood Vaccines (2017-S-41)

Auditors identified $32.7 million in improper Medicaid payments for costs related to administering Vaccines for Children program vaccines between Jan. 1, 2012 and May 31, 2017. Medicaid payments were made for free vaccines and payments of the fee to administer the vaccines were not always accurate.

Department of Health (DOH): Criminal History Background Checks of Unlicensed Health Care Employees (Follow-Up) (2018-F-13)
An initial audit concluded that DOH generally met its obligations for conducting background checks on unlicensed employees of Nursing Homes, Adult Care Facilities and Home Health Care providers. However, auditors identified 24 applicants whose determination letters were not completed timely and, as a result, the individuals could have been allowed to work for periods ranging from 2 months to as long as 28 months without final clearance. In a follow-up, auditors found DOH has made significant progress addressing the issues identified in the original audit.

Department of Labor (DOL): Examination of Unemployment Insurance Benefit Payments, January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017 (2018-UI-01)
Auditors identified 2,956 overpayments totaling nearly $1.1 million and 902 underpayments totaling more than $98,000.  Based on the overpayments identified, DOL assessed $1,852,169 in penalties to claimants who made false statements or representations to obtain benefits to which they were not entitled.  

New York Power Authority (NYPA): Selected Management and Operations Practices (Follow-Up) (2017-F-17)
A prior audit, issued on August 1, 2016, found that NYPA reported certain information to the public that was incomplete and could lead the public to draw incorrect conclusions about the ReCharge New York (RNY) program. NYPA reported job commitments and included businesses that were awarded a power allocation, but were in pending status because they did not sign a contract. In some cases, these businesses later declined the contracts. In June 2015, this resulted in an overstatement of job commitments reported by 29,795, or 7.7 percent. In a follow-up, auditors found that officials have made progress in addressing the issues identified in our initial report. Of the 12 prior audit recommendations, two were implemented, seven were partially implemented, and three were not implemented.

The employer's annual reviewing and approving requests for the assignment an agency vehicle to an employee does not create a past practice

The employer's annual reviewing and approving requests for the assignment an agency vehicle to an employee does not create a past practice

Spence v New York State Dept. of Transp., 2018 NY Slip Op 08594, Appellate Division, Third Department

Certain employees serving with Department of Transportation [DOT] were assigned state-owned vehicles for work and, in some instances, several employees seeking to use the vehicle for commuting as well as for work was authorized.

Wayne Spence, as President of the New York State Public Employees Federation [Petitioner] filed an improper practice charge with Public Employment Relations Board [PERB] alleging that DOT violated the Taylor Law when it unilaterally discontinued providing state-owned vehicles to some of the employees that had submitted a request seeking be assigned a DOT vehicle . After a hearing, an Administrative Law Judge found that DOT's action constituted a violation of the Taylor Law.

DOT appealed and PERB reversed the Administrative Law Judge's decision. PERB, concluding that because DOT retained the discretion to annually review whether employees should be assigned a state-owned vehicle, such employees could not have a reasonable expectation that they would always be provided one.

Petitioner next files an Article 78 petition with Supreme Court seeking a court order annulling PERB's determination. Ultimately the matter was transferred to the Appellate Division.

The Appellate Division found that:

1. The Taylor Law requires all public employers and employee organizations to negotiate in good faith to determine the terms and conditions of employment of employees in the negotiating unit.

2. Where PERB's determination is made after an administrative hearing, such determination must be supported by substantial evidence.

The court found that the record revealed that DOT's assignment of state-owned vehicles to DOT employees was governed by various criteria set out in a manual that had to be met in order for a state-owned vehicle to be assigned. In addition, the manual required the employee seeking to be assigned a state-owned vehicle to submit a "Form EM-30" and justify his or her need for the state-owned vehicle and its use annually.

PERB concluded that "a past practice of assigning state-owned vehicles with commuting privileges did not exist." In this regard, PERB found that the employees had to annually request such vehicle pursuant to a DOT policy and that DOT retained the discretion to approve or deny such request and, therefore, the employees could not reasonably expect to be assigned a vehicle.

The Appellate Division found that PERB's determination was supported by substantial evidence in the record and although the vehicle requests were routinely approved, that fact did not create a past practice nor divest DOT of its right to exercise its discretion in granting or denying the requests or the use of the vehicle for commuting to and from work.

Citing State of New York Dept. of Correctional Servs. v Kinsella, 220 AD2d 19, the court held that "because PERB's determination is supported by substantial evidence, it will not be disturbed notwithstanding the fact that the record contains evidence that would support a contrary result."

