CANTON — A state Supreme Court judge has ruled the town of Gouverneur must reinstate and give back pay to a former property assessor.

Dale L. Raymo was fired in July 2010 after hearing officer Frederick S. Morrill said Mr. Raymo’s poor public relations skills led to an inability to justify his work.

Mr. Raymo sued the town and a court-appointed referee reversed the decision and ruled that Mr. Raymo should be reinstated.

In a letter Tuesday to Gouverneur’s attorney, Henry J. Leader, Judge David R. Demarest said Mr. Raymo should be reinstated with back pay.

Mr. Leader said the town has legal avenues they can pursue against Mr. Raymo, but he doesn’t know if they will or not.

“What this means is they have to pay him,” Mr. Leader said.

He said he doesn’t know whether the town will allow Mr. Raymo back to work, but he must be paid until his term ends in October 2013.

Mr. Leader said he could not estimate how much back pay Mr. Raymo will be paid.

Mr. Raymo’s mother, Bonnie G., said that number could be as much as $40,000 but didn’t know specifics. When Mr. Raymo was suspended, the position was full time and the salary was $28,900.

Mr. Raymo’s attorney, Robert J. Slye, Watertown, said he doesn’t understand why Mr. Raymo isn’t back at work.

“Read the decision and follow what you should do,” Mr. Slye said.

He said he is hoping to see some action from town soon.

“There is no mystery to this,” he said. “The town has lost.”

Town Supervisor Robert Ritchie declined to comment.

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer