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Huntington board approves short-term extension for certain positions, 4-1 amid objections over staff contracts
Summary
The Huntington Town Board approved a resolution authorizing the comptroller to amend the 2025 operating budget to extend the end date of certain positions to March 21, 2025, passing 4-1 after a councilmember criticized contract terms offered to a longtime legislative aide and questioned replacing staff with a call center.
At a special meeting called after a notice dated Feb. 18, 2025, the Huntington Town Board approved a resolution authorizing the comptroller to amend the 2025 operating budget and its special districts to extend the termination date for certain positions to close of business on March 21, 2025.
The measure was offered by Supervisor Edmund J. Smith and seconded by Councilman Bernardo. The board adopted the resolution in a 4-1 vote; the presiding officer noted Councilman Farrow was absent.
A councilmember who opposed the measure said they had voted against the underlying resolution when it was introduced at the previous meeting and repeated objections during the special session. “This time extension, I hope, will allow for more time to think this through,” the councilmember said, adding that their legislative aide was provided a written contract only the day before. “Among other terms, the contract requires that in order for her to keep healthcare benefits upon termination... she would have to agree to never work for the town full time again,” the councilmember said. The speaker described other contract conditions as “unconscionable” and warned that the agreement could bar the aide from taking one of several full-time positions being created for a call center.
Town Clerk (unnamed) read the meeting notice into the record and confirmed that the notice dated Feb. 18, 2025, had been signed, filed and posted as required under Section 62 of the Town Law and related New York State requirements for special meetings.
The language read into the record says the amendment would allow the comptroller to change the 2025 operating budget and its special districts, various departments, specifically to extend the end date of certain positions to March 21, 2025. Supervisor Edmund J. Smith presented the resolution as an amendment to Resolution 2025-71, which had been adopted Feb. 11, 2025.
The board did not record names for each individual vote on the public transcript; the presiding officer announced the outcome as “Resolution adopted 4-1” and noted Councilman Farrow’s absence. No amendments to the resolution were recorded during the meeting. The comptroller is authorized to make the budget changes specified in the adopted resolution.
The board adjourned immediately after the vote.