The decision is posted on the Internet at:

http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2018/2018_08594.htm

Applying the Vehicle and Traffic Law's qualified statutory privilege available to drivers of emergency vehicles involved in an accident

Applying the Vehicle and Traffic Law's qualified statutory privilege available to drivers of emergency vehicles involved in an accident

Chesney v City of Yonkers, 2018 NY Slip Op 08277, Appellate Division, Second Department

Edward Chesney was struck by a City of Yonkers police vehicle as he attempted to cross a street within a crosswalk against a traffic light in Yonkers and sustained personal injuries. Chesney sued the City to recover damages for the injuries he has suffered, advancing the theory injury-causing conduct of the driver of the police vehicle was governed by the "principles of ordinary negligence."

Yonkers moved for summary judgment dismissing the complaint, contending that the police officer's conduct in the operation of the vehicle was governed by the "reckless disregard standard of care" under the qualified statutory privilege for drivers of emergency vehicles engaged in emergency operations set our in Vehicle and Traffic Law §1104[e].

Supreme Court applied the reckless disregard standard of care, and granted the City's motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. Chesney appealed.

The Appellate Division explained that the reckless disregard standard of care set out in Vehicle and Traffic Law §1104(e)* "applies when a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle involved in an emergency operation engages in the specific conduct exempted from the rules of the road by §1104(b)" and "Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1104(b)(3) permits the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle involved in an emergency operation to "[e]xceed the maximum speed limits so long as he [or she] does not endanger life or property." Any other injury-causing conduct of such a driver, said the court, is governed by the principles of ordinary negligence, citing Kabir v County of Monroe, 16 NY3d 217.

The Appellate Division said that Yonkers, in support of its motion for summary judgment, had submitted evidence, including a surveillance video of the accident and deposition transcripts sufficient to show that, at the time of the accident, the police officer was operating an authorized emergency vehicle and involved in an emergency operation, and that he was operating the vehicle in excess of the maximum speed limit. In addition, said the court, Yonkers "demonstrated that, based upon the speed of the vehicle, the officer was unable to stop his vehicle in time to avoid a collision with the plaintiff."

As the "injury-causing conduct" was operation of the vehicle in excess of the speed limit, the Appellate Division said that Supreme Court properly applied the reckless disregard standard of care. The court noted that Yonkers had submitted evidence demonstrating, prima facie, that "the police officer's vehicle had a green light, that Chesney was in the crosswalk near the middle of the road attempting to cross the street against the light, and the officer attempted to brake in order to avoid contact." In contrast, the Appellate Division noted that Chesney failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to whether the officer acted with reckless disregard for the safety of others.

Accordingly, the Appellate Division sustained Supreme Court's granting of Yonkers' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. 

* (e) This provisions does not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from his or her duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor do these provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his or her reckless disregard for the safety of others.

The decision is posted on the Internet at:

http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2018/2018_08277.htm

Administrative Law Judge finds the testimony of the employer's witnesses more credible that the testimony of the accused employee

Administrative Law Judge finds the testimony of the employer's witnesses more credible that the testimony of the accused employee

Human Resources Admin. v. Brown, OATH Index No. 161/19

A case worker was charged with confronting a security officer at the facility where they worked, using profanity and physically restraining the security officer.

It was also alleged that when the security officer’s supervisor arrived on the scene and directed the officer to her post, the case worker continued to restrain the officer, pushed the supervisor, and directed profanity at the supervisor.

Following a two-day trial, OATH Administrative Law Judge Astrid B. Gloade found testimony of the security guard and her supervisor more credible than the case worker’s testimony concerning the event and she sustained the charges.

Judge Gloade recommended that the appointing authority impose a penalty of a thirty-day suspension without pay, with credit for time served during a pre-trial suspension by the employee.

Taylor Law amended to clarify an employee organization's duty of fair representation of non-members in a collective bargaining unit  

Section 209-a.2 of the Civil Service Law

In Janus v American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31, et al, 138 SCt 2448, the Supreme Court held that "States and public-sector unions may no longer extract agency fees from nonconsenting employees. The First Amendment is violated when money is taken from nonconsenting employees for a public-sector union; employees must choose to support the union before anything is taken from them. Accordingly, neither an agency fee nor any other form of payment to a public-sector union may be deducted from an employee, nor may any other attempt be made to collect such a payment, unless the employee affirmatively consents to pay."

