NEWS

Ex-Westchester waste commission director sues Astorino

James O’Rourke
  • Berger%2C nominated by former County Executive Andy Spano%2C took the position in 2000 after approval by the Westchester County Board of Legislators
  • Berger%27s suit claims his termination was scheduled for January%2C but delayed to allow him to recover from a hip replacement surgery
  • Astorino officially accepted the GOP nomination for governor of New York state on Thursday

The former head of Westchester's Solid Waste Commission filed suit against County Executive Rob Astorino on Thursday claiming "political cronyism" led to his firing after 14 years of service.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino accepts his nomination for governor at the GOP convention, May 154, 2014 at the Hilton in Rye Brook.

In the lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court, Bruce Berger — who was appointed to the position by the Westchester County Board of Legislators in 2000 after nomination by Astorino's Democratic predecessor — claims he was let go last month by Astorino's Republican administration based solely on political motivations.

Berger, who also names Westchester County as a defendant in the suit, seeks unspecified damages and reinstatement as executive director of Solid Waste Licensing.

In court documents, Berger claims Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett told him on April 10 "that he was being terminated from his position and that he was going to be replaced by a judge from Astorino's political party who had been defeated for re-election the prior November."

Judge Daniel Angiolillo, who had served in the state Supreme Court and its Appellate Division since 2000 but lost a bid for re-election last year, replaced Berger as head of the commission, which is tasked with protecting Westchester consumers and monitoring organized crime in the waste-carting industry.

Also Thursday, Legislators Peter Harckham, D-North Salem; Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers; and Catherine Borgia, D-Ossining, called for an investigation into Berger's termination.

"This reeks of the worst kind of political cronyism," Borgia, the county board's majority leader, said in a statement. "In light of the lawsuit, we're urging the Attorney General to intervene."

Phil Oliva, Astorino's senior adviser, called Berger's suit "meritless" Thursday, but declined to comment further.

Twitter: @JORourkeT800