GUILDERLAND Assessor dismissed by town sues to get job back, plus pay BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Former Assessor John Macejka Jr. is suing Guilderland for back pay and reinstatement to his job, claiming the Town Board fi red him without cause last winter. The lawsuit filed in the state Supreme Court in Albany County last month claims Macejka was never disciplined during his nearly fouryear tenure with the town and then was removed without notice in March. He was only allowed to retrieve his personal belongings from his office at Town Hall and then was escorted out by the Guilderland Police. About three weeks after Macejka was fired, his lawyer wrote a letter to members of the board questioning why his client was removed before his term expired in September 2013. Attorney Robert Beebe also indicated the board’s action to terminate Macejka stood in conflict with his “constitutional and statutory rights to due process of law.” “This action by the board was exacerbated by the embarrassing manner in which Mr. Macejka was summarily and publicly escorted out of Town Hall by Town Police on March 7,” he stated in the letter, which was included as an exhibit in the lawsuit. Town Supervisor Ken Runion declined to comment on pending litigation. Town Attorney Richard Sherwood did not respond to calls for comment. Beebe said state law sets a sixyear term for assessors that is not designed to be an “at will” appointment. In addition to demanding back pay and reinstatement, he said the lawsuit is also requesting monetary damages on the grounds that a government agency misused its authority in a manner that has harmed someone. “Basically, he was at his desk one day and the police came to escort him out of the building,” he said. “He’s essentially lost the last year of his six-year term.” Macejka, who also serves as Rotterdam’s part-time assessor, replaced the retiring Carol Wysomski when he was appointed by Guilderland in September 2008. He earned an annual salary of $53,300 and his term was due to expire in September 2013. In an affi davit filed with the lawsuit, Macejka said he fulfi lled his training and job obligations. He said media reports about his abrupt termination have damaged his ability to get a new job. “Since my termination as assessor ... I have made inquiries seeking alternative employment pertaining to real property tax administration only to learn that prospective employers are reluctant to consider me because of the news reports of my termination,” he stated. Wysomski was appointed to replace Macejka on a part-time basis after his termination and continues to serve on an acting basis. She said she’s heard no word about her replacement, but has no intention of completing the partial term she’s now serving. “As soon as they can find someone to replace me, that would be wonderful, she said Tuesday. Macejka’s appointment in Rotterdam continues until September 2013. He served as the town’s fulltime assessor until the Republicanled town board replaced him with Craig Surprise in 2008. Surprise left abruptly after his pay was halved by Town Supervisor Frank Del Gallo in 2010, and Macejka was hired to work about 17.5 hours per week, staggering his office hours before and after his time in Guilderland. ............................>>>>.....................>>>>..............................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01001&AppName=1
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July 18, 2012, 5:25am
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The arrogance of "public servants" never fails to appall me.......
In an affi davit filed with the lawsuit, Macejka said he fulfilled his training and job obligations. He said media reports about his abrupt termination have damaged his ability to get a new job.
this is just toooooo funny!!! Basically JM is saying that he has no other taxpaid municipality to go to!
How 'bout a private sector job?
As far as damaged.........didn't JM work for the state? And he wasn't the most well liked guy in rottendam....no?
those dems soak the taxpayers left and right with law suits!!! OMG!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I heard tonight that there may be some Rotterdam folks named in this lawsuit. My mechanic heard there are some current and former pols that may need to lawyer up. WOW!!!!!
I heard tonight that there may be some Rotterdam folks named in this lawsuit. My mechanic heard there are some current and former pols that may need to lawyer up. WOW!!!!!
Like that's gonna happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's nonsense has been spewed out for at least a decade in rotterdam!!!
Rottendam is a closed shop!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Okay.....clarification. The mechanic said pole as in Polish. I am pretty sure the mechanic is not a fly by night. His shop is in Guilderland and he knows a mailman who is related to a Guilderpol. There is another Guilderpol who has some connection to a Rotterdam gambler who is either married or engaged to a sister.
That's all it ever is in rottENdam! Threats, rumors and accusations with no substance!!!!
Just like this one!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Okay.....clarification. The mechanic said pole as in Polish. I am pretty sure the mechanic is not a fly by night. His shop is in Guilderland and he knows a mailman who is related to a Guilderpol. There is another Guilderpol who has some connection to a Rotterdam gambler who is either married or engaged to a sister.
Stay tuned.
so guilderland has polaks and rotterdam has ginzos....
as for the gambling....YEAH.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
If y'all haven't realized it yet, Ozzie is...how shall I say it politely...'screwing' with you. Either that or he/she simply didn't read the article. Bob Beebe is a real estate lawyer. The lawsuit is based on the premise that you can't just fire an assessor without cause. This has nothing to do with Rotterdam other than the fact that the town assessor is the one filing the suit.
that would seem like a stretch. Are we talking the former GOP officials or are we talking Bob God? I mention those only bc you seem to focus on them a bit here. I am sure that Buffonti is not responsible.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
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