The public hearing for ousted Schoharie County Personnel Director Cassie Ethington won't come for several months, if it happens at all.
And if the hearing does occur, the process leading up to it may cost the county an additional $200,000.
An independent attorney is reviewing the investigation into alleged misconduct in county workplaces and will determine whether a hearing is necessary, according to County Attorney Mike West.
The Board of Supervisors suspended Ms. Ethington last month, with pay, based on the investigation by Mark Fitzmaurice.
The newly-hired independent attorney will decide whether there are grounds for dismissing Ms. Ethington, Mr. West said Friday, without revealing the attorney's name.
If there are grounds, there will be a public hearing before a hearing officer, though the hearing wouldn't take place for six or seven months.
"If it goes that far, if it goes to the wall," the cost may be as high as $200,000--in addition to the $300,000 the county's already spent on the investigation, Mr. West said.
The extra $200,000, if it comes to that, would pay for the attorney's time, hearing officer, stenographer and possibly Ms. Ethington's attorney, if the hearing officer finds no cause for firing.
The process could stop much earlier, however, if the county's attorney finds no grounds for charges.
"It would stop right there," Mr. West said.
Although Ms. Ethington is on paid leave now, if charges are filed, she could be on administrative leave without pay, he said.
Another attorney was necessary because Mr. West and Mr. Fitzmaurice, along with county labor attorney Mary Roach, may be witnesses in the hearing.
"It will be non-politicized," he said. "None of us can be involved."
Mr. West gave the paperwork to the attorney Thursday and said the entire process may take six or seven months.
The Fitzmaurice report contended that Ms. Ethington undermined former health director Katie Strack and sought to manage the health department even before Ms. Strack resigned.