Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse’s city clerk returned to her job Tuesday after an attorney’s investigation found hostile workplace complaints against her were not substantiated.
The Common Council put Patricia McBride, the city clerk since 2022, on paid leave Feb. 3 pending the outcome of an investigation into complaints brought by multiple employees under her.
Attorney Colin Leonard, an employment law specialist with Bond, Schoeneck & King, conducted the probe and reported the results to councilors during a closed-door executive session Monday. Councilor Pat Hogan, who serves as the body’s president pro tempore, said the common council’s outside attorney, Thomas Cerio, and the city’s corporation counsel staff also attended the session.
Hogan said he could not discuss details of the allegations or investigation findings, but said the conclusion was that alleged hostile workplace violations against McBride were unsubstantiated under city policy and state law.
Councilors decided McBride should return to her job, but they would also take steps to make sure all parties could continue in their roles going forward, he said.
McBride declined to comment for this story other than to say she looks forward to resuming her duties and working to the best of her ability.
McBride has served as the city clerk since 2022, when she took over for longtime former clerk John Copanas. McBride started at city hall as deputy clerk in 2014.
City clerk is an appointed position filled by the council....
has moved to calm the nerves of millions of social grant beneficiaries following the circulation of a fake video on social media, which "falsely claims that all recipients must re-register or risk...