Belvey v. Tioga County Legislature

• Decision Date: 28 January 1999
• Citation: 684 N.Y.S.2d 341
• Parties: 1999 N.Y. Slip Op. 633 In the Matter of Richard J. BELVEY, Appellant, v. TIOGA COUNTY LEGISLATURE et al., Respondents.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Page 341

684 N.Y.S.2d 341

1999 N.Y. Slip Op. 633

In the Matter of Richard J. BELVEY, Appellant, v. TIOGA COUNTY LEGISLATURE et al., Respondents.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division,

Third Department.

Jan. 28, 1999.

Craig W. Brown, Binghamton, for appellant.

Hogan & Sarzynski (Edward J. Sarzynski of counsel), Binghamton, for respondents.

Before: MIKOLL, J.P., MERCURE, CREW III, YESAWICH Jr. and PETERS, JJ.

PETERS, J.

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court (Rose, J.), entered June 4, 1998 in Tioga County, which, inter alia, dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78, to review a determination abolishing petitioner's position with Tioga County.

Petitioner held his position as the Director of Data Processing in Tioga County until January 9, 1998 when it was abolished by respondent Tioga County Legislature (hereinafter the Legislature). Implementing recommendations made from as early as May 1997 by both a private consultant and the Governor's Task Force on Information Resource Management regarding future data processing needs for the County, the position of "Director, Division of Information Technology and Communication Services" was created.

By this proceeding, petitioner sought reinstatement to either his former position or the new position or appointment to a similar one within the civil service where a vacancy exists. He thereafter moved for disclosure pursuant to CPLR 408. Supreme Court denied petitioner's motion and dismissed the petition on the merits, prompting this appeal.

Petitioner challenges the abolition of his position for the purpose of economy or efficiency by characterizing it as a "subterfuge to avoid the statutory protection afforded to civil servants [by Civil Service Law § 75]" (Matter of Rosenthal v. Gilroy, 208 A.D.2d 748, 749, 617 N.Y.S.2d 509; see, Matter of Mucci v. City of Binghamton, 245 A.D.2d 678, 679, 664 N.Y.S.2d 396, lv. denied 92 N.Y.2d 802, 677 N.Y.S.2d 72, 699 N.E.2d 432). Our review reveals otherwise.

The record includes early reports undertaken both publicly and privately to study the data processing structure which included petitioner at its helm. Finding a needed expansion and further centralization of information by one with qualifications far greater than that previously required, the Legislature created the new position which requires a Master's degree in computer science and three years of experience or a Bachelor's degree and five years of experience. Further, the position was classified as noncompetitive, with a higher salary and more expansive responsibilities. In these circumstances, we find that respondents sustained their burden of showing that petitioner's position was abolished for economic or efficiency reasons. Moreover, undisputed record evidence indicates that respondent Leon U. Thomas, Chair of the Legislature's Information Technology Committee, made efforts to secure other employment for petitioner prior to the elimination of his position.

In the absence of allegations concerning procedural error, the burden shifted to petitioner to demonstrate a lack of good faith or that termination was based upon his job performance (see, Matter of Aldazabal v. Carey, 44...