In response to the Janus decision, §209-a.2 of the Civil Service Law was amended and now provides* that it is not a violation of an employee organization's duty of fair representation if the employee organization limits its services to and representation of non-members in accordance with this subdivision or declines to provide representation to a non-member in the relevant negotiating unit:

[1] during questioning by the employer;

[2] in statutory or administrative proceedings;

[3] to enforce statutory or regulatory rights; or

[4] at any stage of a grievance, arbitration or other contractual process concerning the evaluation or discipline of a public employee where the non-member is permitted to [i] proceed without the employee organization and [ii] be represented by his or her own advocate.

[5] the employee organization is not prohibited from providing legal, economic or job-related services or benefits beyond those provided in the relevant collective bargaining agreement with a public employer "only to its members."

In addition, §209-a.3 provides that in the event a charge  is filed alleging that the employee organization has breached its duty of fair representation in its processing of, or it failure to process, a claim, the public employer is to be made a party in the action.  

* §4 of Part RRR of Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2018

Other bills signed into law by the Governor:

1. Chapter 271 of the Laws of 2018 amended the §75 of the Civil Service Law to provide that certain  persons  holding  a  position in the Labor Class shall not be removed or otherwise subjected to any disciplinary penalty except  for incompetency or misconduct; and

2. Chapter 403 of the Laws of 2018 directs the President of the New York State Civil Service Commission to study and publish a report evaluating wage disparities among public employers.

A member of school board may be removed from his or her office after three successive unexcused absence from board meetings

A member of school board may be removed from his or her office after three successive unexcused absence from board meetings

Decision of the Commissioner of Education, Decision No. 17,544

Brian Butler appealed the decision of the Board of Education of the Massapequa Union Free School Districtto declare his position on the Board vacant and remove him as a board member to the Commissioner of Education. The Commissioner dismissed Butler's appeal.

The record before the Commissioner indicated that Board's president asked all board members to remain for a discussion following a board’s public and executive sessions to address Butler's alleged "public Facebook posts calling for the dismissal of the School District's Superintendent and his references to her as ‘Kim Jong Un,’” for the purpose of discussing "how we could all work together as a team, despite differences in policy, in a respectful and civil way, without name calling and personal attacks.”

The Commissioner's decision also included two footnotes reporting:

[1] The record indicates that the School District's recent efforts to reorganize the grade configuration of its schools resulted in considerable animus within the community and among individual board members and the superintendent and that a grade configuration matter came before the Commissioner in three separate appeals on which the Commissioner issued decisions, Appeal of Paglia, et al., 57 Ed Dept Rep, Decision No. 17,251; Appeal of Kaufmann, et al., 57 id., Decision No. 17250; and Appeal of Pulizzi, et al., 57 id., Decision No. 17,249.  The record also indicated that Butler made known on social media in profane and incendiary ways his personal feelings regarding the superintendent and others with whom he disagreed on policy matters; and

[2]  The School Board contended that Butler also failed to attend three consecutive meetings on April 4, April 12 and April 17, 2018 without a valid excuse and that Butler, in an affidavit, asserted that he missed the April 4, 2018 meeting because he was in California and advised the board president of that prior to the meeting.  However, in light of Butler's failure to attend five consecutive meetings without a valid excuse in May-June 2018, which alone is sufficient grounds for vacating Butler’s position pursuant to Education Law §2109, the Commissioner said that she did not need not consider whether the Board properly determined that Butler failed to present a valid excuse for missing the three consecutive meetings in April 2018.

The Board's president had sent a letter to Butleroffering him "an opportunity to attend a special meeting of the board on June 28, 2018 at which [Butler] would be asked to provide an explanation for his five most recent consecutive absences.  The letter further stated that if Butlerfailed to provide valid or reasonable excuses for his absences, the board would have “no choice” but to declare his seat vacant.

Butler responded that he would not attend the June 28 meeting because of “a prior business arrangement" but that he would attend a future meeting of board to explain the reason for his absences, "but only if the board president and trustee Baldinger did not attend.  

By letter dated June 29, 2018, the School District's district clerk notified Butler that the Board had declared his seat vacant because of his habitual absences and that, "effective immediately," he was no longer a board trustee.

In his appeal Butlercontended that "he provided [the Board] with a good and valid excuse for his failure to attend board meetings; i.e. fear for his personal safety" and that "the board president did not object to his absences."

In rebuttal, the Board argued that Butler"failed to provide a good and valid excuse to the other trustees for his absence from multiple consecutive board meetings" and thus "the decision to vacate [Butler's] seat on the board was a proper exercise of its authority that should not be disturbed."

