Opinion
No. 2009-06320.
December 17, 2010.
Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review a determination of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Bethpage Fire District dated September 10, 2008, which adopted the findings and recommendations of a hearing officer dated April 18, 2008, made after a hearing, finding the petitioner guilty of misconduct, and terminated his membership in the Bethpage Fire Department. Adjudged that the determination is confirmed, the petition is denied, and the proceeding is dismissed on the merits, with costs.
Thomas F. Liotti, Garden City, N.Y. (Edward A. Paltzik of counsel), for petitioner.
Furey, Furey, Leverage, Manzione, Williams Darlington, P.C., Hempstead, N.Y. (Ingrid M. Rodriguez of counsel), for respondents.
Before: Mastro, J.P., Mastro, J.P., Fisher, Leventhal and Belen, JJ.
The determination that the petitioner was guilty of misconduct is supported by substantial evidence and, therefore, may not be set aside ( see Matter of Loscuito v Scoppetta, 50 AD3d 905; Matter of Morris v Calderone, 49 AD3d 741; Matter of Maker v Cade, 15 AD3d 489; Matter of Saccone v Garden City Park Water/Fire Dist, 13 AD3d 460). Further, under the circumstances presented, the penalty of termination of the petitioner's membership in the Bethpage Fire Department did not constitute an abuse of discretion as a matter of law as it was not so disproportionate to the offense as to be shocking to one's sense of fairness ( see Matter of Gallagher v Jackson, 78 AD3d 833 [2d Dept 2010]; Matter of Kurot v East Rockaway Fire Dept, 61 AD3d 760; Matter of Loscuito v Scoppetta, 50 AD3d 905; Matter of Morris v Calderone, 49 AD3d 741; Matter of Saccone v Garden City Park Water/Fire Dist, 13 AD3d 460).