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Friday, August 19, 2022
Vol. 71, No. 33
N E W H Y D E PA R K
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
COUNTY POLICE KAPLAN, JOSEPH SEEK RELEASE BAIL STATS SENATE NOMINATION
PAGES 21-24, 29-32
PAGE 2
PAGE 6, 8
Town building department to be audited Review sought by Supervisor DeSena to include operations, procedures BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y The Town of North Hempstead’s Building Department will be undergoing an audit, courtesy of the Nassau County Comptroller’s Office. The review will include, but not be limited to, an examination of the department’s operations and procedures, the internal control environment, performance monitoring and regulatory compliance. Audit Supervisor Blaine Griffin will be conducting the review that will encompass personnel interviews, documenting workflow, data analysis and compliance testing, among other things. The period of review will be from Jan. 1, 2020 to the present time. Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said in a statement she has made repairing the Building Department her top priority. “I am pleased that the Nassau County Comptroller’s Office has completed their independent review of my request to audit the Town’s Building Department and will be commencing the audit process beginning this week,” DeSena said. “Since my first day in office, I have made rehabilitating the Building Department my No. 1 priority and this independent and impartial assessment will undoubtedly cut to the core of the
problems that have been plaguing the Building Department for years.” She added, “When this process is complete, the results of this audit will help protect our residents and business owners and guide the transformation of our Building Department from deeply flawed and problematic into the most efficient and well-run Building Department on Long Island.” The Building Department has long been a focus of DeSena and town government. On July 11, DeSena announced that she sent a letter to Nassau Comptroller Elaine Philips requesting an audit following a review of town operations since she took office earlier this year. DeSena spoke alongside Democratic Councilmembers Marianna Dalimonte and Veronica Lurvey, who both supported the call for an audit, at a news conference. “I welcome the county comptroller’s fiscal audit team and look forward to their financial findings,” Lurvey said. “I look forward to seeing the results of this audit as there is always room for improvement, be it financial with the help of the comptroller, or operationally based on the decisions we make as Town Board members.” This year the Town Board has Continued on Page 42
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday, joined by leaders of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on a ceremonial first ride, announced the opening of the first section of the Long Island Rail Road’s new Main Line Third Track. See story on page 3.
4 Dems vie for Rice’s seat in Tuesday vote BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
former Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen, Muzibul Huq and Nassau Four Democrats are running in County Legislator Carrie Solages are the state’s 4th Congressional District vying to face Republican candidate and Hempstead Councilman Anthoprimary election on Aug. 23. Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett, ny D’Esposito in the district’s general
election in November. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City) announced in February that she would not seek reelection this year. Rice, who was first Continued on Page 43
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