Legislature holds first general meeting of new year

At his first meeting Monday as a new Suffolk County legislator, Tom Muratore noticed something was wrong. His nameplate, placed on the horseshoe-like table used by the Suffolk Legislature in Hauppauge, was misspelled.

Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) offered his apology for the erroneously spelled plate, which failed to put the "a" in Muratore's surname.

"I was hoping to buy a vowel," Muratore quipped, without missing a beat. Before the session ended, he sat in front of a newly corrected nameplate.

At this first general meeting of the new year, all 18 members of the Suffolk County Legislature were sworn in, including Muratore of Bohemia and fellow Republican Tom Cilmi of Bay Shore, who replaced outgoing Legis. Cameron Alden.

In last November's election, Muratore upset Democratic incumbent Brian Beedenbender, adding another GOP seat to the legislature, though the Democrats still retain control.

During yesterday's crowded ceremony in Hauppauge, Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota, Treasurer Angie Carpenter, Sheriff Vincent DeMarco and several other county officials were sworn in.

Presiding Officer Lindsay was also re-elected to the same position by the legislators without opposition.

Later in the session, the legislature failed to override County Executive Steve Levy's veto, which blocked a measure to provide $50,000 in county park funds for a dog park in South Haven county park in South Yaphank. Only six legislators, including Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) whose district includes the South Haven park, voted to override Levy's veto.

In a statement, Levy praised those who upheld his veto and "recognized the folly of spending this kind money when there is already a county-operated dog run a short distance away." In December, the county opened another dog park at the former Robinson Duck Farm property in Brookhaven hamlet.