Tesser Ryan Blog

TRR Litigation Against City of Mount Vernon and Comptroller Gains Local Media Attention

Senior partner at Tesser, Ryan & Rochman, LLP, Lewis Tesser, is representing Kristyn Vanderberg-Reed, the Director of Veteran Services for the City of Mount Vernon, in her suit against the City of Mount Vernon and it’s comptroller, Deborah Reynolds.

Ms. Reed alleges that in the Summer of 2018, she submitted a proposal to the City Council of Mt. Vernon to have her salary increased from approximately $58,000 to $90,000. The City Council unanimously approved the proposal, which was then sent to the Board of Estimate and Contract for final approval. The Board of Estimate and Contract approved the proposal by a majority vote, with the only dissenting vote coming from the City’s comptroller, Deborah Reynolds.

Ms. Reed alleges that Reynolds has since refused to pay her new salary amount, despite multiple requests by Ms. Reed to be paid accordingly, and despite the fact that Reynolds lacks the authority to withhold such payments. Ms. Reed is also suing the City of Mount Vernon, alleging that the City had knowledge of Reynolds’ refusal to pay her new salary amount, and failed to take any action.

Prior to working as Director of Veteran Services, Ms. Reed served in the United States Air Force as an E-4 Senior Airman, working as a maintenance technician who repaired radios, radar, and surveillance equipment in C-130 U-model gunships.

The Journal News ran a story regarding this case. A link to the article can be found here: https://www.lohud.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lohud.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fwestchester%2Fmount-vernon%2F2020%2F08%2F10%2Fmount-vernon-veteran-services-director-lawsuit%2F3293069001%2F