Raymo Appeals His Firing But Procedure Is Uncertain
GOUVERNEUR - Dale L. Raymo has appealed the Town Council's decision to fire him as assessor, but it is uncertain how the review of his case will play out.
Mr. Raymo's attorney, Robert J. Slye, has asked the state Office of Real Property Services to overturn the July 29 decision of the council. The town board terminated Mr. Raymo's services on the recommendation of Frederick S. Morrill who presided over a four-day hearing into Mr. Raymo's earlier suspension.
Last summer, the Town Council suspended Mr. Raymo as assessor and fired him as code enforcement officer after complaints from property owners unhappy with his treatment of them and his assessments.
Despite the decision, Mr. Slye maintains Mr. Raymo adequately performed his job and that the town did not follow its own policies.
"We intend to request oral argument," Mr. Slye said. "We're going to request it be public as well."
However, what agency will preside over the appeal is not clear.
As part of the state's cost-cutting measures, the Office of Real Property Services merged in June with the Department of Taxation and Finance. As part of the streamlining, the State Board of Real Property Services no longer hears disciplinary cases.
"It's not in our bailiwick," spokesman Geoffrey T. Gloak said. "The functions of the state board have changed. They've been reduced."
Gov. David A. Paterson's executive budget referred local disciplinary matters to the state Civil Service Commission but that section was removed before passage, spokesman David L. Ernst said.
"All I know is we won't be seeing it," he said.
The appeal might be referred to St. Lawrence County Civil Service Commissioner Christopher S. Boulio, but Mr. Raymo's hearing took place under Real Property law, not under regulations governing Civil Service.
"If Real Property's not going to help him, I think he's got to go to the courts," Mr. Boulio said.
Mr. Gloak said his department's legal division will be in touch with Gouverneur town attorney Henry J. Leader on what happens next while its regional staff will contact Mr. Slye.
"It does make a difference who hears it," Mr. Slye said. "We want somebody who knows a lot about real property assessment."
The town had held off advertising for a permanent assessor until 30 days had passed since the dismissal to give Mr. Raymo time to appeal. Barbara A. Finnie is the town's acting assessor
Supervisor Robert R. Ritchie referred questions about whether the town will continue to wait to hire an assessor until the appeal is over to Mr. Leader, who was unavailable for comment.
