After months of intense public argument, mayor Jason West has decided to officially sue the New Paltz Village Board regarding his salary decrease. He also announced that he will take a paid one-month leave of absence due to unspecified medical reasons. And earlier this month -- due to his cut in pay -- West said he’d clock no more than 14 hours each week. And last week, West fired village planner Curt Lavalla, whom he had hired in 2012. “It is a personnel issue at the moment and I am not prepared to comment,” stated acting mayor Rebecca Rotzler regarding Lavalla’s termination.