Three members of the Southampton Town Police Department were promoted to the rank of sergeant through last-minute resolutions introduced by Town Board member Jim Malone on Tuesday.
Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst decried Mr. Malone’s method of introducing the resolutions and said the promotions may not be necessary pending the outcome of the negotiations she is in with the Southampton Town Patrolman’s Benevolent Association.
“I don’t appreciate your untoward move and effort to embarrass me,” she said to Mr. Malone.
Ms. Throne-Holst has been working on having officers work either steady shifts or 12-hour shifts, both of which the PBA supports.
Police Chief James Overton, who attended the meeting, said he supported the promotions and has wanted them acted on since January so the department could gear up for the summer. He wants the current schedule, which has rotating shifts, to remain.
Chief Overton accused Ms. Throne-Holst of not putting forward promotions because of issues he and she were having over the Police Department/Labor Relations Committee, which was created by the supervisor.
Despite her protests, Ms. Throne-Holst joined the rest of the board in voting to unanimously approve the promotions. She said that she was never against the promotions, but wanted the proper procedure followed.
Detective Susan Ralph, Officer Howard Kalb and Officer Todd Spender were all promoted to sergeant and will be paid $112,279 each.
Sergeant Lawrence Schurek Jr. was made lieutenant in a separate, less controversial vote. He is replacing former Town Board member candidate William Hughes, who retired.
PBA President Pat Aube said Wednesday morning that he hopes the Town Board is prepared to hire police officers to replace those who were promoted and pointed out that the department is now short a total of six officers.
Earlier in the meeting, Ms. Throne-Holst accused Mr. Malone of skipping out on five of the six meetings the labor relations committee has held so far. Mr. Malone responded that he has not been attending because he believed negotiations were taking place during the committee’s meetings and that it would be a conflict of interest if he were to vote on the contract he helped negotiate.
Committee Appointments
The Town Board filled vacancies on a number of boards—although some appointments were done through last-minute resolutions, a move that elicited an outcry from new Town Board member Bridget Fleming.
Town Board member Chris Nuzzi introduced five late resolutions that named new members to the Planning Board, Architectural Review Board, and others. Those resolutions competed with those put on the regular Town Board agenda by Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, but Mr. Nuzzi garnered the support of Mr. Malone and Councilwoman Nancy Graboski, who together make up a Republican-Conservative alliance.
“This smacks much less of open government and more like a private club,” Ms. Fleming said.
The trio voted John Zuccarelli onto the Planning Board. Ms. Throne-Holst had put forth current member Alma Hyman as a candidate.
Terence Flanagan, already a member of the Conservation Board, was knocked out of his seat by the appointment of Scott Horowitz.
Rebecca Molinaro, who works for New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., was appointed to the Assessment Review Board, filling a seat vacated by William Berkoski, who is now on the Planning Board.
Both Mr. Horowitz and Ms. Molinaro tried to secure the Republican nomination for the Town Board seat in the fall.
Deputy Supervisor Frank Zappone noted that Ms. Molinaro had never interview before the Town Board.
In a less controversial appointment, Sally Spanburgh, who writes a blog about Southampton Village architecture, was appointed to the Historic Districts and Landmarks Board.
Town Attorney
Michael Sordi of Nesconset was appointed town attorney Tuesday night, and began his new job that same evening by taking notes during the board’s meeting.
Mr. Sordi, who has worked in the Nassau County Attorney’s office as a senior trial attorney and also has had a private practice, will be paid a salary of $115,000 per year. He said that his private practice focused on real estate, criminal law, zoning and civil cases. Mr. Sordi’s term will expire December 31, 2011.
Kathleen Murray had previously been serving as deputy town attorney.
Joseph Shaw, Executive Editor on Apr 16, 2010