Politics & Government
Islip Town Board Rethinks Plan to Limit Croci's Power
Reports claim town attorney believes town board will adjourn the public hearing set for Tuesday night.
Update at 2:20 p.m. Monday:
On her Facebook page, Councilwoman Trish Bergin Weichbrodt posted the following message: "Just a quick update for anyone who is still following this story...the entire Town Board, including the Supervisor, have reached a consensus on the functions of Town government. All the board members have agreed to make some internal changes to address and resolve all concerns that needed addressing. So for anyone who was planning on attending tonight's public hearing on the issue - we do appreciate your continued interest in government- however, the issue has been resolved.
Original story:
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Islip Town Supervisor Tom Croci may not be losing some powers after all.
Newsday reported that Town Attorney Robert Cicale said there is a "very good" chance the Town Board may vote to adjourn the public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m Tuesday at Town Hall and abandon two resolutions that would have stripped Croci of certain powers.
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Councilman Steven Flotteron, a Republican and an inital supporter of limiting Croci's power, said that he was not decided and his "mind has always been open."
Four Town Board members — three Republicans and one Conservative — voted in January in favor of holding a public hearing Feb. 12 to debate a pair of resolutions that would strip the Town supervisor of several powers including the hiring and firing of personnel, contract negotiations, purchasing powers and other administrative duties. Those powers would then fall to the Town Board as a whole, which the supervisor is a member of and has a vote.
At the same Town Board hearing, Croci said he believed these resolutions violated New York State law and asked Cicale to seek opinions from the state's attorney general and comptroller.
In January, Croci stripped Councilwoman Trish Bergin-Weichbrodt of the deputy supervisors title replacing her with town employee Linda Agnello.
Click Here to read more on Newsday [Subscription required] on why Islip Town Board may abandoned the proposed resolutions.
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