IN RE: LAWRENCE M. SELTZER (2010)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 (transferred to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Fourth Judicial Department by order of the Supreme Court, Monroe County [David Michael Barry, J.], entered November 17, 2009) to review a determination of respondent.   The determination, inter alia, terminated the employment of petitioner.

It is hereby ORDERED that the determination is unanimously confirmed without costs and the petition is dismissed.

Memorandum:  Petitioner commenced this proceeding seeking to annul the determination finding him guilty of disciplinary charges and terminating his employment as Municipal Parking Coordinator for respondent.   We conclude that the determination is supported by substantial evidence, i.e., “such relevant proof as a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact” (300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v. State Div. of Human Rights, 45 N.Y.2d 176, 180;  see CPLR 7803[4];  see generally Matter of Pell v Board of Educ. of Union Free School Dist. No. 1 of Towns of Scarsdale & Mamaroneck, Westchester County, 34 N.Y.2d 222, 230-231).   We further conclude that the penalty of termination from petitioner's employment is not “ ‘so disproportionate to the offense[s] as to be shocking to one's sense of fairness,’ “ and thus it does not constitute an abuse of discretion as a matter of law (Matter of Kelly v. Safir, 96 N.Y.2d 32, 38, rearg. denied 96 N.Y.2d 854).

Patricia L. Morgan

Clerk of the Court