To the Editor:
We are writing this letter to inform readers about the update to the story that ran in the Jan. 6, 2022, issue of The Altamont Enterprise regarding the town of Knox’s three previous transfer station employees [“Former Knox transfer station workers accused of theft, bullying”]. Although an update was published in The Enterprise, it was only in the online electronic format, and not all people read the Altamont Enterprise online.

A brief history: In 2019, Joe Adriance, Dick Dexter, and Mark Young were wrongfully fired from their jobs at the Knox transfer station during the tenure of past Knox supervisor, Vas Lefkaditis. [Because Dexter and Adriance had worked at the transfer station for five years, they were under Civil Service protection.] Civil Service also found the firings of their members to be in violation of Civil Service Law.

At the Jan. 1, 2022 Knox Town Board meeting, current Knox Town Supervisor Russ Pokorny suggested rehiring these three men, Joe Adriance, Dick Dexter, and Mark Young, to work at the transfer station.

Jeremy Springer, current Knox transfer station supervisor, then voiced to the town board, stating that “would probably not be a wise idea for the town” and that “it’s been proven that there’s been a lot of missing funds from the transfer station alone in the previous years to me starting working there.” He also stated there were issues with donations of the Boy Scout bottles to bullying attendants and people of the town for paying for random items laid by the Dumpster.

These false statements harmed and demeaned the character of these three very good, upstanding men, who have devoted many years to serve the residents of the town of Knox at the transfer station, always offering to help and always done with a smile. In addition, these false statements prevented them from getting rehired at the Jan. 1, 2022, meeting.   

At the March 8, 2022, Knox Town Board meeting, a resident asked town Supervisor Russell Pokorny to address this statement that was made by Mr. Springer, and Mr. Pokorny stated “The events that have led up to this moment are regrettable and unfortunate. It goes back to a feud between the transfer station and the town garage regarding management and transportation of the garbage.

“No participant is entirely innocent of the events that followed, but clearly it would have been better if an atmosphere of fairness and clear thinking had prevailed. The result of the stressful situation was that three men who had worked at the transfer station for many years were not reappointed in the reorganizational meeting of 2018.

“New workers were appointed, and the men who lost their jobs were left behind. There have been justifications made for this action, but the only real explanation I have found is that the participants, both management and labor, just weren’t getting along.

“One justification has been that there was some mishandling of money or property, but I have looked at all the evidence, some of which is private, by virtue of personnel files. I can say unequivocally that there is no evidence of this. 

“Also I would like to point out that the subsequent legal proceedings, where these men were awarded damages from the town, did not find any evidence of wrongdoing. Also, I have known these men for years, as have many people in Knox.

“In my experience it is inconceivable that these men are guilty of anything which would justify their dismissal. So, in conclusion, this is a sad and unfortunate event, and we should apologize to the men involved and to their families who have suffered so much stress.”

Mr. Pokorny also noted, by handing his statement to the town clerk, that it would be added to the official minutes of the town board meeting.

We do thank Supervisor Pokorney for correcting these false statements.

We also applaud him for stating that the town board owes these three men an apology, which has not occurred yet, but we are certain a formal apology will be forthcoming.

In addition, since these allegations are unfounded, and there is no evidence of any wrongdoing even occurring, there is no basis for not rehiring these three men, as there was no basis on which to fire them either.

We believe that these three men should rightfully be offered their jobs back, and at minimum, a formal apology issued by the town of Knox.

Laura Murphy

Timothy Fischer

Knox