For four evenings in July, the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors will sit in judgment on deposed personnel officer Cassandra Ethington.
A disciplinary hearing has been scheduled for July 8, 9, 10, and 11 starting at 6pm each night. The county Board of Supervisors Friday morning agreed to issue four charges against Ms. Ethington after an executive session. Supervisors will listen to witnesses and evidence to determine "whether there is cause to remove you from your position of personnel officer."
Supervisors, according to county attorney Mike West, can either dismiss the charges or determine that there is a finding.
Ms. Ethington was suspended with pay last year after a scathing 104-page investigative report was released on charges of discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
Four specific charges have been levied against Ms. Ethington. They are:
• From January 1, 2010, through February 22, 2011, did she exert "undue and/or inappropriate influence and/or unsuitable influence over the selection process for the position of lead cleaner and the ultimate appointment of William Hanson to the position?"
• In or about January 2011, did she dispose of and/or instruct staff to dispose of county health department records pertaining to public water systems, childhood lead paint investigations and hazardous waste sites. All records are to be retained according to state law.
• From August 1, 2011, through October 31, 2011, did she cause the position of an accounting supervisor in the county health department, then held by Kim Euler, to be abolished, without the authority to do so.
• On various occasions in 2012, did she withhold "relevant information and materials from County Labor Counsel Mary Roach, which information and materials were known to you, and which information and materials may have been necessary, relevant and important?"
Ms. Ethington has a right to have an attorney at the hearing, which is actually called a public hearing, according to Mr. West. All witnesses will be subject to cross examination.
He expects the hearing to be open to the public, though there could be a motion to have it closed.
"You think it would be open," he added.
Though four evenings have been set aside for the hearing, Mr. West said he does not expect it to last that long.
According to the list of charges, "The county shall have the burden of proof in such proceeding and shall have the burden of proof moving forward. The Board of Supervisors shall make the final determination as to whether there is cause for your removal."
Harold Vroman of Summit voted against issuing disciplinary against Ms. Ethington.