Politics & Government

More Details Arise in Vote for Mangano Legislation 315-12

A weekly look-in at the news of Nassau County.

The plot thickened this week in the union fight against Nassau County Local Law 315-12, a measure that gives County Executive Ed Mangano authority to make more than $40 million in budget cuts without legislative approval.

According to Courthouse News, a complaint from the Nassau County Sheriff's Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA) alleges that Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt, R-Massapequa, adjourned the May 21 legislative meeting, and, after speaking with Mangano via telephone, Schmitt reconvened the legislators to vote on the measure.

Republicans brought in Legislator Dennis Dunne, R-Levittown, who was recovering from leg surgery, via speaker phone, according to the complaint, to secure a 10-0 majority vote.

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Democratic Legislators left the chamber and did not vote.

"Local Law 315-2010 remains pending for Mangano's signature," according to Courthouse News Service. "Under County Charter Section 153, should he not approve or disapprove the measure within 30 days, it will become a county law."

Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The union wants the law declared void for illegal procedures, including lack of a quorum, illegal session, and open meeting violations.

NIFA Director Blasts County's Attempt to Borrow Money

Nassau County is seeking to bypass the state oversight board managing its finances and borrow funds from New York State, a New York Post columnist wrote.

George J. Marlin, director of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, wrote:

If the state Legislature goes along, the move will quickly backfire on Nassau — and rapidly prove disastrous for other local New York governments.

NIFA imposed a control period on the county in January 2011 after the state watchdog determined that Nassau’s budget would reportedly run a deficit of approximately $176 million in the 2011 fiscal year. While the county sued to try and block the NIFA takeover, a Nassau judge upheld the decision.

To read more on the story, click the headline.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here