Town Clerk arrested for allegedly attempting to "boost" her retirement benefits

Town Clerk arrested for allegedly attempting to "boost" her retirement benefits

Source: Office of the State Comptroller

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli reports that Springport Town Clerk Deborah Waldron has been arrested for allegedly trespassing on a town computer in an effort to boost her retirement benefits with the New York State and Local Retirement System.

The Comptroller's audits and investigations have led to over 130 arrests and more than $30 million in restitutions.

Comptroller DiNapoli’s investigations focusing on allegations of retirement fraud alone has led to 24 arrests and the recovery of nearly $3 million in retirement funds since 2011.

Fighting such corruption is among the Comptroller's top priorities and in 2011 he, together with New York State Attorney General Schneiderman, created the Operation Integrity task force. The work of this task force has led to the recovery of unlawfully diverted taxpayer dollars. Among those convicted as the results of these efforts are former State Sen. Shirley Huntley for activities involving "member fraud;" of former Member of the Assembly William Scarborough for campaign and travel fraud; and of six Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty executives involving a multi-million dollar embezzlement.

The Comptroller's press release concerning Waldron's arrest is posted on the Internet at:

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/may17/051917a.htm?utm_source=weekly+news&utm_medium=email&utm_term=corruption&utm_content=20170521&utm_campaign=fiscal+oversight

U. S. Supreme Court decision provides some clarification concerning the legal standard applicable to students with a disability receiving an appropriate public education

U. S. Supreme Court decision provides some clarification concerning the legal standard applicable to students with a disability receiving an appropriate public education

Source: New York Municipalities Blog, Harris Beach, PLLC

On March 22, 2017, in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling focusing on the appropriate legal standard when determining if  a student with a disability is receiving an appropriate free public education (FAPE) via the student's individualized education program (IEP).

The New York Municipalities Blog item is posted on the Internet at:

https://www.harrisbeach.com/new-york-municipalities-blog/fape-standard-ieps-clarification-attempted-supreme-court/

The Supreme Court's decision is posted on the Internet at:
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/16pdf/15-827_0pm1.pdf

An employee's failure to use the grievance procedure set out in the relevant collective bargaining agreement before commencing an Article 78 action may not be excused by the court

An employee's failure to use the grievance procedure set out in the relevant collective bargaining agreement before commencing an Article 78 action may not be excused by the court
Finkelstein v Board of Educ. of the City Sch. Dist. of the City of N.Y., 2017 NY Slip Op 03850, Appellate Division, First Department

Supreme Court annulled the New York City's Board of Education's [BOE] discontinuing Petitioner's probationary employment and ordered BOE to reinstate Petitioner to her former position "with full salary and benefits retroactive to September 30, 2014."

The Appellate Division unanimously vacated the Supreme Court's ruling, "on the law" with respect to Petitioner's reinstatement to her former position and payment of "full salary and benefits," but, citing Tucker  v Board of Educ., Community School Dist. No. 10, 82 NY2d 274, found that Petitioner was entitled to nine days' pay because she was given inadequate notice of her termination.

The court explained that Petitioner failed to avail herself of the grievance procedure set forth in her collective bargaining agreement before commencing the instant action seeking relief under CPLR Article 78 and thus Supreme Court "erred in relieving [Petitioner] of her obligation to exhaust her administrative remedies."*

In any event, said the court, a probationary employee may be terminated for "almost any reason, or for no reason at all," as long as it is not "in bad faith or for an improper or impermissible reason." Upon such termination "[T]he burden falls squarely on the petitioner to demonstrate, by competent proof, that a substantial issue of bad faith exists, or that the termination was for an improper or impermissible reason, and mere speculation, or bald, conclusory allegations are insufficient to shoulder this burden."

In this instance the Appellate Division found that the record indicated that Petitioner's dismissal was made in good faith and was based on substantiated findings after an independent investigation demonstrating that she neglected her duties and falsified records.

As to Petitioner's claim of the investigator's delay in publishing the written report concerning the matter, the court said that such delay "amounted to a mere technical violation of the collective bargaining agreement," as Petitioner had received timely notice of the allegations, as well as an opportunity to respond, prior to the issuance of the report. The Appellate Division then opined that Supreme Court's "conclusion of bad faith stemming from the lateness of the report was purely speculative."

* However, as the Appellate Division held in Amorosano-LePore v Grant, 56 AD3d 663, the employee's exhaustion of his or her administrative remedies is not required where his or her so doing would constitute an exercise in futility.

The decision is posted on the Internet at:

http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/2017/2017_03850.htm