GUILDERLAND — The Guilderland Town Board is having a special meeting, on Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m., to discuss David Kershaw’s employment. The board will meet in closed executive session.

Kershaw, an equipment operator at the town’s transfer station, has violated the town’s drug policy, said Supervisor Kenneth Runion.

Pursuant to Section 75 of the Civil Service Law, the town board will discuss how to discipline Kershaw, Runion said.

Since Kershaw drives town vehicles, including a tractor trailer from Guilderland to the Albany County landfill, he is subject to random drug testing, Runion said.

A test was given to him recently, Runion said.
"Our policy says we can’t release random drug test records or reveal the drug in question," Runion said. "When there is a hearing and charges against the individual, we are required to release that it’s a violation of our drug policy," he said, noting the policy was drafted in the mid-1990’s.

Since Runion took office six years ago, only one other town employee has been in the same situation, he said. The employee refused a drug test, so the town considered that a positive result for drugs, Runion said. After meeting in executive session, the town board decided to fire that worker, Runion said.

Kershaw may also be fired, Runion said, or he could be suspended or sent to a drug-rehabilitation program.
Asked what he would recommend, Runion said, "Mr. Kershaw is in a very safety-sensitive position. Let’s leave it at that."

Kershaw, who could not be reached for comment, was suspended without pay pending the results of the hearing, Runion said.

No other town business will be discussed at the Aug. 11 meeting, Runion said.