Washington County supervisors rescind DPW reappointment, reject executive-session motion on personnel
May 09, 2026 | Washington County, New York
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The Washington County Board of Supervisors at a special meeting on May 9 moved to rescind Resolution No. 84, which had reappointed the county Superintendent of Public Works, and rejected a motion to enter executive session to discuss personnel.
Supervisor Hall introduced Resolution No. 130 to rescind Resolution No. 84 and moved the measure. During discussion, Supervisor Herrick objected to the breadth and timing of the action, saying the board was 'premature' and arguing that 'the punishment doesn't fit the crime.' Herrick cautioned that rescinding the reappointment would 'technically create a vacancy' but noted that under the Public Officers Law the incumbent would remain in the post until the board took further action or the incumbent vacated.
Herrick urged restraint and said the rescission would give the board options it would not otherwise have; he also said the board did not necessarily have to post the job. Separately, Herrick moved to go into executive session "for the purpose of discussing medical, financial, credit, employment history of a particular person; matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person." Mr. Campbell seconded that motion.
The board voted on the executive-session motion and the chair announced the motion was defeated. During that vote, several supervisors were read aloud as indicating yes or no; the clerk later recorded numeric tallies that were spoken in the meeting record as '2,296 yes, 1,301 no, and 1,093 absent.' The meeting record then shows a call of the question on Resolution No. 130; the chair stated the resolution passed after the vote, but the transcript does not include a full roll-call tally for the rescission vote.
Chairman Robert Hankey read the special-meeting notice at the start of the session and the board completed its remaining brief comments before adjourning. No further procedural steps or timelines for implementation of the rescission were stated on the record.
The board adjourned following informal supervisor remarks.
Supervisor Hall introduced Resolution No. 130 to rescind Resolution No. 84 and moved the measure. During discussion, Supervisor Herrick objected to the breadth and timing of the action, saying the board was 'premature' and arguing that 'the punishment doesn't fit the crime.' Herrick cautioned that rescinding the reappointment would 'technically create a vacancy' but noted that under the Public Officers Law the incumbent would remain in the post until the board took further action or the incumbent vacated.
Herrick urged restraint and said the rescission would give the board options it would not otherwise have; he also said the board did not necessarily have to post the job. Separately, Herrick moved to go into executive session "for the purpose of discussing medical, financial, credit, employment history of a particular person; matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person." Mr. Campbell seconded that motion.
The board voted on the executive-session motion and the chair announced the motion was defeated. During that vote, several supervisors were read aloud as indicating yes or no; the clerk later recorded numeric tallies that were spoken in the meeting record as '2,296 yes, 1,301 no, and 1,093 absent.' The meeting record then shows a call of the question on Resolution No. 130; the chair stated the resolution passed after the vote, but the transcript does not include a full roll-call tally for the rescission vote.
Chairman Robert Hankey read the special-meeting notice at the start of the session and the board completed its remaining brief comments before adjourning. No further procedural steps or timelines for implementation of the rescission were stated on the record.
The board adjourned following informal supervisor remarks.
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