IN RE WEST BABYLON UNION v. WEST BABYLON

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

It is well settled that an arbitration award will not be set aside unless it is against public policy, totally irrational, or in excess of the arbitrator's powers ( see, Matter of Silverman [Benmor Coats], 61 NY2d 299; Matter of Kaplan v Werlin, 215 AD2d 388). Contrary to the petitioner's argument, the arbitrator, in interpreting the parties' collective bargaining agreement, did not act in excess of his authority. Nor can it be said that the arbitrator's determination, which found that the contract required that the respondent Martha Kolodkin receive notice of the charges against her, was totally irrational ( see, Maross Constr. v Central N. Y. Regional Transp. Auth., 66 NY2d 341, 346; Matter of East Ramapo Teachers Assn. v East Ramapo Cent. School Dist., 191 AD2d 696, 697). To the extent that Matter of Riverbay Corp. (Local 32-E, S.E.I.V., AFL-CIO) ( 91 AD2d 509) may support the petitioner's position, we decline to follow that case.

We have considered the petitioner's remaining contention and find it to be without merit.