A Human Services Agreement

    A majority of the East Hampton Town Board last Thursday ratified an agreement between the town and Sheila Carter, a supervisor of the Human Services Department’s senior citizens bus service who was brought up on disciplinary charges in October.

    Diane Patrizio, the human services director, had alleged misconduct and incompetence, insubordination, failure to perform duties, and an unacceptable performance of supervisory responsibilities, and sought to have Ms. Carter fired. She was placed on an unpaid 30-day suspension through Nov. 9.

    The Civil Service Employees Association, the town employees union, denied all of the charges on Ms. Carter’s behalf and requested a hearing. However, according to a stipulation of settlement, Ms. Carter waived the right to a hearing and pleaded guilty to one charge of failure to perform her duties.

    She will be placed on an unpaid leave from town employment for a year, retroactively, through Jan. 17, 2014, when she will resign from her post as the senior citizens bus service supervisor or be fired.

    Until that time, according to the agreement, Ms. Carter will be eligible for appointment to the next vacant position as a town clerk-typist that the town seeks to fill, “provided that she is qualified for the position.”

    But the town will not be required to offer her a post in the Human Services Department. If a clerk-typist is not to be hired before next January, or if she is offered a position in any department other than human services and refuses, the town’s obligation to Ms. Carter — and her employment — ends.

    The agreement guarantees to Ms. Carter full coverage, at no cost, for individual health insurance through April. The stipulation, which Ms. Carter has signed, also releases the town from any potential future claims.

    At a town board meeting last week, Councilwoman Theresa Quigley cast the sole vote against entering into the agreement.