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Friday, May 3, 2019
Vol. 79, No. 18
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Assemblyman to investigate LIRR salaries
CLEANING UP THE WATERS
BY GARY SIMEONE
County Executive Curran said. “The legislation package I’m signing into law today represents a big step towards ending the scourge of veterans homelessness in Nassau County.” “Today is an exciting day here in Nassau County, as collectively we are renewing our iron-clad commitment to our veterans,” Legislator Lafazan said. “Our men and women in uniform have a great deal to worry about - the
New York State Assemblyman Michael Montesano has called for an investigation into a recently retired LIRR employee who collected nearly $350,000 in overtime compensation in 2018. “The fact that an employee of the LIRR acquired this kind of overtime salary in one year is troubling to say the least,” said Montesano. “Even more troubling is the fact that there is no documentation, timesheets or any proof that the work even took place.” Montesano said that the employee, Thomas Caputo, was a senior employee with thirty years on the job, working as a chief measurement operator for the LIRR. “He drove a special train car, (Advanced Track Geometry car,) maintaining the car and operating the specialized instruments. Because of his seniority, he was able to pick and choose the jobs over other employees. He was able to stack his overtime pay over the last three years because of specific antiquated union rules.” According to the Empire Group, a nonprofit group that breaks down payroll payments of the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority,) Caputo made $344,147 in overtime payments in addition to his annual salary, bringing his total compensation to $461,646. “What’s unbelievable is that there was nobody to supervise or question or show that he did the job,” said Montesano. “I’m not saying this is the case but over the past few years there has been an increase in overtime fraud in the railroad and in other jurisdictions like the police department.” He added that with the LIRR increasing its fares, the exorbitant overtime salaries to senior employees is a perfect example of how they waste money. Montesano said that his office recently sent out letters to the MTA Inspector General and LIRR President Phillip Eng, calling for an investigation into the matter. “I’m asking the Inspector General to investigate this guy’s employment records and see if this was indeed legiti-
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Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino joined with Oyster Bay resident Billy Joel and Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign legislation into law that protects north and south shore waters from dangerous oil spills.
New bills to aid homelessness vets BY GARY SIMEONE
On April 30, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran signed into law two bills that together will launch Legislator Joshua Lafazan’s (Woodbury) “Dignity for our Heroes” initiative to eliminate homelessness among Nassau County’s veterans. The measures, which were formally enacted by County Executive Curran during a bill-signing ceremony at the Legislature
on Tuesday, April 30, amends the County’s Human Rights Law to explicitly ban discrimination against veterans in housing and employment, and establishes the Nassau Commission on Ending Veteran Homelessness. “We have an estimated 5,000 veterans in Nassau who are homeless or at risk of being homeless – that is unacceptable. No one who risked their life for our freedom should have to spend their nights sleeping under a train overpass,”
Car Show Long Island planned for May 19 PAGE 3 Enjoy outdoor summer volleyball games PAGE 13