Noting that Education Law §2109 provides, in pertinent part, that a board member who “refuses or neglects to attend three successive meetings of the board, of which he is duly notified, without rendering a good and valid excuse therefor to the other trustees vacates his office by refusal to serve,” the Commissioner observed that in an appeal to the Commissioner, a petitioner has the burden of demonstrating a clear legal right to the relief requested and the burden of establishing the facts upon which petitioner seeks relief.

The Commissioner, noting that a board of education makes [1] the determination as to whether a trustee has rendered a valid excuse for missing board meetings and [2] that the excuse tendered is satisfactory to the board, explained the for the Commissioner to overturn the board’s determination, the petitioner must demonstrate that the board was arbitrary and capricious or otherwise abused its discretion in determining that the petitioner had vacated his or her seat.

It is undisputed that Butlerrefused or neglected to attend more than three successive board meetings, and that he was duly notified of such meetings.  It was therefore incumbent on Butler to demonstrate that he provided the other trustees a good and valid excuse for his frequent absences from board meetings.  The Commissioner said that on the record before her, Butlerfailed to meet that burden.

On this record, said the Commissioner, Butler failed to meet his burden of proving that he had a valid excuse for failing to attend the five consecutive board meetings between May 21 and June 21, 2018, nor has Butler demonstrated that the Board's rejection of his proffered excuse - his purported fear of physical harm arising out of a single remark by a fellow trustee made in a heated discussion on March 15, 2018 - was arbitrary and capricious or an abuse of discretion.

Accordingly, ruled the Commissioner, "... based on the record before me, I cannot conclude that [the Board's] decision to declare [Butler's] position on the board vacant pursuant to Education Law §2109 and to remove him as a board member was arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of its discretion."

The decision is posted on the Internet at:

http://www.counsel.nysed.gov/Decisions/volume58/d17544

Employee alleges unlawful retaliation after reporting the unauthorized use of a State computer database by another employee

Employee alleges unlawful retaliation after reporting the unauthorized use of a State computer database by another employee

Gorman v Rensselaer County et al, USCA Second Circuit, No.17-1120-cv

John Gorman alleged that the Rensselaer County defendants in this Civil Rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983 retaliated against him in violation of his First Amendment rights as the result of his filing a report that a fellow employee in the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department had misused the New York State's Division of Criminal Justice Services' [DCJS] "eJusticeNY" program.*

DCJS' eJusticeNY computer program is a digital repository of criminal justice information, including information concerning individuals outside New York State, and is used by law enforcement agencies throughout New York.

The auditor of the eJusticeNY program had been advised that the program had been used by a Rensselaer County correction officer to run an unauthorized background check for allegedly personal reasons. The matter was ultimately referred to the District Attorney.

The correction officer reported by Gorman to have accessed the eJusticeNY for personal reasons was suspended from work, charged with misuse of the eJusticeNY program and subsequently pleaded guilty to “misuse of a computer,” a misdemeanor.

In adjudicating Gorman's civil rights complaint, the Circuit Court found it necessary to address a number of collateral issues, including the following:

1. Protected speech

Under the First Amendment, a public employee who speaks as a citizen on a matter of public concern is protected from the employer’s retaliation. Singer v. Ferro, 711 F.3d 334, 339 (2d Cir. 2013). Whether an employee’s speech constitutes a matter of public concern is a question of law. Id. “Only if the court concludes that the employee did speak in this manner does it move on to the so-called Pickering balancing, at which stage ‘a court . . . balances the interests of the employer in providing effective and efficient public services against the employee’s First Amendment right to free expression.’” Id. (quoting Lewis v. Cowen, 165 F.3d 154, 162 (2d Cir. 1999)).

“To constitute speech on a matter of public concern, an employee’s expression must ‘be fairly considered as relating to any matter of political, social, or other concern to the community.’” Jackler v. Byrne, 658 F.3d 225, 236 (2d Cir. 2011) (quoting Connick v. Myers, 461 U.S. 138, 146 (1983)).

But speech that “primarily concerns an issue that is personal in nature and generally related to the speaker’s own situation, such as his or her assignments, promotion, or salary, does not address matters of public concern.” Id. (internal quotation marks and alteration omitted). “Whether an employee’s speech addresses a matter of public concern must be determined by the content, form, and context of a given statement, as revealed by the whole record.” Connick, 461 U.S. at 147–48.

Relevant considerations include “whether the speech was calculated to redress personal grievances or whether it had a broader public purpose.” Lewis, 165 F.3d at 163–64.

