Nero Let Rome Burn, Vecchio’s is Setting Smithtown on Fire
Maureen Rossi
Supervisor Vecchio at Jan. 2014 swearing in ceremonyMy studies of Ancient Roman History took place in the late 70’s at all-girl’s Catholic Academy in Queens. Although removed by many decades, the story of Nero The Great Roman Emperor has been resurrected before my eyes as I watch Political Theater play out; the show is starring our very own Town Supervisor.
He recently announced that he would like to have the elected position of Town Clerk and Receiver of Taxes become appointed positions. He says this decision came about to save money – it came about because of a 2008 report by the New York State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness, 21st Century Local Government. He says that very study recommends town and county administrative positions be converted from elected to appointed offices.
Hmmm…..that’s curious, that’s not a common practice in New York State. Nor does it seem to be popular here on Long Island where all townships the positions of Town Clerk and Receiver of Taxes are still elected positions. Let’s take a look at good look at this new concept and why it might or might not work, but let’s do that in reverse.
It might not be an optimal approach because it has the potential to remove a level of transparency. It could also create a scenario where the Town Supervisor has more power. Some critics who have knowledge of the inner workings of Smithtown government feel our leader already has too much power. Some say there are policies and procedures that he is remiss in following. He is known for not consulting with all his Department Heads, he hasn’t uttered a single word to Town Clerk Vinny Puleo in two years. He also fails to communicate with members of his very own Town Board on many issues. Take for example, this issue; there were three work sessions in the last month and Supervisor Vecchio never uttered a word to Councilman Wehrheim or Councilman Creighton about this idea and eliminating two election postions. However, he did speak about with Councilman McCarthy and Councilwoman Nowick and yes of course he consulted his friend Dave Ambro of The Smithtown News. However, he also failed to mention anything to the two people who hold the positions of Town Clerk and Receiver of Taxes. You know those people that the voters elected.
He never let the Town Clerk know that a complaint had been filed against him in early May and that his First Deputy asked to be transferred. As a matter of fact he didn’t even apprise the Town Attorney.
Also, who would do the work of these elected officials if their positions were eradicated? Let’s take a peek at the Town Clerk’s office. An incredibly busy hub, many would say the main hub, it takes in over $650,000 a year. Over twenty-thousand people show up at their office on the first floor of Town Hall and they handle over eighteen-thousand phones calls annually. The Town Clerk’s Office does all the licensing for the Town of Smithtown; all marriage and death certificates, birth certificates, licensing for garbage trucks, tow trucks, clam moorings, boats, taxi cabs, ramps etc. A few weeks back they logged 200 calls in one day.
Why might this work or why might this have to work? Money – money is a problem, taxes are a problem. They are a problem endemic to all Long Islanders. The 2% tax cap that was implemented in NYS two years back is a meritorious concept, however, it has the potential to hurt small municipalities where salaries plus medical benefits plus pension costs create an unsustainable situation.
The Dreaded C Word
We are all going to have to get used to the dreaded C word when it comes to municipalities – CONSOLIDATION. From a fiduciary standpoint the consolidation of services, jobs, small school districts is a dialogue we are all going to be forced to partake in over the next few years. The system we have is unsustainable and we will all be taxed off the Island if this trajectory does not change. Suffolk County Government has done an extraordinary job in leading the way with some of their consolidation efforts.
NERO
Nero was a famous Roman Empire who ruled for a great length of time, for decades. He was known to be a brilliant man who was well-versed in an array of subject matters including philosophy, the arts and theater. However, despite his luminous intellect he was also known as a tyrant. Anyone who dared to cross the great and powerful leader would come to fully understand the meaning of REVENGE. He was known to be ruthless. Unfortunately, in the final years of his rule, the Roman Empire began to decline. The Empire’s worth declined and currency was even devalued. He is most known for what happened at the end of his rule – he is best known for letting Rome burn down while he danced and played music with no regard for the people of his Empire or the future of the Empire.
Critics loudly decry Vecchio’s recent antics to remove the elected positions of Puleo and Varrichio as purely political; as an act of REVENGE. I hope this is not the case. Smithtown is a beautiful township, a crowning jewel of Suffolk County. Vecchio’s decades of rule have served us all well overall; we do owe him a debt of gratitude for our beautiful beaches and parks and marinas and high quality of life here. However, I fear REVENGE is consuming him. I fear all the good he has done will be forgotten by the decline of his final days of rule.