MALONE — A candidate for highway superintendent was suspended Wednesday for reportedly testing positive for marijuana use following a 2008 snowplow accident.
Thomas J. Shanty, 52, of 74 County Road 28, who is the town’s deputy highway superintendent, was charged with misconduct and has been suspended for up to 30 days.
HEARING SET
A New York State Civil Service Law hearing is set for at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at the Town Offices at Malone Dufort Airport.
Hearing Officer Louis J. Patack will review the charge and make a recommendation to the Town Council on Shanty’s guilt or innocence.
He could recommend a penalty, which may include firing.
According to a statement of charges obtained by the Press-Republican through a Freedom of Information request, Shanty is accused of misconduct.
“You tested positive for marijuana during mandatory post-accident urinalysis testing,” the charges state.
The crash occurred on Dec. 8, 2008, near Bull Run Road.
‘POLITICS’ CLAIMED
Shanty, a Republican and also a member of the Deer Party, is running against Democrat Ronnie Benware for highway superintendent in the Nov. 3 election.
Three of the four council members are Democrats, as is Town Supervisor Howard Maneely, but one councilor says party affiliation played no role in the town’s action.
“I knew people would make that speculation, but we can’t talk about anything until after the hearing,” said Town Council member Jack Sullivan.
He referred all other questions to Maneely.
Shant sees it differently.
“The only thing I’m going to say is that this is politics at its best. There’s been friction between me and Howard Maneely for two or three years, and he doesn’t want me running for highway superintendent, so he’s doing all he can to see that I don’t get in.”
Maneely said, “that’s his story, but I can’t really comment on anything because of the Section 75 hearing.”
MISCONDUCT CHARGE
Shanty was served with paperwork Thursday morning, but he said that alleged pot use was not the reason he was given for the suspension.
“That’s not true. They said it was misconduct. But I can’t say a lot about because of the hearing, when it will all come out.”
He admitted there had been an accident, but declined to comment when asked if he had used marijuana that morning. Shanty’s labor union is providing legal representation for him.
When asked why he thinks it took almost a year for the snow-plow accident to become public knowledge, Shanty said, “because it’s election time. This is bad politics at its worst.”
But Sullivan said “not everyone knew” a crash had taken place until now, when it came to the board’s attention.
Maneely said “we didn’t know” there had been an accident but said he could not say how the Town Council did learn of it.
He referred all other questions to Town Attorney Lillian Anderson-Duffy, adding that another attorney from Albany was hired for the town’s legal team. Anderson-Duffy was not available for comment.
STILL RUNNING
Shanty said the misconduct charge and suspension will not make him withdraw his candidacy.
“I don’t think this will have any effect at all. I’ve worked for the town for 31 years, I have the experience to be highway superintendent, and the people who will vote for me know that.”
Shanty, who worked as a heavy-equipment operator, has a salary of about $35,000.
According to a State Police accident report for Dec. 8, 2008, Shanty was driving a 1998 town-owned snowplow north on Franklin County Road 25 (Duane Road) and had stopped near the intersection with Bull Run Road.
A 1996 Jeep operated by Cody Lader, 20, of River Road, Norwood was also traveling north and saw the plow stopped in the road.
But when he tried to apply his brakes, the Jeep slid on the snow pavement and hit the rear of the plow.
Neither of the men was hurt, and the police report did not mention vehicle damage.
Lader was ticketed for failure to reduce speed for hazardous conditions.
‘PROBABLY CAUSE’
A late resolution was presented at the end of Wednesday’s regular Town Council meeting under a motion of Councilman Sullivan, which states that Maneely presented the board with the allegations and that the council determined “probable cause exists to commence proceedings against Thomas J. Shanty.”
Town Council member Paul Walbridge, who seconded the motion to suspend Shanty, declined to take telephone calls at his work site Thursday, even though it has been his regular practice to answer such calls from a reporter in the past.
Council members Louise Taylor and Irving Caplan were unavailable for comment.
E-mail Denise A. Raymo at:
draymo@pressrepublican.com
Local News
Malone candidate charged with misconduct
- Local News
-
-
Governor visits North Country to promote budget package
Delights huge crowd at Plattsburgh State in promising to continue reform in Albany. INCLUDES VIDEO
-
Boundaries may remain as is
Franklin County has started work on redistricting, but legislators say the population probably didn't change enough to warrant a new plan.
-
Marble River Wind Farm work continues
The 72-tower project in the towns of Ellenburg and Clinton is expected to be operational in October.
-
New technology helps history, tourism, arts
Adirondack Architectural Heritage in Keeseville hosted a presentation on using Facebook as part of marketing strategies.
-
Body likely missing Fort Covington man
Dustin Trimm of Winthrop charged with murder.
-
Pipeline work on hold
A natural-gas boom in Pennsylvania increased demand for specialized workers and has doubled the expected construction costs for the 48-mile St. Lawrence Gas line through Franklin County.
-
Many agencies working together on waterway remediation
In Keene Valley on Thursday, officials and citizens visited a cross-weir on John's Brook designed to protect both the environment and the bridge there from future flood damage.
-
Robert Russell to the rescue
The 6-year-old Peru boy was recognized for thinking quickly to call 911 when his mother had a seizure.
-
Powerful savings— for now
National Grid is ending collection of one fee and beginning collection of a smaller one, leaving residential and business customers with lower bills in 2012.
-
Appeal mostly denied for Tupper Lake man
Travis K. Borden was convicted in 2010 of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old.
-
Sharing dough
Students in Ticonderoga learned to make bread from scratch from King Arthur Flour's free Life Skills Baking Program.
-
City approves surcharge for dam repairs
Funds will go toward paying off long-term bond for infrastructure improvements.
-
Car chase nets arrest
Lance D. Lamora allegedly fled police in the City of Plattsburgh on Monday night; he faces numerous misdemeanor charges, including driving while intoxicated.
-
Of Interest: Feb. 3, 2012
DWI crackdown runs today through Sunday; Venue changes for Crown Point meeting; Dannemora Village to work on budget; Saranac School Board to meet Feb. 7.
-
Westport Branch of Latter-day Saints closes
Lack of members cited for closure; Westport members merge with Middlebury, Vt., ward.
- February 2, 2012
-
Pipeline on hold
A natural-gas boom in Pennsylvania increased demand for specialized workers and has doubled the expected construction costs for the 48-mile St. Lawrence Gas line through Franklin County.
-
Strand Theatre fundraising on home stretch
It has about $800,000 left to raise for the $4 million project.
-
Appeal mostly denied for Tupper Lake man
Travis K. Borden was convicted in 2010 of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old.
-
Governor visits North Country to promote budget package
- Recent Article Comments
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
