Schenectady County sued over human rights post firing
Morris seeks back pay, legal fees, other costs
Angelicia Morris, the former executive director of the Schenectady County Human Rights Commission, is suing the county to get her job back — and to force its leaders to restore her reputation.
The lawsuit filed earlier this month demands the county pay Morris “back pay, legal fees, costs and disbursements.”
The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in state Supreme Court, alleges the commissioner fired Morris during a “secretly scheduled commission meeting” that was held with no notice to the public and without an agenda.
Morris was fired by the board on Feb. 18. Her lawsuit also names the Human Rights Commission as a defendant in the case.
County Attorney Chris Gardner said the commission’s board and Morris disagreed over the direction of the organization. He said she served at the pleasure of the board and it was within the commission’s rights to fire her if she and the board could not agree on the organization’s course.
The lawsuit accuses of the county of smearing Morris’ reputation, citing the release of a letter from acting Commission Chairman Omar Mcgill that criticized her leadership of the commission which she led from 2013 until her termination. The letter was obtained by both the Times Union and the Daily Gazette and written about by both newspapers. The letter raised questions about Morris’ competence as director.
The lawsuit says the commission’s vote to fire Morris was illegal and a violation of her civil rights.
Morris has said she loved the job and her supporters said her termination was unjustified.
The Schenectady County Legislature funds the Human Rights Commission, which was established in 1965 to foster mutual respect and enhance understanding among all racial, religious and ethnic groups in the county, and to assist individuals in securing their legal rights. Morris’ annual salary was $69,496 at the time she was fired.
Morris’ firing caught some county workers, like Ed Kosiur, off guard. His office is located next to Morris’ on the third floor of the county office building on Broadway.
“There are a lot of folks that are heartbroken here, some of our (county) employees were taken aback because we just heard by word of mouth,” said Kosiur, noting that Morris worked hard behind the scenes and “got things done.” In addition to working for the county, Kosiur is a member of Schenectady’s City Council.