The Garden City News (2/3/23) by Litmor Publishing

Friday, February 3, 2023

Vol. 100, No.5

FOUNDED 1923

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New music

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Free beer

UNDEFEATED IN CONFERENCE

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Mayor questions if trustee can serve; attorneys say it’s ok BY MEG MORGAN NORRIS

The Garden City High School Girls Basketball team has been undefeated in conference play this season with just a few games left to go. The girls will have a rematch against South Side at home on February 10th at 5 pm. Come down to support the Lady Trojans, with the conference title on the line. See page 53.

Cleaning for St. Paul’s interior approved by narrow margin BY RIKKI MASSAND

The Garden City Board of Trustees narrowly approved a $48,600 contract for cleaning the first and second floors of the St. Paul’s main building during the Board’s January 12th meeting. The firm awarded the contract, Island Wide Building Services, also provides cleaning services at Village Hall and the Garden

City Public Library. The trustees were not all in agreement to move forward with the cleaning of St. Paul’s interior as the future of the building is still unclear. The board approved this cleaning contract proposal, with a vote of five in favor and three opposed. Mayor Cosmo Veneziale, Trustees Terry Digan and Bruce Torino,

along with Deputy Mayor Tom O’Brien and Trustee Bruce Chester voted in favor of the cleaning; Trustees Lawrence Marciano, Mary Carter Flanagan and Charles Kelly voted ‘nay.’ Deputy Mayor Tom O’Brien explained the need for a thorough cleaning and sanitization, which was brought to the See page 46

Garden City Mayor Cosmo Veneziale sent a letter to the employer of another member of the Board of Trustees questioning whether she can run for the position of mayor, according to a document obtained by the Garden City News. However, the trustee says that she has received approval from the ethics officer at her job before each election in which she was a candidate. In the letter, written on Board of Trustees letterhead and dated January 23rd, Mayor Veneziale questioned whether Trustee Mary Carter Flanagan can continue to serve on the Board of Trustees, and run for mayor because she is also an Administrative Law Judge for the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. Mayor Veneziale’s letter to the Ethics Officer of the Workers’ Compensation Board claimed that, “As Mayor, there are many statutory activities that she would have to undertake that have the potential to run afoul of her position as WCB Law Judge.” He said that as mayor she would have the sole responsibility to execute all contracts entered into by the Village, and would also be in a position to evaluate injuries sustained by employees and their continuations on a disabled status. Garden City Village Counsel Gary Fishberg said that he doesn’t believe that there is a problem with her serving on the Board or with being mayor, if elected. He said that if any conflicts did arise, Trustee Carter Flanagan could recuse herself from voting on a particular matter. And in the event that a contract needed to be executed that might pose a conflict, the Village’s Deputy Mayor could sign instead. Mr. Fishberg said that he informed Mayor Veneziale that he had reviewed the Workers’ Compensation judges’ ethics policy and didn’t see an issue. Trustee Carter Flanagan said that she has received clearance from her employer to serve on the Board of Trustees, and said Mayor Veneziale never asked her about the issue before sending his letter. “I find Cosmo Veneziale’s use of Village letterhead disturbing and support further evaluation so this never happens to another resident volunteer. As a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge, I am required to request approval to run for elected office which I have See page 47

Adelphi PAC plans exciting season PAGE 3 New technology head for GC schools PAGE 12