GLOVERSVILLE — Former Gloversville city clerk Gary Margiotta has rejected an offer by the city to settle his lawsuit for $42,000.

In papers filed this morning in federal court, Elmer Robert Keach III, Margiotta's attorney, did not comment on the city's offer, other than to say the offer was rejected.

The settlement offer was included in the paperwork filed by Keach today. That paperwork, signed by attorney Gregg Johnson of Girvin & Ferlazzo, said the offer was not an admission of liability or wrongdoing and was only being made in hopes of "avoiding the expense and distraction associated with defending the claims."

Margiotta filed suit after four members of the Common Council reached a consensus in telephone conversations not to renew his appointment as city clerk and Margiotta was escorted from his office by a police officer on Dec. 29, 2006. Mayor Timothy Hughes and Councilman-at-Large James Handy accompanied the police officer.

No explanation for the firing has been provided either to the public or to the three other council members.