Melissa Reimer Photo: Joe Larese/ The Journal News

“Nearly five years after suspending Melissa Reimer, the Ramapo Town Board has fired the former financial officer whose cooperation with the FBI led to the conviction of former Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence on fraud charges.

Board members voted 3-0 Wednesday to accept the recommendations of a hearing officer who suggested firing Reimer, who this month won a seat on the Suffern Central Board of Education.

Reimer, who has a pending federal civil rights lawsuit against the town, took Ramapo to state Supreme Court in December demanding the town either fire her or put her back to work. [Read more…]

Melissa Reimer Photo: Joe Larese/ The Journal News

“Suspended Ramapo finance official Melissa Reimer’s latest legal action demands the town either fire her or put her back to work.

Reimer, 50, has been suspended since June 2013 after two disciplinary hearings in which a hearing officer ruled Town Board members should fire her for insubordination and other allegations as supervisor of fiscal services.

The Town Board has not acted and Reimer continues getting paid $170,000 annually, as her federal civil rights lawsuit against the town continues.

Reimer’s attorney, Fred Lichtmacher of Manhattan, contends Ramapo is required by civil service law to make a decision on the hearing officer’s determination. The law doesn’t set a time frame for the town to act.

“The town needs to either bring her back or cut her loose and face the consequences,” Lichtmacher said. “They are costing the taxpayers tons of money by paying her for not working. She wants to work.” [Read more…]

Attorney Fred Lichtmacher

On Friday, September 8, Melissa Reimer’s attorney sent a letter to the Ramapo Town Board demanding that his client be immediately allowed to return to Town Hall and to resume her responsibilities as the Supervisor of Finances. It has been 4 ½ years since she was ordered on administrative leave by an Administrative Law Judge, Jonas Gelb, who had been persuaded by a parade of witness who have themselves subsequently been indicted, convicted, and or sanctioned and fined by other legal administrators in courts operating at levels far above the hearing room at Ramapo Town Hall where Gelb arrived at his flawed decision. [Read more…]

Attorney Fred Lichtmacher Photo: Ricky Flores/lohud

“A federal judge who oversaw Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence’s corruption trial ruled Tuesday that a key witness’ civil lawsuit can go forward claiming Ramapo officials defamed and retaliated against her for cooperating with the FBI and prosecutors.

In a two-hour oral decision from the bench, U.S. District Court Judge Cathy Seibel found that Melissa Reimer’s contact with the FBI was protected speech under the Constitution’s First Amendment.

She also ruled a jury can hear defamation charges against St. Lawrence, Town Attorney Michael Klein and Deputy Town Attorney Beth Finkelstein, who oversaw Reimer’s town disciplinary cases leading to her suspension. [Read more…]