UPDATE:
The Schuyler County Legislature has tabled its resolution suing the state over Governor Kathy Hochul’s executive order that banned fired striking Corrections Officers from seeking other public employment, after getting news that the state is backing down.
According to Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman, on Monday the legislature adjourned the action to its April 14 meeting, after the county received word from state officials that the relevant provisions of Hochul’s Executive Order 47.3 will expire on April 9 and will not be renewed.
“After the county’s proposed lawsuit was announced, the New York State Division of Homeland Security issued a letter March 22 to all counties,” Getman said. “That letter states the governor’s order prohibiting the hiring of correction officers whom she fired in connection with the strike is temporary,” Getman said. “The letter says these provisions of the order will expire on April 9 and the governor does not intend to renew these provisions.”
“That means any local government, including Schuyler County will be able to hire any terminated correction officer any time on or after April 10.”
If the order does expire, Getman explained, the county has received the bulk of the relief it wanted in the lawsuit and the case would be moot.
Sheriff Kevin Rumsey agreed with the decision to table, noting that if the order is extended, the county legislature can authorize the lawsuit on April 14.
“If the order is not rescinded, I will ask the legislature to move forward to protect our ability to staff our jail with experienced personnel and to stand against unconstitutional overreach,” said Rumsey.
Rumsey also expressed concerns with the governor’s plan to decertify the fired officers.
“If she decides to push the issue of having them all decertified, counties will have to spend the time and money to ‘re-train’ these DOCCS CO’s, which many of them have some considerable time on the job,” Rumsey said. “It would be a cost benefit to have them lateral rather than to have to send them through another academy.”
Rumsey, along with County Legislature Chair Carl Blowers, blasted Hochul’s “no hire” order affecting the corrections officers fired after a three-week strike, in a letter sent to her March 18.
“We write to express our strong opposition to your recent Executive Order, which unjustly prohibits Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) employees from being hired by other state, county, or local government workers…Leadership means standing up for workers, not abandoning them to serve political expediency.”
Blowers and Rumsey noted that the county is experiencing staffing shortages and sees this order as something that only worsens things for the county.
“It is unthinkable and outrageous that, in the same breath that you push for second chances through the Clean Slate Act, you are denying those who have devoted their careers to public service the chance to continue their work and support their families,” their letter states.
“We urge you to reconsider this ill-conceived, arbitrary, and capricious order and immediately reverse your decision.”
Schuyler County’s April 14 meeting will be held at 6:30 pm at the Schuyler County Courthouse, 105 Ninth Street, Watkins Glen, New York. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
There will be a special meeting of the Schuyler County Legislature following this morning’s Management and Finance Committee meetings.
The special meeting will deal with a proposed resolution that authorizes litigation regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s Executive Order banning the hiring of former employees of the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision recently fired after not returning to work following the Wildcat Strike. County Attorney Steven Getman told Finger Lakes Daily News last week that he was considering filing a lawsuit against the state over the Governor’s Executive Order.
A second resolution the Legislature will vote on this morning would authorize a contract with a CPA for auditing services will also be up for a vote.
The special Meeting of the Legislature will be held Monday, March 24, 2025 following the Management and Finance Committee meeting that starts at 10:00 a.m., in the Legislative Chambers, 105 Ninth Street, Watkins Glen.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here
