Colonie EMS Chief Retires

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Colonie EMS Chief Retires.

COLONIE -- Jon Politis, the longtime EMS chief in Colonie, reached an agreement with the town to retire and settle a disciplinary case against him.

The Town Board will vote on accepting Politis' resignation at its meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at Colonie Town Hall. Politis worked for the town for 21 years, and he earns a salary of $98,515.

Edited August 27, 2010 by Chris192
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[Monty 35]

I've had the pleasure of training and working under Jon and CEMS. It (along with the town FD's) were always very progressive.

In the ten years I've been gone, it seems a lot had changed though - especially in the political arena (hey, sound familiar!).

Hopefully CEMS will remain a great organisation and Jon will find something useful to put his energy into - possibly somewhere else in EMS.

Colonie EMS Chief Retires.

COLONIE -- Jon Politis, the longtime EMS chief in Colonie, reached an agreement with the town to retire and settle a disciplinary case against him.

The Town Board will vote on accepting Politis' resignation at its meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at Colonie Town Hall. Politis worked for the town for 21 years, and he earns a salary of $98,515.

Politis has had a difficult relationship with Town Supervisor Paula Mahan, who was first elected in 2007.

Last year, he and his deputy, Peter Berry, filed an ethics complaint accusing Mahan and Town Attorney Michael Magguilli of harassing them and trying to drive them out of their jobs.

The town was preparing disciplinary charges over allegations Politis limited bidders on a CPR device. At a Town Board meeting earlier this summer, Michigan Instruments said it had been locked out of the bid process because specifications prevented its device from being considered.

The board then tabled a resolution to purchase six mechanical chest compression devices used for CPR from another firm called Medtronic Physio Control.

The case had been referred to the town's labor counsel, the law firm of Roemer, Wallens and Mineaux.

After a closed-door session, the Town Board voted 6-1 last month to initiate disciplinary action against Politis. Daniel Dustin, the board's sole Republican, cast the only vote against the action.

Politis has been on a paid leave he requested unrelated to the allegations. He will retire effective in October but will not return to work. Instead, he will use existing time off he is owed, said Sara Wiest, spokeswoman for the town.

"The town will drop the disciplinary charges," she said.

Magguilli, the town attorney, said an investigation continues into allegations that contractors were blocked from the CPR device as well as other bids.

"We're still examining the allegations about the bid," he said. "As far as (Politis) is concerned, (his retirement) resolves it. Since that time (of the original allegation), there have been more complaints come in as well so we're looking into them."

Politis could not be reached for comment.

His attorneys, Michael Ravalli and Ronald Dunn of the law firm of Gleason, Dunn, Walsh and O'Shea, also could not be reached.

Tim O'Brien can be reached at 454-5092 or by e-mail at tobrien@timesunion.com.