[See, also, https://publicpersonnellaw.blogspot.com/2015/09/a-public-employees-first-amendment_23.html]

2. Qualified immunity

“Qualified immunity protects public officials from liability for civil damages when one of two conditions is satisfied: (a) the defendant’s action did not violate clearly established law, or (b) it was objectively reasonable for the defendant to believe that his action did not violate such law.” Russo v. City of Bridgeport, 479 F.3d 196, 211 (2d Cir. 2007) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Clearly established law “do[es] not require a case directly on point, but existing precedent must have placed the statutory or constitutional question beyond debate.” Walker v. Schult, 717 F.3d 119, 125–26 (2d Cir. 2013) (quoting Ashcroft v. Kidd, 563 U.S. 731, 741 (2011)). “Although we generally look to Supreme Court and Second Circuit precedent existing at the time of the alleged violation to determine whether the conduct violated a clearly established right, the absence of a decision by this Court or the Supreme Court directly addressing the right at issue will not preclude a finding that the law was clearly established so long as preexisting law clearly foreshadows a particular ruling on the issue.” Garcia v. Does, 779 F.3d 84, 92 (2d Cir. 2015) (internal quotation marks and alteration omitted).

[See, also, https://publicpersonnellaw.blogspot.com/search?q=qualified+immunity]

3. Official misconduct

“Exposure of official misconduct, especially within the police department, is generally of great consequence to the public.” Jackler, 658 F.3d at 236 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). In Jackler, the plaintiff was a probationary police officer who corroborated a civilian complaint of excessive force, and resisted pressure to conceal the misconduct. Id. at 230–31.

Observing that the Fourth Amendment prohibits the use of excessive force by police, and that the misconduct at issue implicated “public safety and welfare” and the “preservation of the public fisc,” we held that “police malfeasance consisting of the use of excessive force is plainly a matter of public concern.” Id. at 236-37.

At the same time, “[n]o authority supports [the] argument that reporting an alleged crime always implicates matters of public concern.” Nagle, 663 F.3d at 107. In Nagle, the plaintiff was a special education teacher who informed several individuals that her signature had been forged on an official report. Id. at 103. The forgery was not a matter of public concern because, “even if such conduct were criminal, [it] had no practical significance to the general public.” Id. at 107. Furthermore, the forgery did not reveal “an ongoing pattern of conduct or even a particularly important instance of bad judgment” that might implicate public concern. Id. at 108.

[See, also, https://publicpersonnellaw.blogspot.com/2010/08/official-misconduct.html]

* The Division of Criminal Justice Services has a variety of responsibilities, including law enforcement training; collection and analysis of statewide crime data; maintenance of criminal history information and fingerprint files; administrative oversight of the state's DNA databank in partnership with the New York State Police; funding and oversight of probation and community correction programs; administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; support of criminal justice-related agencies across the state; and the administration of New York State's Sex Offender Registry.

The Gorman decision containing these observations is posted on the Internet at:

http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/eaf88018-16bb-4f49-92b0-a7f103978792/2/doc/17-1120_complete_opn.pdf#xml=http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/eaf88018-16bb-4f49-92b0-a7f103978792/2/hilite/

Administrative Law Judge finds the testimony of the employer's witnesses more credible that the testimony of the accused employee

Administrative Law Judge finds the testimony of the employer's witnesses more credible that the testimony of the accused employee

Human Resources Admin. v. Brown, OATH Index No. 161/19

A case worker was charged with confronting a security officer at the facility where they worked, using profanity and physically restraining the security officer.

It was also alleged that when the security officer’s supervisor arrived on the scene and directed the officer to her post, the case worker continued to restrain the officer, pushed the supervisor, and directed profanity at the supervisor.

Following a two-day trial, OATH Administrative Law Judge Astrid B. Gloade found testimony of the security guard and her supervisor more credible than the case worker’s testimony concerning the event and she sustained the charges.

Judge Gloade recommended that the appointing authority impose a penalty of a thirty-day suspension without pay, with credit for time served during a pre-trial suspension by the employee.

A member of school board may be removed from his or her office after three successive unexcused absence from board meetings

A member of school board may be removed from his or her office after three successive unexcused absence from board meetings

Decision of the Commissioner of Education, Decision No. 17,544

Brian Butler appealed the decision of the Board of Education of the Massapequa Union Free School District to declare his position on the Board vacant and remove him as a board member to the Commissioner of Education. The Commissioner dismissed Butler's appeal.

