MIDDLETOWN – City of Middletown Common Councilman Joe Masi, an outspoken critic of Joel Sierra, has requested that Orange County petition Governor Kathy Hochul to remove the legislator from office.
Meanwhile, Sierra’s formally designated advocate, former City of Middletown Police Chief Ramon Bethencourt, has fired back at Masi and Mayor Joe DeStefano, setting off a war of words between the sides.
Sierra, who represents Middletown, has not attended a legislative meeting since March 30, 2022, but continues to collect his full salary plus benefits. He 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 31, 2025.
“This is a great time for the leadership of Orange County to remedy that situation so that this never happens again where residents are left without representation,” Masi said. “(The Governor) has the authority to do it. I hope Orange County will contact the Governor and begin the process if he does not resign. Middletown residents deserve and demand complete representation.”
Bethencourt responded strongly to Masi’s criticism of Sierra.
“Mr. Masi is reading a statement prepared by Mayor Joe DeStefano,” he said. “It is not up to the county, Joe Masi, Mayor DeStefano or the rest of their clique to decide what Mr. Sierra does. It is based upon Mr. Sierra and his medical condition and when he can return, and he will be returning (to the legislature).”
Bethencourt said if there is a constituent with an issue, Sierra “is not unavailable. We don’t plan on leaving and I think Mayor DeStefano is fearing that Mr. Sierra may challenge him. But him leaving (the legislature) is not up for debate and we will not discuss it any further in the media. It is not fair to Mr. Sierra and his family.”
DeStefano said Bethencourt’s contention holds no water.
“Legislator Sierra’s angry advocate Ramon Bethencourt is threatening to have a current county legislator, Joel Sierra, who has not attended a county meeting, has not responded to the media, has not responded to constituent issues, continues to run his private business, for nearly 750 days all while collecting over $60,000 in no-show salary from the taxpayers, accruing time in pension system, and add to that the health plan buyout run against me in 2025 for mayor.”
DeStefano also said Sierra sued the city attempting to get a special disability benefit that would have Middletown taxpayers pay him to the age of 72 for not working, and the arbitrator ruled against him. He appealed and lost again. The courts have said he is not entitled to this. Are we supposed to sit by and allow this to continue? No!”
DeStefano said he “stood up for the taxpayers and although we are all Democrats, myself, Sierra and Alderman Masi, when we see this type of abuse of the system, it is my job, Alderman Masi’s job, to fight for the taxpayer and our residents. It is Mr. Sierra’s job to put his so-called advocate in the corner, start speaking for himself and do the right thing, return to work or resign his elected office.”
Earlier this week, Katie Bonelli, chairwoman of the Orange County Legislature, told Mid-Hudson News that the Sierra situation is “problematic.” According to Bonelli, there is no mechanism to remove Sierra from office.
“I know if it was me, I would resign, but I can’t tell another legislator or another person how to behave,” Bonelli added.
Masi noted that the City of Middletown has a provision in its charter for 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. Masi said now is the time for county leadership to adopt a provision in its charter to make sure this never happens again.
“I would further suggest that all 62 counties in New York and all the municipalities review their charters to be sure they have provisions for possible removal,” Masi said. “I don’t take any pleasure in this because (Sierra) used to be a valued member of the City of Middletown Common Council.”
Masi said Sierra “must be removed. It has been over two years that the good people in most of the City of Middletown have been without representation.”
The Governor’s Office did not immediately return an email seeking comment for this story.
