Three of the four charges were dropped last week as the disciplinary hearing against embattled Schoharie County Personnel Officer Cassie Ethington was adjourned until the end of next month.
The county's attorney dropped three of the four charges last Tuesday retaining the charge that Ms. Ethington allegedly withheld relevant material from the county's labor attorney. Ms. Ethington has denied this charge.
After a single night of the hearing last week, the hearing was adjourned until the week of August 25. It is slated to continue for four days that week in the County Court House from 6 to 9pm each evening.
Ms. Ethington was suspended with pay last year after a lengthy report found evidence of alleged harassment. Four charges were then levied against her. The hearing, which began early this month, is to determine whether she is "guilty" with the penalty being dismissal.
The prosecuting attorney, according to county board Chairman Tony VanGlad, retained the one charge because the one "we're keeping is the strongest."
The length of the time for the hearing was also a consideration, but not the main one, Mr. VanGlad added.
Former Blenheim Supervisor Bob Mann, County Attorney Mike West and a member of the personnel office were called as witnesses at the hearing last Tuesday. Mr. West is expected to be called to the witness stand when the hearing reconvenes next month.
The prosecuting attorney thus far has only dealt with the one charge about the alleged misinformation supplied to the labor attorney.
Mr. VanGlad has been surprised that the hearing has lasted so long.
"I didn't realize how in depth it would get. (But) we'll get through it."
Of the 16 supervisors, only eight remain on the "jury." Seven supervisors have been excused because they may be called as witnesses and another, Sean Jordan of Jefferson, was excused because he had a lawsuit against the county when he was let go after he worked in the planning department.