The record before the Commissioner indicated that Board's president asked all board members to remain for a discussion following a board’s public and executive sessions to address Butler's alleged "public Facebook posts calling for the dismissal of the School District's Superintendent and his references to her as ‘Kim Jong Un,’” for the purpose of discussing "how we could all work together as a team, despite differences in policy, in a respectful and civil way, without name calling and personal attacks.”

The Commissioner's decision also included two footnotes reporting:

[1] The record indicates that the School District's recent efforts to reorganize the grade configuration of its schools resulted in considerable animus within the community and among individual board members and the superintendent and that a grade configuration matter came before the Commissioner in three separate appeals on which the Commissioner issued decisions, Appeal of Paglia, et al., 57 Ed Dept Rep, Decision No. 17,251; Appeal of Kaufmann, et al., 57 id., Decision No. 17250; and Appeal of Pulizzi, et al., 57 id., Decision No. 17,249.  The record also indicated that Butler made known on social media in profane and incendiary ways his personal feelings regarding the superintendent and others with whom he disagreed on policy matters; and

[2]  The School Board contended that Butler also failed to attend three consecutive meetings on April 4, April 12 and April 17, 2018 without a valid excuse and that Butler, in an affidavit, asserted that he missed the April 4, 2018 meeting because he was in California and advised the board president of that prior to the meeting.  However, in light of Butler's failure to attend five consecutive meetings without a valid excuse in May-June 2018, which alone is sufficient grounds for vacating Butler’s position pursuant to Education Law §2109, the Commissioner said that she did not need not consider whether the Board properly determined that Butler failed to present a valid excuse for missing the three consecutive meetings in April 2018.

The Board's president had sent a letter to Butler offering him "an opportunity to attend a special meeting of the board on June 28, 2018 at which [ButA member of school board may be removed from his or her office after three successive unexcused absence from board meetingsler] would be asked to provide an explanation for his five most recent consecutive absences.  The letter further stated that if Butler failed to provide valid or reasonable excuses for his absences, the board would have “no choice” but to declare his seat vacant.

Butler responded that he would not attend the June 28 meeting because of “a prior business arrangement" but that he would attend a future meeting of board to explain the reason for his absences, "but only if the board president and trustee Baldinger did not attend.  

By letter dated June 29, 2018, the School District's district clerk notified Butler that the Board had declared his seat vacant because of his habitual absences and that, "effective immediately," he was no longer a board trustee.

In his appeal Butler contended that "he provided [the Board] with a good and valid excuse for his failure to attend board meetings; i.e. fear for his personal safety" and that "the board president did not object to his absences."

In rebuttal, the Board argued that Butler "failed to provide a good and valid excuse to the other trustees for his absence from multiple consecutive board meetings" and thus "the decision to vacate [Butler's] seat on the board was a proper exercise of its authority that should not be disturbed."

Noting that Education Law §2109 provides, in pertinent part, that a board member who “refuses or neglects to attend three successive meetings of the board, of which he is duly notified, without rendering a good and valid excuse therefor to the other trustees vacates his office by refusal to serve,” the Commissioner observed that in an appeal to the Commissioner, a petitioner has the burden of demonstrating a clear legal right to the relief requested and the burden of establishing the facts upon which petitioner seeks relief.

The Commissioner, noting that a board of education makes [1] the determination as to whether a trustee has rendered a valid excuse for missing board meetings and [2] that the excuse tendered is satisfactory to the board, explained the for the Commissioner to overturn the board’s determination, the petitioner must demonstrate that the board was arbitrary and capricious or otherwise abused its discretion in determining that the petitioner had vacated his or her seat.

It is undisputed that Butler refused or neglected to attend more than three successive board meetings, and that he was duly notified of such meetings.  It was therefore incumbent on Butler to demonstrate that he provided the other trustees a good and valid excuse for his frequent absences from board meetings.  The Commissioner said that on the record before her, Butler failed to meet that burden.

On this record, said the Commissioner, Butler failed to meet his burden of proving that he had a valid excuse for failing to attend the five consecutive board meetings between May 21 and June 21, 2018, nor has Butler demonstrated that the Board's rejection of his proffered excuse - his purported fear of physical harm arising out of a single remark by a fellow trustee made in a heated discussion on March 15, 2018 - was arbitrary and capricious or an abuse of discretion.

Accordingly, ruled the Commissioner, "... based on the record before me, I cannot conclude that [the Board's] decision to declare [Butler's] position on the board vacant pursuant to Education Law §2109 and to remove him as a board member was arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of its discretion."

