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Brookhaven supervisor candidates clash on ethics
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Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko and town Building Commissioner Marty Haley are both seeking a full term as the town's CEO. Each is also seeking to put the other on the unemployment line. In a wide-ranging interview with the editorial board of TBR Newspapers last week each made their case why they should get your vote on Nov. 3.
"Experience across many fields" is one reason Haley, the Republican candidate from Miller Place, believes he deserves election to the post. Currently heading the town's Building Department — a position Lesko would abolish if his proposed 2010 operating budget is approved two days after Election Day — Haley has over a long career been an air traffic controller, Rocky Point school board member, Suffolk County legislator, chairman and now a director of the Suffolk Federal Credit Union, deputy county clerk and real estate broker, among other positions.
Lesko, a Democrat from East Setauket, was elected town supervisor in a special election in March of this year. He resigned as the U.S. federal prosecutor for Long Island to run for the position. Prior to his service with the feds Lesko was a corporate lawyer. Lesko said he has ushered in a "radical change" in tone in Town Hall since being elected, reducing partisanship and increasing cooperation between the supervisor's office and the town council, controlled by a GOP majority. One of his first acts after taking office was to reach across the aisle to appoint Councilwoman Kathy Walsh (R-Centereach) as his deputy supervisor.
Haley pointed to increased revenue in the Building Department — "over half a million dollars," he said — as proof of his management skill. Lesko countered that "Building revenue came back up in May" when he reactivated the town's electronic ServiceStat tracking and management system mothballed since December by the GOP-dominated town board.
Regarding Lesko's proposed 2010 budget, Haley criticized the use of $23 million in town surplus funds to balance the ledger. "I'm scared of 2011," said Haley, fearful that surplus money will no longer be available and drastic cuts may be in the offing if the economy has not sufficiently recovered.
Lesko first criticized Haley — "You were the commissioner of a department that had a $3 million deficit," the supervisor said — then defended his budget proposal. "We budgeted $13 million of surplus for 2009," Lesko said, "but will use less." He projected that the town "will end up next year around 25 percent" ratio of surplus to budget expenditures. Bond rating companies such as Standard and Poor's and Moody's typically like to see the ratio no less than 20 percent, according to town officials.
However Lesko was not sanguine about the future. "2011 is doomsday for many municipalities," he said. "We need the economy to come back."
Haley accused Lesko of "creating an economic emergency" and said the town must do its part to grow the economy. The challenger added that it was "a mistake to hire this planning commissioner" who is "not getting things moving." Tullio Bertoli was hired by the town board over the objections of previous Democratic Supervisor Brian Foley.
"We control land use," said Haley, saying the ability to rezone land and approve new development is the tool Brookhaven should use to stimulate the economy. "The biggest problem for economic recovery," Haley said, "is the planning department," where he claims delays in review and approval are stalling growth.
Lesko touted his BIG Plan, Brookhaven Initiative for Growth, that introduced a "fast-track program" for development applications along Middle Country Road as one means of speeding recovery. The supervisor said two projects in particular were getting priority treatment for their ability to improve local economies: the Ronkonkoma Transportation Hub at the Long Island Rail Road station that includes economic redevelopment around the somewhat blighted area and redevelopment of the vacant Kmart store in Middle Island. "I'm challenging the developers," Lesko said. "If we can get you permits by March, will you break ground in April?" He noted that approvals of projects do not help create jobs and generate tax revenue if the developer sits on the project for months or years before proceeding.
"Why do people have to buy into BIG?" asked Haley. "Just get anyone who comes into Building moving. We have an obstructionist mentality in Brookhaven — especially Planning." Haley said he would "promote affordable housing" to help the brain drain resulting from young people leaving Long Island who cannot afford to live here. "We have to compete with the Carolinas," he said. Haley added promoting such development would also create jobs and generate tax revenue.
On another subject, Haley said, "Protection of the environment is an economic issue," one the residents have in the past supported — but in a better economic climate. He said the town should "balance" the economy and open space preservation. Purchasing more land now "would mean more interest [payments] on taxpayers."
"The public understands the benefits of preservation," Lesko replied. He said he has accelerated open space preservation by moving $10 million in capital funding from 2010 to 2009 in order to take advantage of lower real estate prices. However Lesko also called for a "predictable revenue source" in the future to fund open space protection. A community preservation fund proposal, which would have imposed a real estate transfer tax, was defeated handily by the voters of Brookhaven in 2007 when 61 percent voted no.
Lesko raised the issue of a town ethics board opinion this month that he said Haley attempted to use to taint the former federal prosecutor. The supervisor said Ethics Board Chairman Don Garber said the decision "had nothing to do with me." Opinion 168 reiterated the town's 24-month "revolving door" policy restricting former town employees from working in the private sector on issues they worked on as town employees. Lesko said a press release issued by Haley at an Oct. 20 press conference was incorrect and demanded an apology.
"I haven't seen the written opinion," Haley replied. "I understood that opinion was written against the supervisor's office." The challenger offered to apologize if indeed Lesko's name "is not in that opinion."
"I accept your apology," Lesko told Haley.
Haley summed up the difference between the candidates in the supervisor race as experience. "Mark's still on the learning curve," he said. "Everywhere" he has served, Haley said, "I've met with successes."
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