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Civil‑service official urges board to delay layoffs, cites lack of HR communication

Mount Vernon City School District Board of Education · July 7, 2025

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Summary

Pat Rosamanda, city civil‑service administrator, told trustees the civil‑service office was not adequately consulted on a pending layoff list and that HR had failed to return repeated requests for clarification. She warned that civil‑service law governs classified positions and urged review before any vote with a June‑30 deadline approaching.

Pat Rosamanda, the civil‑service administrator for the City of Mount Vernon, told the board on June 17 that the civil‑service office had been excluded from critical communications related to a pending layoff list and urged trustees to delay action until accuracy and process questions are resolved.

Rosamanda said civil service completed its required listing of classified titles and employees by seniority and sent that information to human resources for review, but she received little correspondence back. She said HR instead questioned typographical errors in employee names rather than addressing process concerns. "We are being pressured to complete this process right or wrong," Rosamanda told trustees, and she said the civil‑service commission has statutory authority over classified positions.

Rosamanda said civil service will continue to work with district leaders and New York State but emphasized the possible negative impact of incorrect reassignments on employees. She said a June 30 deadline was approaching and called for the district to review information for accuracy before any vote.

Separately during public comment, facilities and buildings‑and‑grounds employees raised concerns about job‑spec changes and the addition of duties such as sealants that employees said were not previously negotiated through civil‑service or unions.

The board did not take an immediate vote on layoffs during the public portion of the meeting; trustees noted Rosamanda will meet with district leadership for follow‑up and that accurate records are necessary before votes that affect employees’ livelihoods.