The decision is posted on the Internet at:

http://www.counsel.nysed.gov/Decisions/volume58/d17544

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo recognizes law enforcement personnel for awards

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo recognizes law enforcement personnel for awards

Source: Office of the Governor

 

On December 6, 2018, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that eight officers from the Port Authority Police Department were honored with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' Lifesaving Award for their actions after a bomb was detonated in a subway corridor in midtown Manhattanon December 11, 2017. Lt. Miriam Rubio, Sgt. Hector Martinez, Sgt. Victor Talamini, Officer Jack Collins, Officer Anthony Manfredini, Officer Drew Preston, Officer Sean Gallagher, andOfficer Anthony Estevez each were presented with the award during a ceremony this afternoon in Manhattan.

 

"Amid chaos and panic, these eight officers fearlessly entered the blast area to help injured commuters and secure the suspect, bravely risking their own safety to protect the public" Governor Cuomo said. "It is an honor to recognize these officers for their heroic service that epitomizes the work of New York's first responders."

 

The eight officers received the award from Michael C. Green, Executive Deputy Commissioner of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, during a ceremony at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. Port Authority Police Department Chief of Operations Emilio Gonzalez also spoke at the ceremony.

 

The bombing occurred on the morning of Dec. 11, 2017, in the underground east-west corridor that links the West 42nd Street8th Avenue and 7th Avenue subway stations. An individual detonated a bomb that was strapped to his body, causing panicked commuters to flee the vicinity. Officer Manfredini, who was on patrol in the area, reported the incident, and then entered the smoke and debris-filled corridor along with Lt. Rubio, Sgt. Martinez, Sgt. Talamini, Officer Collins, Officer Gallagher, Officer Preston, and Officer Estevez.

 

Upon arriving at the scene, the officers saw evidence of the explosion. The suspect, injured and bleeding, was lying on the corridor floor, surrounded by debris and with wires protruding from the area of his chest and waist. The officers retreated, but then took immediate action to prevent a possible second blast. They re-entered the corridor and approached the suspect with their firearms drawn. When the suspect tried to reach for a cellphone, the officers — knowing based on their training and experience the phone could be a detonator for another explosive device — moved the cellphone out of his reach, handcuffed the would-be suicide bomber and secured the scene for New York City Police Department Bomb Squad personnel, who were on their way to the scene. The suspect has since been convicted of federal terrorism charges and faces life in prison.

 

The Lifesaving Award was created in 2016 by New York State's Police Officer of the Year Award Selection Committee in response to the many nominations it receives involving police officers who performed heroic acts during life-threatening emergencies.

 

Commissioner Green, who chairs the Police Officer of the Year Award Selection Committee, said, "What started as a regular morning for commuters in New York City quickly turned into panic and chaos. These officers no doubt saved countless lives and prevented further injury thanks to their quick-thinking and selfless acts of bravery. Their actions during this attack epitomize what this award is all about."

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said, "Ensuring the safety and security of the traveling public is our top priority. These eight brave officers acted in the self-sacrificing tradition of the Port Authority Police Department, which lost 37 officers on September 11th. Vigilance and quick action are hallmarks of the agency's police officers, and today's recognition by the Governor and the state Division of Criminal Justice Services is a well-deserved tribute to the selfless actions of these officers."

 

Port Authority Police Superintendent Edward Cetnar said, "These eight officers' swift actions demonstrated extraordinary bravery that resulted in no serious injuries and allowed the Port Authority Bus Terminal to be secured without further incident. They exemplify the finest traditions of pride, service and distinction that define the Port Authority Police Department and they've humbly accepted all the recognition they've received for their distinguished service."

 

In addition to recognizing these eight officers, DCJS posthumously honored Trooper Joel R. Davis of the New York State Police with the 2017 Lifesaving Award for his role in responding to a violent domestic dispute in Jefferson Countyon July 9, 2017. When Trooper Davis arrived at the scene in the town of Theresa, he engaged a gunman as a woman and two children sought refuge in a nearby shed. During the incident, Trooper Davis was fatally shot. Trooper Davis' children accepted the award in their father's memory during a ceremony in October at the State Police's Watertownstation, where troopers also unveiled a marker in his memory. More information on Trooper Davis' heroic efforts, which Governor Cuomo recognized in October, can be found here.

 

The Governor also announced the recipients of the 2017 Police Officer of the Year Award  This award recognizes a single police officer or team of officers for an exceptional act of valor. The 2017 Recipients are Yonkers Police Department Captain Andrew Lane, Detective Kayla Maher, Detective Dawn Lebzelter, Officer Brendan Moore, Officer Thomas Bennett and Officer Vincent Redat  who apprehended a gunman who had shot a detective in the face on September 25, 2017. The Police Officer of the Year Award has been presented since 1984.

