MONTICELLO — Residents in the Village of Monticello are calling for the termination of Department of Public Works Acting Superintendent Raymond Jones after a video surfaced allegedly showing him using racial slurs to refer to one of his employees.

The video, filmed on a cellphone camera in early May, shows Jones using the N-word twice to refer to Equipment Operator Stefon McGinnis. McGinnis is a Monticello native who has worked for the Village's DPW since 2011.

McGinnis declined to comment to the Democrat due to ongoing union arbitration, but in previous statements to other media outlets said that Jones has been saying racist things for a “very long time” and this time he just happened to get caught.

McGinnis said he reported the comments to the village board and to Mayor Gary Sommers, but so far Jones is still on the job.

“To try to cover it up and act like it doesn't exist is just mind boggling,” McGinnis said.

Acting Superintendent Ray Jones did not return a request for comment. He was appointed to the position in 2019.

Village of Monticello Mayor Gary Sommers said that all members of the village board were made aware of the situation by early May.

“Please be advised that the Village of Monticello in no way, shape or form condones the use of any racial slurs or berating language from its management team or any of its employees,” Sommers said in a statement. “The Village however, by law is required to take all of the necessary procedures and follow all of the applicable sections of the law regarding a thorough investigation of any matter presented before them. So, we are asking that you give us time and that you please do not misconstrue this as a lack of concern, but know that we are diligent in taking the proper steps to rectify the current situation at hand.”

Sommers has come under criticism from Deputy Mayor George Nikolados, who is challenging him for the mayorship in the upcoming election on September 15.

“This is absolutely disgusting and totally unacceptable. Immediate action should have been taken,” Nikolados said in a statement online. “Unfortunately this information was kept from me for weeks due to the upcoming election.”

Nikolados accused other board members of trying to cover up the incident so as to not hurt their chances in the election, an allegation that Mayor Sommers vehemently denied.