Spring Valley treasurer resigns after mayor tried firing him. What happened? What we know

SPRING VALLEY ‒ Spring Valley Village Treasurer Gregg Smith resigned Monday morning, five days after Mayor Alan Simon attempted to fire him, saying two office employees suffered anxiety attacks during the mayor's actions.

Smith, a seasoned finance professional of 30-plus years, said Monday that members of the village Board of Trustees told him the mayor lacked the authority to fire him. Nevertheless, Smith said he submitted a resignation letter to the village on Monday morning.

Smith, a former Stony Point treasurer, declined to discuss Simon's reasoning for trying to fire him or the confrontation last Wednesday in Village Hall.

"The board told me the mayor can’t fire me," Smith said. "I resigned (Monday morning). At this point in time I need to move forward and not discuss the mayor and the circumstances. Two staff members went to the hospital with anxiety. They missed work."

Smith declined to discuss the working atmosphere under Simon's administration. He said the issues are known.

"I was here to do a job," Smith said, "and do the right things" for the village.

Police chief ousted by Simon Spring Valley police chief relieved of duty by Mayor Alan Simon

Simon and the trustees won't comment

Simon, a disbarred attorney, and ousted judge, doesn't speak with the media after several confrontations concerning village issues, such as the 2021 fatal fire in which a firefighter died, inspections of buildings, and employee relations. New York State took over the village's dysfunctional building department and assigned the tasks of fire and safety code enforcement to the county. Simon's new top aide, Fire Chief Raymond Canario, didn't return calls to comment.

Deputy Mayor Isrroel Eisenbach declined last week to comment on Smith. Trustee Asher Grossman, a veteran elected official and former deputy mayor, didn't respond to a request for comment.

Mayor Simon has a history of confrontations

Since winning his first term in November 2021, Simon has attempted to fire and suspend other employees. He has yelled at residents during public meetings and berated employees, attorneys, and state workers. At one time, Simon publicly cursed out then-village trustee Sherry McGill, now an East Ramapo Board of Education member.

Simon also attempted to remove the Spring Valley police chief and school resource officer in 2023 for not doing what he wanted, but the Board of Trustees stepped in and told Simon he was overstepping his authority.

Simon was ousted by the state courts as a Ramapo and Spring Valley justice in 2016 and later disbarred as an attorney for his behavior.

The village government has been dysfunctional as the relationship between Simon and some board members has been contentious.

Trustees rebuffed the mayor on a contract for union employees, declined to attend meetings called by the mayor, and approved raises for themselves. The board ousted Simon's top aide, retired police Detective Reginald Anderson, in July by not extending his contract. Simon has physical ailments and eyesight issues and had depended on Anderson for transportation and dealing with employees, the public, and Village Hall issues.

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Spring Valley NY treasurer resigns after mayor tried ousting him