. 

State Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Audits

State Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Audits

Source: Office of the State Comptroller

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli issued the following audits and examinations December 5, 2018

Click on text highlighted in color to access the full report

Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC): Oversight of the Pesticide Reporting Law (2017-S-57)
Tests of samples of pesticide application and sales data entries found that they were reasonably accurate based on the certified applicators’ and sellers’ self-reported data. However, there are some inaccuracies in the database.

Gaming Commission: Equine Health and Safety (2017-S-77)
The commission’s director has implemented new measures to improve its practices to promote equine health and safety in New York state. However, auditors found the commission could better document daily operating policies and procedures; improve how incident information is recorded in the Equine Breakdown, Death, Injury and Incident Database; and ensure adherence to drug testing requirements.

Higher Education Services Corporation: Oversight of the STEM Incentive Program (2017-S-75)
Auditors found HESC did not always ensure that applicants met Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program eligibility requirements. Auditors tested a random sample of 271 award recipients at the three universities that received the most program payments (SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Buffalo, and SUNY Stony Brook) and found that HESC made $81,198 in payments on behalf of 20 recipients who did not meet the program requirements.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services: Awarding and Oversight of Statewide Interoperable Communications Grants (Follow-Up) (2018-F-27)
An initial audit issued in July 2017 examined whether the division awarded contracts to entities that met eligibility requirements and provided adequate oversight of Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant (SICG) awards to ensure grant funds were allocated and spent for intended purposes. Auditors concluded that the division awarded SICG funding to qualified recipients in accordance with its requirements. However, auditors identified process deficiencies in the areas of monitoring and documentation that could increase the risk of inappropriate use of funds. In a follow-up, auditors found the division has significantly addressed the issues identified in the original audit. Of the three prior recommendations, all three were implemented.

Homes and Community Renewal, Housing Finance Agency (HFA): The 80/20 Housing Program (Follow-Up) (2018-F-18)
An initial audit report issued in May 2017, concluded that, based on the rents charged for our four sampled developments, the proper number of affordable units were made available to low-income tenants. A review of the files for a sample of 43 low-income tenants found that the developments used "reasonable judgment" in determining eligibility. However, some problems were found. In a follow-up, auditors found HFA has made some progress in addressing the issues identified in the prior report. Of the three recommendations, one was implemented and two were not implemented.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority: Long Island Rail Road (LIRR): Maintenance, Inspection, and Testing of the Event Recorder System (2017-S-8)
Auditors determined that the LIRR has a maintenance and inspection program for its Event Recorder System; however, it was not always in compliance with the program. For example, from Jan. 1, 2014 to Feb. 27, 2017, there were five months when the non-functioning ERS exceeded the 10 percent “effective maintenance standard” established by the Federal Railroad Administration.

Queens County District Attorney’s Office: Oversight of Persons Convicted of Driving While Intoxicated (2018-F-9)
An initial report issued in July 29, 2016 found that while 9,604 offenders overseen by the office received court orders to install an ignition interlock device (IID), only 1,952 (20 percent) did. Auditors also found material non-compliance with the office’s protocols to minimize the risk that offenders would drive vehicles without IIDs. In a follow-up, auditors found the office has made significant progress in addressing the issues identified in our initial report.

State Education Department (SED): Bank Street College of Education: Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual (2017-S-5)
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014, auditors identified $585,047 in ineligible costs that Bank Street reported for state reimbursement. These ineligible costs included $338,175 in personal service costs, $246,707 in administrative overhead costs, and $165 in other than personal service costs.

State Education Department (SED): Security Over Critical Information Systems (Follow-Up) (2018-F-17)
An initial audit report issued in July 2017, found that although SED had taken a number of steps to secure its critical information systems and associated data, there was still a risk that unauthorized persons could access these systems. In a follow-up, auditors found SED officials have not made significant progress in correcting the problems identified in the initial report. Of the two recommendations, one has been partially implemented and one has not been implemented.

State Education Department (SED): NYSARC Inc. – NYC Chapter: Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual (2017-S-47)
For the three fiscal years ended June 30, 2015, auditors identified $1,311,070 in reported costs that did not comply with requirements for state reimbursement and recommended such costs be disallowed. These ineligible costs included $791,114 in personal service costs and $519,956 in other than personal service costs.