Messina Dumped From Parks Post
By John Valenti, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.
Mar. 29–The expected move came in an unexpected way.
A resolution to replace Acting Islip Town Supervisor Jeanette Messina in her role as commissioner of parks, recreation and cultural affairs was supposed to be on the agenda for yesterday’s town council meeting. It was not.
But as the morning session headed for adjournment at Town Hall, Councilwoman Pamela J. Greene proposed the resolution from the floor and requested the appointment of an acting commissioner, Kathleen Smith-O’Bannon.
Messina objected, saying the resolution had to be on the agenda, and needed unanimous support, to be considered. Town attorney Pierce Fox Cohalan countered, citing precedent. The long-rumored motion carried in a 3-1 vote supported by Greene and fellow councilmen Christopher D. Bodkin and Steven J. Flotteron. Councilman William J. Rowley was the only dissenting vote on the all-Republican council.
Just like that, Messina was out and Smith-O’Bannon was in as a committee searches for a permanent commissioner.
The uproar didn’t end there.
Rowley then motioned to make Messina – a Republican who has served as acting supervisor since the March 9 resignation and felony conviction of Pete McGowan – supervisor until Dec. 31, when a candidate elected in November would be sworn in to serve the final year of McGowan’s term.
No one seconded Rowley’s motion. Greene, who last week declared her intent to run for supervisor, said: “I was really surprised by Bill’s resolution. It was very definitive of where his support lies – or doesn’t.”
Earlier, the board unanimously approved renaming the Peter J. McGowan Concourse at Long Island MacArthur Airport as the Veterans Memorial Concourse. But those contentious final moments left Messina pondering her future.
“I have been assured by Councilwoman Greene that they’re very pleased with the job I’m doing,” Messina said. “Why would I doubt her word?”
Greene said Messina has performed “ably” since replacing McGowan, and that the board simply wants her to concentrate on that job. Greene said the town needed a full-time parks commissioner, citing the agency’s $10.99-million budget.
“If the argument is that Jeanette needs more time to concentrate on her role as supervisor, then I thought it only fair we give her the title,” Rowley said. “At a time like this the town needs someone with a steady hand, and she has shown she has that.”
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Copyright (c) 2006, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.
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