Hostile work environment claims escalate in Jewett

JEWETT―Alleged violations of Civil Service Law committed by Jewett Town Board members against the local highway superintendent and town clerk are perpetuating, according to a supplemental notice of claim submitted by attorneys for the two plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs, Highway Superintendent Robert Mallory and Town Clerk Maya Carl, filed an initial notice of claim in January through the law firm of Salazar and Erikson. That document accuses town board members of “creating a hostile work environment” for Mallory and Carl through the “intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy.”

Mallory and Carl, since then, have reportedly been deposed as part of the potential lawsuit, resulting in follow-up papers being sent by their attorneys on March 27 to the law firm of Cook, Kurtz & Murphy, representing the town.

Multiple phone messages left with Michael T. Cook from that firm, seeking comments on the new notice of claim, were not returned by deadline. Town officials, on the advice of counsel, are offering no comment.

The new notice of claim states, “a summary of relevant facts and previous claims can be found in Plaintiffs’ prior Notice of Claim dated January 8, 2026.

“The actions that resulted in this [subsequent] claim arose on or about January 14, 2026, and have continued to date,” the new notice of claim states.

All of the allegations in both notice of claims are rooted in a search warrant executed by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office at the municipal building in early July 2025. The sweep was prompted by “allegations of potentially fraudulent activity,” according to the sheriff’s office, that noted investigators seized, “electronic devices, paper files and business records.” Since then, nothing official has been shared about that raid.

However, it was revealed in the initial notice of claim that Mallory and Carl reached out to police in the spring of 2025, leading to the search and what is reportedly still an active investigation.

The initial notice of claim alleges in part that, “during the fall of 2024, Plaintiff Mallory became aware that a private home was being constructed and a foundation was laid on property owned by Barbara Schobel, the Planning Board Chairperson for the Town of Jewett.

“Around that same time, Plaintiff Mallory mentioned to Plaintiff Carl that the construction was in progress, and Plaintiff Carl mentioned that that was odd because she had not received a check for a building permit for that property,” the initial notice of claim states.

The initial notice of claim further alleges that:

- “Upon information and belief, a structure was fully framed on the Schobel property during the month of March 2025. By observation, the structure appeared to be over 2,000 square feet;

- “Around this time Plaintiff Carl received a check for the building permit for the property that was on its face insufficient for the type and size of building being constructed;

- “On April 9, 2025, the building inspector's report noted that a building permit was issued for the property for a 964 square feet accessory barn;

- “On April 16, 2025, [Mallory and Carl] requested a meeting with the Town Supervisor Greg Kroyer, to discuss the apparently illegal and uninspected construction.”

A series of events unfolded including talks and correspondence between Mallory, Carl, Kroyer, other town board members and Town Attorney Tal Rappleyea, the initial notice of claim states.

The town has, “never taken steps to resolve the [alleged] misconduct and compliance issues,” the initial notice of claim states, further stating that Mallory and Carl were, “left with no choice but to report the misconduct and [alleged non-compliance] to the Greene County Sheriff's Office.

“Immediately following Plaintiffs cooperation with law enforcement [town officials] began a campaign to marginalize, embarrass, demean, and punish Plaintiffs for their cooperation with law enforcement,” the initial notice of claim states.

Mallory and Carl, “have been subjected to months of hostile behavior from Defendants in the form of arguments, cold behavior, and hostile abuses of authority,” the initial NOTICE OF CLAIM states.

The new notice of claim adds that town board members, “have continued to unlawfully, improperly, and unconstitutionally deprive elected officials [Mallory and Carl] of power and transfer that power to the town supervisor and the town board.”

Further, “defendants have continued their egregious actions...in the form of arguments, cold behavior, and abuses of authority,” the new notice of claim states, naming Kroyer and councilpersons [John] Giordano, [James] Pellitteri and [Jeannie] Scotti.

The new notice of claim states that since the initial notice of claim, the four named town government officials, allegedly:

- “On or about February 14, 2026, removed or allowed the removal of Plaintiff Mallory from his role as custodian, without providing a non-retaliatory basis for the removal. Following the removal [of Mallory]... Kroyer named himself custodian;

- “On that same day… removed or allowed the removal of Plaintiff Carl from her role as zoning board secretary, a paid position, without providing a non-retaliatory basis for the removal;

- “On that same day… removed or allowed the removal of Plaintiff Carl from her role as website administrator without providing a non-retaliatory basis for her removal. That position was not previously paid, but Plaintiff Carl's replacement, Greg Kroyer's assistant, is paid $3,000.00 per year to fill the role.”

The new notice of claim alleges that:

- “Kroyer formed a commission composed of two town councilpersons to coordinate installation of security cameras and has used this commission to further punish, demean, and retaliate against Plaintiffs;

- “On or about January 30, 2026, Councilperson Giordano sent a Highway Department employee a text consisting of an eyeball emoji, a message Plaintiffs believe is gloating about the [pending] installation of security cameras on the exterior of the Highway Department building;

- “Upon information and belief, a councilman interfered with the plowing operations of the Town of Jewett Highway Department. Upon information and belief, [Giordano] plowed roads himself or encouraged others to do so, an effort that creates a danger and difficulty for the Town of Jewett;

“The Town of Jewett Highway Department owns and operates several plow vehicles. However, these vehicles require maintenance and Defendants have modified the rules regarding repair requisitions and otherwise selectively enforced these rules to obstruct Plaintiff Mallory,” the new notice of claim states, and further alleges:

- “On or about March 11, 2026, the Highway Department heating system ceased to function. Plaintiff Mallory informed Supervisor Kroyer who responded that Plaintiff Mallory should [repair it] himself. Plaintiff Mallory and his staff now work without heat during the winter;

- “On March 18, 2026, Greg Kroyer accused Plaintiff Carl of wrongfully negotiating with the Laborer's Union as Plaintiff Carl received an email from the Union that she forwarded to the relevant town officials;

- “During that same altercation Greg Kroyer intimidated Plaintiff Carl and directed that she is not permitted to have any communication with the union. This restriction on communication with the union [would] impede her ability to perform her job;

- “Plaintiffs have suffered severe stress and anxiety related to the Defendants’ hostile and retaliatory behaviors,” the new notice of claim states.

“Defendants had actual notice of the Defendants' creation of a hostile work environment at all times relevant. Defendants have yet to remedy their tortious actions, improve the work environment or take steps to resolve their violation of Civil Service Law § 75-b,” the new notice of claim alleges.

“Plaintiffs fear further hostile and retaliatory behavior on the part of Defendants when the legal and compliance matters reported by Plaintiffs result in criminal arrests,” the new notice of claim states.

“As a result of the foregoing, the claimants have and will sustain substantial monetary and noneconomic damages including mental anguish in an amount to be determined,” the new notice of claim states.