Legislature tables decision on precinct lease

Hours after the Nassau County Legislature voted 10-8 to approve a 60-year lease authorizing construction of a new 1st Precinct in the Rosen Shopping Center on Grand Avenue, lawmakers took a second vote to put off the decision until a future session.

Republican lawmakers, many of them voicing strong opposition to the proposed lease at the Dec. 7 legislative session, threatened litigation over the lease passing because the document, amended that same day, was not filed with the Legislature's clerk at least one week before the vote.

Legislator Joe Scannell (D-Baldwin), who proposed the lease, stated that the Legislature has often made amendments to items on the same day they are voted on, but ultimately decided to put off the vote until a future meeting.

"In order to address the objections of [Republicans], I make a motion to table this item, and ask that the Presiding Officer take all necessary and appropriate action to place the item on a subsequent calendar of this Legislature," Scannell said.

The Legislature had voted 10-8 in favor of the lease — amended to include a provision ensuring a project labor agreement — hours before Scannell made a motion to reconsider the vote.

Many Baldwin residents offered their opinions during the session's public comment period before the item was voted on.