Serving Manhasset
guide to
" # $ % !
$1
Friday, June 2, 2017
Vol. 5, No. 22
# % #
GUIDE TO HARBORFEST
MANHASSET FALLS TO LAVINE DROPS GARDEN CITY IN LACROSSE COUNTY EXEC BID
PAGES 33-66
PAGE 95
PAGE 6
Brother-in-law of mayor declines administrative job
ROCKETS RED GLARE
BY ST E P H E N ROMANO
Daniel Breen will remain in current role in Village of Munsey Park BY ST E P H E N ROMANO The brother-in-law of Munsey Park Mayor Frank DeMento, who was recently appointed to a newly created village administrator position, has declined the job after the village was criticized by residents and former oďŹƒcials. Daniel Breen, DeMento’s brother-in-law, who was hired in January 2016 as one of three fulltime utility workers and received a promotion two weeks ago, will continue in his current role, according to a statement released by the village on Tuesday. “The village Board of Trustees will continue its search for a wellqualiďŹ ed candidate, in an eort to increase eďŹƒciency within the village, decrease delays in certain village business, present an overall cost savings to the village and in general to contribute to a more user-friendly environment for the residents of the village,â€? the state-
ment said. The issue is on the agenda for the Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday. Eorts to reach Breen were unavailing, and DeMento did not respond to an email request to comment. “It would seem that he thought the better of it or Frank thought it was no longer reasonable for him to pursue it,â€? former Mayor Harry Nicolaides said Tuesday. The Board of Trustees voted 3-1 on May 10, with DeMento abstaining, to appoint Breen to the position. After the decision to appoint Breen to the village administrator position came under ďŹ re, the village defended the move in a statement, saying Breen had taken on additional responsibilities beyond his job description and would help oversee administrative and on-theground work. Among the duties of the vilContinued on Page 91
DA: $229K stolen by lawyer
PHOTO BY KAREN RUBIN
The Town of North Hempstead honored veterans during its Memorial Day fireworks and commemoration ceremony on Saturday at North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington. See more photos on page 74.
A Manhasset lawyer who prosecutors said stole $229,900 from a client to pay for a North Hills Country Club membership and other expenses was arrested last Wednesday. Alfred DiGirolomo Jr., 61, received $229,900 from his client, a restaurateur, to fund settlements in three lawsuits, Nassau County prosecutors said. DiGirolomo sent a forged stipulation of settlement or satisfaction of judgment to his client saying the cases had been resolved when they were still ongoing, prosecutors said. The client’s new attorney discovered that DiGirolomo did not ďŹ le the satisfactions of judgment with the court and contacted the Nassau County district attorney’s oďŹƒce, which opened the case in January. DiGirolomo used the money to pay credit card expenses and for utilities, gasoline, cars, insurance, department stores, a civic association, a ďŹ gure skating club and a cigar club, prosecutors said. “These thefts are particularly egregious because the defendant allegedly used the money he stole from his client for extravagant purchases – like country club dues and car payments,â€? Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said. “Lawyers who betray their cliContinued on Page 79
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D on’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow