Spring Valley trustees sack mayor's top aide as three abstain from approving contract

SPRING VALLEY ‒ Mayor Alan Simon has lost his top aide after the Board of Trustees refused to extend the retired village police officer's contract.

While the five-member board voted 2-0 on Tuesday night to extend Reggie Anderson as the mayor's aide, three abstentions killed Anderson's job. Three positive votes were needed to approve the resolution and keep him on the village payroll.

Simon and Deputy Mayor Yisroel Eisenbach voted to extend Anderson's contract another three months. Abstaining were Asher Grossman, Joseph Gross and Shmuel Smith, who won election to the board in November.

Anderson's contract had been approved every three months until Tuesday night. His budgeted salary as the mayor's aide stood at $91,000. Anderson retired in August 2022 after nearly four decades on the police force as a detective.

Anderson said Wednesday that he was disappointed he couldn't get three votes to continue working for the village. He said the three abstaining trustees never spoke to him about not retaining him. The trio didn't comment while voting or answer questions from residents, he said.

Anderson: I made village hall 'friendlier environment'

Anderson said he worked to help residents and employees and to act as a liaison with other departments like the police department for the mayor. He also assisted the mayor, whose eyesight is poor.

"I came to serve the mayor and the people of the village like I did for 37 years as a cop and 41 years as a volunteer fireman," Anderson said. "I am sorry the three trustees felt I was not what they were looking for. The mayor, who brought me on, had no complaints. I made a lot more friendlier environment for employees, the police, and residents who came to Village Hall."

Grossman and Gross didn't return messages on Wednesday seeking comment. Eisenbach said, "I voted to extend his contract. I'm not sure why the others abstained."

Simon didn't respond to a message for comment. There's been a rift between Simon and some of the board members. Simon , a disbarred attorney removed as judge, has been highly volatile since being elected in November 2017. He has had confrontations with members of the board, employees, residents, and the media.

Anderson said his employment with the village ends at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

"I always represented the village," Anderson said. "I have always given credit to the mayor and village trustees."

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 trustees sack mayor's top aide as three abstain from approving contract