It appears that the Town of Wright's dismissal of assessor Steve Rubeor may end up in the courts.
Mr. Rubeor has retained an attorney and is claiming that the Town of Wright did not follow the correct procedure when it sought to dismiss him in December, according to Town of Schoharie officials.
Wright town board members voted to leave the assessing unit the town shared with the towns of Schoharie and Esperance but apparently did not follow the public officer's law, Schoharie Supervisor Gene Milone said.
Mr. Rubeor could not comment on the lawsuit but said his attorney was collecting information is hoping to negotiate with the town's attorney.
Wright Supervisor Bill Goblet was not available for comment.
Wright officials were upset last year after Mr. Rubeor increased the assessments on 361 properties, which covered about one-third of the town.
Wright, Mr. Milone said, apparently did not follow the correct procedures and needed a hearing before dismissing Mr. Rubeor.
Therefore, Mr. Milone feels, Mr. Rubeor still represents the Town of Wright as assessor.
"They have two assessors at this point and time," according to Mr. Milone.
Mr. Milone noted that Mr. Rubeor was appointed as assessor for the three towns through September 2013.
The Town of Schoharie is not paying for the attorney.
The attorney, according to Mr. Milone, is to be paid out of the expected "winnings" of the case.
"They're that confident he's going to win," Mr. Milone said.
It is not known how long it will take to settle the lawsuit.
"It could take a while," Mr. Milone added.
Wright officials, according to Mr. Milone, never officially notified the Town of Schoharie that they were out of the Coordinated Assessing Program.
Wright officials, he added, wrote a letter to Mr. Rubeor but not to the town.
After voting to get out of the CAP, Mr. Goblet wanted the assessing records for Wright from Mr. Rubeor's office in the Schoharie town hall, Mr. Milone said.
Mr. Milone said he informed Mr. Goblet that the records would not be released until some bills were paid.
Mr. Goblet "threw a hissy fit" and some words were exchanged, according to Mr. Milone. The records were released once the bills were paid.