In early August 2026, word began circulating that the City of Beacon’s HR Director, Sara Morris, was leaving her position. Shortly after, the rumor expanded to include that Sara was moving to serve within the New York State Bridge Authority. The City of Beacon does not customarily comment or announce when city employees resign or are terminated, reserving these announcements for select celebratory retirements.

A Little Beacon Blog has been waiting for a public announcement of Sara’s departure in order to report the employment change, but none had come thus far. The supposedly open position is not listed on the HR Director page of the City’s website.

How Confirmation Of The Employment Departure Was Acquired

On Monday’s City Council Workshop Meeting 10/5/2026 Agenda was a seemingly benign proposed resolution titled “Local Law Concerning Mid-Year Salary Increases for Appointed Employees and Officer.” The Workshop is when the Council discusses the pros and cons of the law.

Basic information about the law was given by Ben Swanson, the City Administrator, who stated: "Essentially this law is pretty straight forward. Gives the city the flexibility of making non-budget cycle amendments to salaries for leadership and management simply as a way that would give us the flexibility that if we have staff that are considering other opportunities that we may have some flexibility in changing compensation to retain key leadership staff. It doesn't obligate us to do anything, but gives us some flexibility in that regard."

Attorney Nick Ward-Willis further clarified to state that the amendment to the charter mandates that while the Mayor can make this recommendation, it requires that the salary change be brought to the Council to approve that change.

After no one commented at Public Hearing, Mayor Kyriacou began to close the Public Hearing, but added: "This was prompted by the loss of one of our senior managers to a adjacent state agency, who I didn't think was a better place to go, but was paying better. And so that's what prompting this. I'll take a motion to close the - "

As he took the motion to close, Katie Hellmuth of A Little Beacon Blog asked to make a question. “I’ll allow it,” the Mayor said. Katie asked: "Are we allowed to know who that person was? We see who gets hired, but we do not see who leaves, unless they have a..."

"It was our Head of HR," the Mayor confirmed.

Screenshot of Sara Morris as new HR Director for the New York State Bridge Authority.

While Mayor Kyracou did not specify where Sara went, the New York State Bridge Authority has since updated their website to include Sara as their HR Director. Which now validates what was suspected over the summer.

It was revealed during the meeting that there have been at least 100 applications for Beacon’s HR Director position.

At the bottom of this article is the video portion of this meeting capturing the discussion.

When Did News Of The Departure Begin?

This rumor began months after A Little Beacon Blog published in May that a Highway Department employee, James Cottrell, had been fired the day after filing his complaint of targeted harassment within his department by department heads, which included being filmed with video glasses by another employee. James rejected his termination and elected to move forward with an arbitration hearing, which was to begin in September 2026.

Shortly before that, in March, the City Administrator Chris White abruptly retired. While the announced plan was for Chris to leave mid-June, he never returned to the office. While Chris is no spring chicken, he could be considered a young buck. There was no stated reason why he left. Speculation remains open and A Little Beacon Blog is seeking confirmation on how events unfolded in that departure.

Since then, employees have come and gone from the City of Beacon, including Chris Servedio who signed on as a supporting witness to James’ claims of targeted harassment, according to the complaint that ALBB has seen. Chris was hired in April 2023, and resigned in 2026. He was replaced by John Testerman in July 2026.

Sara was the City of Beacon’s second HR Director, having replaced Gina Basile who was hired in a shared services arrangement while the City of Beacon was financially investing in firing Reuben Simmons, who at one time, served as the Highway Department’s Superintendent of Streets. His position was dissolved during an internal dispute led by the department of that time, was replaced by current head Michael Manzi. Reuben usually drives the Street Sweeper truck and continues with his arbitration hearings, while continuing to pursue leadership roles such as Union President, a position he once held.