MONDAY: Hodgson Russ will work with BOCES as independent contractors (6:03 p.m.)

By Joe Olenick<br><a href="mailto:olenickj@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Joe</a>

May 12, 2008 06:03 pm

— A local law firm that will no longer have its lawyers placed on the payroll of Board of Cooperative Educational Services still intends to work with BOCES as independent contractors.
According to a state attorney general investigation, the firm, Hodgson Russ of Buffalo, had allowed its lawyers on payrolls of five BOCES. The investigation began earlier in the year by looking at the hiring and employment practices of BOCES and school districts in the state.
Gary Schober, president and CEO of Hodgson Russ said in a released statement Monday that his firm intends to continue to work with BOCES as independent contractors. He said the relationship between the firm and BOCES was “absolutely proper” and that Hodgson Russ received just an hourly fee.
“The practice of placing attorneys on the payrolls of BOCES has been routinely approved by state officials, well known throughout the state and followed by many in upstate for approximately 25 years,” he said. “While Hodgson Russ attorneys were on the payrolls of the five BOCES, those attorneys never received any pension, health insurance or other public benefits.”
Schober added, “We will, without admitting any wrongdoing, discontinue the practice of permitting our attorneys to be placed on the payrolls of any BOCES.”
The five BOCES include: Orleans-Niagara BOCES in Medina; Erie 1 BOCES in West Seneca: Erie 2 BOCES in Angola; Monroe 2 BOCES in Spencerport; and Cattaraugus-Allegany-Erie-Wyoming BOCES in Olean.