Bridget Fleming sworn in, helps push through gridlocked resolutions

Newly sworn-in Southampton Town Councilwoman Bridget Fleming had an immediate impact this week, helping to push through two hirings that had been stuck in gridlock by a panel sharply, and evenly, divided on the proposals.

Ms. Fleming, a Democrat, cast the deciding vote at the board’s meeting Tuesday night to create an energy coordinator position and fill it by hiring Matthew de la Houssaye at a salary of $60,000, not including benefits, which will be paid for through grants. Later in the meeting, she likewise tipped the scales in favor of promoting part-time court officer Richard Spera to full time. Mr. Spera, who was making $20 per hour working part time, will be paid a full-time salary of $46,145, and will be eligible for health insurance.

Both measures passed by 3-2 margins, with town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, who is not affiliated with a political party, and Councilwoman Nancy Graboski, a Republican, voting yes on the proposals, and Councilmen Chris Nuzzi, a Republican, and Jim Malone, a Conservative, voting no.

Mr. Nuzzi and Mr. Malone previously vowed to oppose the creation of an energy coordinator position on the grounds that they thought it would be a civil service job that would eventually be funded by taxpayer money. The official resolution to create the post says that Mr. de la Houssaye’s salary will come from a grant from a $206,600 energy efficiency and conservation block grant from the federal Department of Energy.

When the coordinator position was first proposed and discussed in late February, Ms. Throne-Holst tabled the vote on it until late March, hoping that by that time she would have the support of Ms. Fleming, who was in the midst of campaigning for the vacant Town Board seat.

Mr. Nuzzi and Mr. Malone—who offered no further comment on their decisions during the meeting—voted against the proposal on Tuesday night despite Ms. Throne-Holst’s insistence that the position would only be a provisional one until the civil service system develops a test for it. That process could take as long as a year and a half, she said, responding to an inquiry from Mr. Malone.

Ms. Graboski reiterated that the position would pay for itself through “energy savings for town facilities,” as part of Mr. de la Houssaye’s job duties will be to find ways for the town to save on utilities. “This is an opportunity for us to be on the cutting edge,” she said, noting that Babylon Town is the only other municipality on Long Island with a similar position.

Mr. Nuzzi and Mr. Malone also opposed the court officer position, but with the support of Ms. Fleming, the measure passed.

Mr. Malone previously recommended keeping Mr. Spera in his current part-time capacity and hiring three additional part-time workers to fill in any gaps in the court officers’ schedule. But some of the town justices, and other court staff, as well as Police Chief James 
Overton, said that the new justice court on Jackson Avenue in Hampton Bays needs skilled staff members and lobbied for Mr. Spera to be promoted to full time.

Shortly before Tuesday’s resolutions were voted on, Ms. Fleming participated in a ceremonial swearing-in with Town Justice Andrea Schiavoni administering the oath of office. She was officially sworn in by Town Clerk Sundy Schermeyer on March 16 and she participated in the Town Board work session last Thursday, March 18. Because she is filling the seat vacated by Mr. Throne-Holst, Ms. Fleming’s term ends December 31, 2011.