SCHOHARIE — Following a two-week standoff with Schoharie County elected leaders, the rural county’s embattled public health director, Amy Gildemeister, has accepted a job at the state Department of Health.
Gildemeister — who was unanimously approved for a new six-year term by the county Board of Health but has allegedly been denied access to her office and county resources by opponents — has been hired as associate director of nutrition policy and partnership for the state agency, state health department officials have confirmed.
The Schoharie County Board of Supervisors, which acts as the county’s legislative body, has refused to reauthorize Gildemeister’s salary and two weeks ago, she said they changed the locks on her office, cut her email access and named an interim health director outside of state health department requirements — despite the state Department of Health sending a forceful letter stating the local health board’s authority.
In a resignation letter to the county Board of Health, Gildemeister cited “hostile work conditions” and “extreme duress” as reasons for seeking and accepting another position.
She began her job search after the county Board of Supervisors — which has sparred with Gildemeister over her implementation of COVID-19 mandates — voted at a December board meeting to eliminate the health director’s salary.
The supervisors have declined to publicly share a reason for the decision, which they said was discussed during a prior executive session. To reporters, Schoharie Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Federice alluded to a “personnel matter” and “write-ups” about Gildemeister’s performance.
The Times Union filed a Freedom of Information Law request for a copy of a report on Gildemeister that was allegedly presented during the executive session. The request was denied.
Gildemeister…
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