HIGHLAND, NY— In an emergency meeting on February 26, the Highland Town Board voted to pass two resolutions resulting in the censure of town clerk Sue Hoffman and the seizure of her town computer, which was to be subsequently turned over to New York State Police.

The resolution explains the action, stating, “Susan Hoffman, town clerk, has engaged in gross negligence regarding her duties, resulting in a failure to produce and maintain critical town records dating back to 2021, thereby hindering the effective operation of town government and eroding public confidence in the integrity of the town’s administration.” 

“The goal isn’t to eliminate Sue but to make sure town funds and information aren’t compromised,” supervisor John Pizzolato told the River Reporter. 

At its February 11 meeting, the board passed a resolution that changed the town Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) officer from Hoffman to resident Glenn Pontier. 

Commenting on the situation, a spokesperson for the New York State Comptroller’s office said, “We do not have any standard procedure we could recommend for this non-standard situation. Instead, the town should be consulting with the town attorney for guidance on how to proceed.”

The resolution of seizure authorized “the immediate seizure and secure storage of the town-owned computer used by the town clerk, pending its transfer to the New York State Police for forensic examination and investigation.”

It went on to add, “that the town supervisor, in consultation with the town attorney, shall coordinate with the New York State Police to ensure the lawful transfer of the computer and maintain proper chain-of-custody documentation for evidentiary purposes.”

Hoffman was not reachable by the River Reporter for comment. 

The resolution of censure passed also “strongly encourages” Hoffman to work remotely while “an investigation into her conduct and the deficiencies in the clerk’s office is ongoing, to allow for an independent review and to ensure the uninterrupted execution of town business.”