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Clerk put on leave after alleged insult
First published: Friday, January 18, 2008

SCHENECTADY -- The city has put one of its clerks on paid administrative leave for allegedly insulting the mother of a bicycle accident victim in an e-mail.
Chantell Hosier, whose 11-year-old son was hit by a car and killed in July 2005, says she received an e-mail accusing her of not watching her children. She said the e-mail -- which had a Schenectady City Hall address -- was sent Tuesday following an exchange in the Albany "rants and raves" section of the Web site Craig's List.
     
Hosier said she contacted city officials to complain about the comment. She said she did not know the person it came from.
Schenectady Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden said the employee, who he refused to name or say what department he or she worked in, was put on leave until Monday.
"The mayor considers it a serious matter and appropriate action will be taken," Van Norden said.
Hosier's son, Joseph, suffered fatal injuries after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle across the intersection of Sunset Street and Second Avenue. The youngster rode his bike into traffic and apparently did not stop at a stop sign, police said.
The boy was not wearing a helmet, police said. The driver of the car was not charged.