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Port Jefferson board approves most mayoral appointments; ethics counsel reappointment withheld amid concerns
Summary
At its July 8 organizational meeting the board approved a slate of mayoral appointments but withheld the CCMAC liaison and did not reappoint the village’s ethics counsel after trustees raised concerns that the counsel dominated the ethics board. Attorney Moran said the village code requires the ethics board have access to counsel and discussed interim options.
The Port Jefferson Board of Trustees convened its annual organizational meeting July 8 and approved most mayoral appointments after an extended discussion about balance of assignments and procedural authority.
Mayor Shepro presented commissioner roles and committee liaison assignments, naming Trustee Giuliano deputy mayor and commissioner of public works and proposing trustee appointments across planning, parks and other boards. Several trustees objected to the distribution of liaisonships and asked that some assignments be postponed to allow fuller discussion with a complete board in attendance; Trustee Franco moved to adjourn the organizational meeting to the next full meeting, but the board elected to proceed line‑by‑line and ultimately approved the slate with the exception of the Country Club Management Advisory Council (CCMAC) liaison, which the board skipped and agreed to revisit.
Trustees raised a separate issue about reappointing ethics counsel Steven Leventhal (transcript spelling varies between Leventhal/Levinthal). Trustee Franco and others said they had received complaints that the ethics counsel dominated board deliberations; Treasurer Gafka noted the village had paid about $9,675 to ethics counsel in the prior year and that overall attorney fees rose by approximately 60% in the last fiscal year. Attorney Moran said the village code provides that the ethics board shall have confidential legal advice, and he agreed to research the statutory details and, if needed, serve as interim counsel.
The board approved most appointments and committee rosters (planning board, CAC, ZBA, Parks & Rec and others) and will withhold the CCMAC liaison until legal review and further discussion. The clerk will distribute appointment materials and the board asked staff to confirm any legal requirements for liaison approvals.
