MIDDLETOWN – The City of Middletown Common Council has filed a resolution demanding that Orange County Legislator Joel Sierra resign.
The resolution was sent to Katie Bonelli, Chairwoman of the Orange County Legislature, asking the Legislature “to consider all measures at their disposal to remedy the situation.”
Sierra, a Democrat, represents Middletown. He has not attended a Legislative meeting since March 30, 2022, but continues to collect his full salary plus benefits. Sierra has supposedly been unable to attend sessions since he sustained an injury as a paid Middletown city fireman. Sierra’s four-year term ends on December 31st, 2025.
Bonelli and Democratic Minority Leader Mike Paduch, who represents Middletown and the Town of Wallkill, did not return phone calls seeking comment for this story. Sierra’s formally designated advocate, former City of Middletown Police Chief Ramon Bethencourt, declined comment.
“We hope that Joel Sierra does the morally right thing and resigns from the Legislature immediately,” said Middletown Alderman Joe Masi, a frequent critic of Sierra. “The Middletown Common Council urges the County Legislature to finally stand up and do the right thing and contact the Governor’s Office to begin the process of Legislature Sierra’s removal. Middletown deserves the representation our citizens voted for.”
Masi noted that the City of Middletown has a provision in its charter for the possible removal of an elected City official in similar situations. However, the County does not have any similar provision in its charter. Middletown cannot remove a County elected official.
The Common Council’s resolution stated that Sierra’s “absenteeism represents a gross and moral dereliction of duty” and passed by a vote of 7-0. Common Council members Katie Wray and Jude A. Jean-Francois abstained from voting.
