Rensselaer Common Council to hold emergency meeting after convicted election official's pay cut

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Rensselaer Mayor Mike Stammel has reacted to an emergency meeting regarding his veto of the common council's decision to reduce one city employee's pay to $100 a year.

Jason Schofield is the former board of elections commissioner who pleaded guilty to voter fraud in Rensselaer County. He is still waiting to be sentenced.

The mayor hired him for a clerical position in the city's building and code enforcement department. Last week, the common council voted to drastically reduce his pay from nearly $40,000 to $100 for the year.

The mayor vetoed the action, and the common council is now holding an emergency meeting on Friday to override the veto.

The mayor condemned the actions of the council and said council members should have to pay for any lawsuits, saying: “The union has already expressed opposition to the council’s malicious action and attorneys have already expressed their willingness to bring charges against the city. Why should our citizens have to pay for lawyers and any monetary damages if we lose in court?”