Nancy Nunziata, Nassau's social services commissioner, resigns

Nassau Social Services Commissioner Nancy Nunziata abruptly resigned earlier this month after refusing to fire a high-ranking subordinate at the request of an official in County Executive Bruce Blakeman's administration, she said in an interview.

Nunziata resigned March 4, with seven months left in the five-year term she was appointed to under former County Executive Laura Curran. 

Nunziata said a county human resources official reached out to her on March 4 and asked her to approve the employee's termination. Nunziata refused, and several hours later formally resigned. She declined to identify her employee or the county official who sought the termination.

Nunziata said she "was given no reason for it, other than that's what the administration wants, and I refused, and I resigned." The request was "the final straw for me," Nunziata said.

Blakeman spokesman Chris Boyle said the request originated with Anissa Moore, a deputy county executive for Health and Human Services. Moore has been named acting commissioner of the department Nunziata led, according to the county's website.

Boyle said in a statement Moore had initiated a personnel transfer, not a firing. The employee is still working with the department in another position, he said. 

"The County Executive had no knowledge of Deputy County Executive Anissa Moore's request to Commissioner Nunziata that she move a deputy commissioner within the Department of Social Services. The employee remains employed by DSS as the Director of Employment Services." 

Blakeman "had no communication from former commissioner Nunziata as to any reason why she would resign," Boyle added. "He wishes her well in all of her future endeavors."

Boyle did not respond to a request for comment from Moore.

The Department of Social Services is one of Nassau's largest agencies, with 560 employees and an annual budget of $536 million, much of it coming from federal and state aid.

The department is charged with overseeing critical missions, including Child Protective Services, foster care placements, emergency housing for the homeless and distribution of food benefits.

Curran, a Democrat, nominated Nunziata to serve as commissioner in 2019. A licensed social worker, Nunziata had a 40-year career in the field of social work and welfare and had been a senior vice president at HELP USA, a nonprofit founded by former Democratic Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo that provides services for the homeless. 

The Republican-controlled county legislature approved the appointment. Nunziata, a Democrat, continued to serve in the administration of Blakeman, a Republican, after he took office in 2022.

Her salary was $185,779 in 2022, according to county payroll data.

Nunziata led the department through the  COVID-19 pandemic as it worked to provide housing and medical resources for Nassau's homeless population. In recent years, she addressed the struggle to hire CPS caseworkers, with many of the staff handling caseloads above recommended levels.

In 2020, Curran and Nunziata received pushback on a plan to convert a vacant hotel in Jericho into a shelter for the homeless. 

The plan fell through, but not before it became a political controversy. Republicans in town and county government opposed it and said county officials sprang it on the public before building support. 

Nassau Legis. Debra Mulé (D-Freeport) said Nunziata performed an "outstanding job."

"This is such an important department. It services a vulnerable population," Mulé said. "It is important that we get a qualified person in there as soon as possible. This position cannot be filled as a reward for political work."

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com@ScottEidler

Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.