OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Dave Bird poses for a photo after cleaning out his desk at Fredonia Village Hall. Bird was fired from his position as Fredonia Department of Public Works Director Tuesday.

David Bird alleges he was fired from his job as Fredonia Department of Public Works Director for political reasons, and plans to challenge it in court.

Bird said the decision to let him go was made in a Board of Trustees executive session, which is closed to the public, Monday night.

Speaking on the steps of Village Hall Tuesday after cleaning out his desk, Bird said that earlier in the morning, “I’m in the middle of paving Central Avenue and I get a call saying I’m fired.”

Bird said his termination happened because Trustees LeeAnn Lazarony, Christine Cruz Keefe and Ben Brauchler voted for it. Trustee Paul Wandel voted against it, and Trustee Jon Espersen was out of town and unable to attend the meeting.

“None of those three (who voted for termination) ever wanted to have a conversation with me,” Bird said. “They never met with me to discuss their allegations, they never wrote me up. I’ve never had a conversation with them at all.”

Bird said he has the “full backing” of Mayor Michael Ferguson, Espersen, and Wandel. He alleged that the trio who voted to fire him waited until Espersen was out of town, so a dissenting trustee would not hassle them over it.

Bird said it is “100% political, and nothing to do with my job.”

However, he acknowledged there are three specific allegations against him. The first is that he spent money without village authorization, which he flatly denies. The second is that he damaged a village truck without reporting it. Bird admitted he dented it after sliding in snow, but did report it to Ferguson and Treasurer Erlyssa LeBeau.

The third allegation is that he has been incorrectly telling village residents that DPW is not responsible for cutting trees in property where Fredonia has a right-of-way. Bird said he has “documented information” from a lawyer that DPW is indeed not responsible for cutting those trees.

Bird reiterated that Brauchler, Cruz Keefe and Lazarony never spoke to him about the allegations. He alleged they never documented anything, and offered him no verbal or written warnings about his conduct.

“This is a character assassination on David Bird,” said Wandel. He said he is working with the village’s legal team to see what can be done to challenge the vote on Monday.

“This is a political, personal attack,” he said. “I’m very upset about it.”

The decision led to no department head after the early part of the morning. In addition, Central Avenue paving work was not taking place.

“We’re in a state of turmoil,” Wandel said, “internally and externally.”

Bird was hired in late November at an annual salary of $57,000. His first day on the job was Dec. 8.

Even before the executive session, Village Hall was the site of a tussle. After the public portion, which is not recorded, there were reports of pushing and shoving by those in attendance as well as shouting. Fredonia police had to be called to the board room to make sure cooler heads prevailed.

Save Our Reservoir members were in attendance, though their comments were not part of the access broadcast.

Fredonia will pay Bird his unused sick time and vacation days, but is offering no other severance.

Bird concluded that he is in the process of hiring an attorney to sue Fredonia over the matter.