Opinion
2012-02-17
In the Matter of Roxanne ADRIAN, Petitioner–Respondent–Appellant, v. BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF CITY OF NIAGARA FALLS and Cynthia A. Bianco, in her Capacity as Superintendent of Schools, Respondents–Appellants–Respondents.
Hurwitz & Fine, P.C., Buffalo (Michael F. Perley of Counsel), for Respondents–Appellants–Respondents. Richard E. Casagrande, Latham (Anthony J. Brock of Counsel), for Petitioner–Respondent–Appellant.
Hurwitz & Fine, P.C., Buffalo (Michael F. Perley of Counsel), for Respondents–Appellants–Respondents. Richard E. Casagrande, Latham (Anthony J. Brock of Counsel), for Petitioner–Respondent–Appellant.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., FAHEY, CARNI, SCONIERS, AND MARTOCHE, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Petitioner commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding seeking, inter alia, to annul the determination terminating her employment with the City School District of City of Niagara Falls (District) based on her failure to comply with the District's residency policy, which requires District employees to be domiciliaries of the City of Niagara Falls. We agree with respondents on appeal that Supreme Court erred in granting the petition.
It is well established that a “domicile means living in [a] locality with intent to make it a fixed and permanent home” ( Matter of Newcomb, 192 N.Y. 238, 250, 84 N.E. 950; see Matter of Beck–Nichols v. Bianco, 89 A.D.3d 1405, 932 N.Y.S.2d 606). The evidence presented to respondent Board of Education of the District (Board) was sufficient to establish that petitioner was not a domiciliary of the City. Although the record contains some support for petitioner's contention that she was domiciled in Niagara Falls, the determination of the Board that petitioner was actually domiciled in Williamsville was not arbitrary and capricious, and it therefore should not have been disturbed ( see generally Matter of Pell v. Board of Educ. of Union Free School Dist. No. 1 of Towns of Scarsdale & Mamaroneck, Westchester County, 34 N.Y.2d 222, 230–231, 356 N.Y.S.2d 833, 313 N.E.2d 321). Petitioner maintained a phone line at the Williamsville residence but not at the Niagara Falls residence, and records from the Department of Motor Vehicles indicated that she lived at the Williamsville address. In addition, a surveillance company observed petitioner on six separate occasions, during different time periods, and found that she never went to the Niagara Falls residence and always left from and returned to the Williamsville residence. Although petitioner presented some evidence demonstrating that the Niagara Falls residence may have been her domicile, e.g., her voter registration card, rent payment receipts, driver's license and cable statements, that evidence was not so overwhelming as to support the court's determination granting the petition ( see generally id.).
Finally, petitioner's cross appeal must be dismissed because she is not aggrieved by the judgment on appeal, which granted the ultimate relief sought in the petition ( see generally Town of Massena v. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., 45 N.Y.2d 482, 488, 410 N.Y.S.2d 276, 382 N.E.2d 1139). To the extent that petitioner contends as an alternative ground for affirmance that the District improperly failed to conduct a hearing before terminating her ( see generally Parochial Bus Sys. v. Board of Educ. of City of N.Y., 60 N.Y.2d 539, 545–546, 470 N.Y.S.2d 564, 458 N.E.2d 1241), we reject that contention inasmuch as such a hearing was not required by law ( see Matter of O'Connor v. Board of Educ. of City School Dist. of City of Niagara Falls, 48 A.D.3d 1254, 852 N.Y.S.2d 537, lv. dismissed 10 N.Y.3d 928, 862 N.Y.S.2d 330, 892 N.E.2d 396).
It is hereby ORDERED that said cross appeal is unanimously dismissed, the judgment is reversed on the law without costs and the petition is dismissed.