55.0°,
A Few Clouds Suit alleges illegal jail appointments
Sheriff Officers Association sues Nassau County officials
The Nassau County Sheriff Officers Association filed a lawsuit in State Supreme Court last week, claiming that the appointments of three people who work at the Nassau County Correctional Center were unlawful.
The suit claims that County Executive Edward Mangano, County Sheriff Michael Sposato and County Civil Service Commission Executive Director Karl Kampe approved the appointments in the Sheriff’s Department, which, the suit alleges, violate the state Constitution, the Nassau County Charter and state Civil Service law.
According to the lawsuit, on May 12, 2011, Sposato appointed Corrections Capt. James Ford and Capt. Dennis Hesse to serve as acting deputy undersheriffs, and late last month Sposato appointed Corrections Officer Vincent Valente to the same position. The Officers Association claims in the suit that acting positions are illegal, and that Valente is unqualified.
Officers Association President John Jaronczyk addressed the appointments at a press conference outside the Nassau County legislative building on Feb. 3. “[The defendants] have ignored our letters,” he said, “even though we have a response from them from back in 2004 that says they do not recognize acting positions and they’re unlawful and illegal.”
Jaronczyk added that Valente is not qualified to be promoted because corrections officer is four ranks below deputy undersheriff. “This past week, [Mangano] promoted a correction officer who has no supervisory experience to the position,” he added. “It’s just another example of the political patronage and cronyism that is going on in that jail.”
Jaronczyk added that the correctional center is supposed to have five deputy undersheriffs, but Mangano did not budget for any.
Mangano sees the matter differently. “The designation of the three individuals to the administrative positions referenced are appropriate and in conformance with applicable rules and laws,” he said. “The union is trying to diminish the number of individuals who discipline employees and to thwart the county’s efforts to generate millions of dollars in revenue that help hold the line on property taxes.”
