Vol. 77, No. 2
Friday, January 13, 2017
Bethpage Water District swears in first female commissioner
Town Supervisor resigns amid political scandal BY GARY SIMEONE
Bethpage Water District’s newly-elected Commissioner Teri Black is sworn in during a public board meeting Tuesday, January 3, at the district office. The Bethpage Water District proudly announced today that Teri Black, a lifelong Bethpage resident, has recently been inducted to the District’s Board of Commissioners. Teri Black is the first woman to ever serve as a Bethpage Water District Water Commissioner. She was elected to serve her first term, this past December. “I have given my adult life to the betterment of Bethpage through my years of community service,” said Commissioner Teri Black. “Having attended the Navy RAB meetings, as well as other community meetings on this matter for nearly 20 years, I have monitored this situation as a resident, business owner and owner of a building on Broadway in Bethpage.” Black, who has owned Century 21 Catapano Homes in Bethpage since 1992, continues to be an active volunteer in the community as a current board member of the Bethpage Chamber of Commerce. She
is also a member of the Operation Downtown Street Lights/Sidewalk Revitalization Committee, the Bethpage Anti-Graffiti Task Force and the Bethpage Beautification Committee. The Bethpage Community has also benefited through her past involvement in the Bethpage Community Council, Marshall Captain in the US Open and the Bethpage School District Parent Teacher Association. “I believe the Bethpage Water District has been moving in the right direction with the work they have done in bringing the Navy and Northrop Grumman into the remediation process,” said Commissioner Teri Black. “We are at a critical point in our efforts to effectively handle the plume and hold Northrop Grumman and the United States Navy responsible for the cleanup. I am a skilled and successful negotiator, and I look forward to working with the involved parties at this vital time.”
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Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, who is under indictment on federal corruption charges, officially resigned from his position last Wednesday. The former Supervisor said in a statement to the public, that it was in the best interests of the town and its residents that he resign and focus on clearing his name. Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Joseph Muscarella has been acting as interim Supervisor since Venditto left office. In his statement to the public which was issued after the announcement of his resignation, Venditto said “I realize that a number people have formed an opinion of me over the past year or so, particularly in light of the federal charges that have been brought against me. However, those who truly know me understand that I have never sought to personally profit from my time in public service.” He added as an example that he began drawing pension in January of 2016, two years after he was eligible to do so. “I reduced my Town salary by the amount of my pension so that my total compensation remained exactly the same. All of this was done at a substantial savings to our already hard-pressed taxpaying residents, and also to avoid any appearance of double-dipping.” As a result of the indictment and the federal corruption charges brought against him he said that, “I have decided to leave my position as the Oyster Bay Town Supervisor. I now feel that it is in the best interests of the Town and its residents for me to do so, especially since it will be difficult, if not impossible, for me to function as the Town Supervisor going forward, as I focus on clearing my name.”
Town Councilman and interim Supervisor, Muscarella, said of Venditto’s decision, “Supervisor Venditto dedicated many years of his life to public service and can look back upon many positive accomplishments during his tenure. We wish him well as he addresses the personal issues that are before him.” Many residents had differing opinions on the former Supervisor’s decision to resign from his post. Amanda Field, the new Plainview Water District Commissioner, said that, “Venditto resigned to take this time to focus on clearing his name. The courts will decide the outcome of this story.” Another resident said on a Fa cebook page calling for his resignation, “He should step down... He barely won the last election. And in January he started collecting his pension. Many will say he did a lot of things for the TOB. But at what cost? The town is broke and has a Junk Bond Rating. He sold the Highway Dept. building in Syosset after spending millions of dollars to update the property. What’s it going to cost us to relocate them when the lease runs out? We can’t keep mortgaging our kids future!” Yet another resident exclaimed, “What’s best for the town and its residents is a resignation!” A special meeting was called this past Friday at Oyster Bay Town Hall to consider the selection of a new supervisor to replace Venditto. The meeting was postponed to Tuesday, January 10th however because half of the Town Council failed to show up at the meeting. Muscarella said he is not seeking the Town Supervisor’s position and that he wants to continue to serve the public in the capacity that he serves.
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