Federal lawsuit filed against Alma Town Board

The Alma Town Clerk was served with a federal lawsuit at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. The suit was filed by Brian Trask who, depending on who you speak with, is either, or is not, an employee of the Town of Alma Highway Department. The Alma town board voted 3-0 (2 members absent) earlier this year to discharge Brian Trask. Town Supervisor Ron Staedt said the vote followed two alleged incidents of "road rage" in a town vehicle. Both cases were investigated by State Police but no charges were filed. The Highway Superintendent has maintained only he has the authority and not the town board, to fire an employee under his control. When the town board fired Trask, his payroll ended. In the lawsuit, Trask maintains he was unlawfully discharged and continues to show up for work daily, without pay. Staedt says both Civil Service and the U.S. Department of Labor side with the town's decision.
This is not the only legal action pending against the town. A federal arbitration hearing is set for Trask on November 26th to examine his 'employment.' The town has also been in a squabble with Highway Superintendent Dan Ford. The Town, upset over alleged improprieties with Ford, stopped paying him as well. The Town says the insurance company pulled the Superintendent's bond...prompting another Facebook dispute. However, following a recent court ruling, the Town has paid Ford his back wages. An Article 78 hearing is set for November 20th in Little Valley to further address the issue. Stadet said Tuesday that the town's insurance company continues to pay all legal expenses in all of the cases. Here is the lawsuit filed in federal court: