MIDDLETOWN Outspoken opponent of Joel Sierra, City of Middletown Common Councilman Joe Masi, has asked Orange County to file a petition with Governor Kathy Hochul to remove the lawmaker from office.
A verbal spat between Masi and Mayor Joe DeStefano has been sparked by former City of Middletown Police Chief Ramon Bethencourt, who is Sierra’s officially authorized advocate.
Middletown representative Sierra hasn’t shown up to a legislative session since March 30, 2022, but he still gets paid in full with benefits. Since he was hurt while working as a paid firefighter for the city of Middletown, he is said to have been unable to attend sessions. On December 31, 2025, Sierra’s four-year reign comes to an end.
Masi stated that it is a fantastic time for Orange County leadership to address that issue and ensure that residents are never left without representation. It is within the Governor’s power to take action. If the governor doesn’t step down, I hope Orange County will get in touch with him and start the process. The people of Middletown are entitled to and insist upon full representation.
In response to Masi’s criticism of Sierra, Bethencourt took a firm stance.
He added that Mr. Masi was reading a statement that Mayor Joe DeStefano had written. What Mr. Sierra does is not up to the county, Joe Masi, Mayor DeStefano, or any other member of their clique. It is dependent on Mr. Sierra’s health and when he is able to return, which he will (to the legislature).
According to Bethencourt, Sierra is not unable to assist a constituent who is having problems. We have no intention of departing, and I believe Mayor DeStefano is afraid Mr. Sierra would run against him. However, we won’t dispute his leaving the legislature, and we won’t bring it up in the media any more. For Mr. Sierra and his family, it is unfair.
According to DeStefano, Bethencourt’s argument is unfounded.
Legislator Sierra’s irate supporter Ramon Bethencourt is threatening to have Joel Sierra, the current county legislator, removed from office. Sierra has not shown up to county meetings, has not answered questions from the media, has not addressed concerns raised by constituents, and has continued to operate his private business for almost 750 days. In addition, he has accrued time in the pension system, received over $60,000 in no-show pay from taxpayers, and has been running against me for mayor in 2025.
DeStefano added that Sierra had sued the city in an effort to receive a special disability pension that would have required taxpayers in Middletown to support him until he turned 72 in exchange for not working, but the arbitrator had rejected his claim. He lost his charm once more. He is not entitled to this, according to the courts. Do we just have to watch this happen again? Not at all!
DeStefano stated he defended taxpayers, and even though Alderman Masi, Sierra, and I are all Democrats, it is our duty as aldermen to defend taxpayers and locals when we witness this kind of systemic abuse. It is Mr. Sierra’s responsibility to confront his purported ally, take a stand for himself, act honorably, go back to work, or step down from his elected position.
The Orange County Legislature’s chairperson, Katie Bonelli, told Mid-Hudson News earlier this week that the Sierra situation is troubling. Bonelli claims that there isn’t a way to remove Sierra from office.
According to Bonelli, “I know that if it were me, I would resign, but I can’t tell another legislator or another person how to behave.”
Masi pointed out that the charter of the City of Middletown included a clause that could allow for the removal of an elected person in such circumstances. Nevertheless, the county’s charter contains no such clause. An elected county official cannot be removed by Middletown. Masi stated that in order to ensure that this never occurs again, the county government should act now and include a clause in the charter.
According to Masi, I would also advise all 62 New York counties and all towns to check their charters to make sure they contain clauses for potential removal. Sierra used to be a valued member of the City of Middletown Common Council, therefore I don’t take joy in this.
Masi declared that Sierra has to go. The decent folks in the majority of Middletown City have not had representation for more than two years.
An email requesting comment for this story was not immediately answered by the Governor’s Office.
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