Judge to rule soon on Witmer charges BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer HAMILTON - Middletown Superintendent of Schools David L. Witmer finished up testimony at his administrative law hearing Friday by saying that he felt a policy and procedures manual was necessary because there was no such thing upon his arrival in the district nearly four years ago. While testifying on the last day of a series of hearings that started last summer, Witmer claimed he helped put together the manual, which never made it to print. He is accused of misappropriating about $23,000 worth of vacation and personal days and was suspended exactly one year ago from his nearly $177,000-per-year position. His salary was reinstated last June 1, as per state policy. Witmer took the stand and stated that he or his secretary, Renate Mey, had always notified district officials of his absences, including members of the Board of Education. Mey was the last witness of the day, and she testified that she and other district officials had trouble reaching Witmer during one of the many false bomb threats the school received during the 2004-05 school year. "I tried his cell [phone] but I couldn't reach him," Mey said. "I don't know if there was a connection problem, but I knew I didn't talk to him." She went on to say that she had "no memory of it" when asked if other administrators had problems with cell phones that were provided by the district. When asked if she thought other members of the administration tried to get in touch with Witmer during bomb threats, Mey said yes. "I don't even know if he was in or out of the district when I tried to call him," Mey testified. As for any absences that the 69-year-old Witmer may have had during his tenure, Mey said she did not remember him filling out any absence request forms, but that she did them for him upon occasion when asked. She said she did not recall how often she actually filled them out, except to say "not that many times." She also explained what the procedure was if Witmer did not ask to have the forms filled out. "I assumed he was dealing with the personnel department directly, as most superintendents have done in the past," said Mey, who has been secretary to the superintendent since 1988. Administrative Law Judge Joseph Martone said he will review the evidence and make a decision in a few weeks, and his recommendation will go to the state commissioner of education for a final ruling on the matter.