New trustee, village justice in Lynbrook

There was a changing of the guard this week in Lynbrook, as the village board appointed a new trustee and a new justice at their meeting on June 1.

Current Trustee Thomas Atkinson was appointed Village Justice at the meeting, filling the spot left by Bill Gaylor III, who is running for the county legislature seat that will be vacated by Francis X. Becker Jr., who is stepping down later this year.

That appointment left Atkinson's trustee seat open, and the board filled their ranks by approving the appointment of Ann Marie Reardon as Lynbrook's newest trustee. Both individuals would retain their new titles if Gaylor loses his race.

Hendrick said Reardon was the board's first choice in replacing Atkinson. "She is bright, personable and had a great head on her shoulders." he said. "She really cares about Lynbrook, and really wants what's best for our village. When we asked her to be a trustee, she only hesitated for a few minutes before she came back to us and said she would do it. She's ready for it, and we're really pleased she said 'yes.’”

Reardon, 42, currently works as a clerk in the state assembly office. A mother of four, she graduated from Kellenberg Memorial High School before receiving her bachelor's and master's degrees from Adelphi University. She said she was honored to be considered for the position.

"I'm very excited to serve the village and the people of Lynbrook," she said. "I'm a mother, and my children live in the village so I really just want what's best for it. I'm really looking forward to becoming even more involved with the village."

She will serve as a trustee until at least March of 2016, when's special election will be held to decide the future of the seat. She said she plans to keep her ears and eyes open in her first months on the board.

"I would like to thank our mayor for the opportunity to serve on this board," Reardon said after her appointment. "As a mother, a wife and a resident, I want to continue to make Lynbrook the best place to live, work and raise a family. I will always be available to help ... my door is always open"

Atkinson, who earned his law degree from Rutgers University and his bachelor's from Villanova, served as a trustee beginning in 2011. He said he enjoyed his time on the board and thanked his fellow trustees for their work during his tenure.

"I knew I had allies, not just in our endeavors in the village, but in life," Atkinson said of his relationship with other members on the board.

After Atkinson was sworn in by Village Attorney Peter Ledwith, Hendrick praised the newest judge for his integrity while on the board.

"He had the courage to say what was right and what was wrong, he always had the courage to disagree with the board or with me," he said. "Tom was a really good friend, and he served the village at a time when it really needed that kind of service. So much came to the village during his tenure that needed a bright, levelheaded person.

Atkinson also offered an open door to any board members seeking council, and said he was confident that Reardon would succeed in his former role.

"I know Ann Marie quite well," he said. "I know her to be a very hard worker, and really well liked … she will do an excellent job."