MacArthur Airport official fired, second one this month

Terry Hennessey has been fired as deputy commissioner of Long Island MacArthur Airport, the second high-level Islip Town official to be dismissed in less than a week.

Hennessey was let go Tuesday, according to town spokeswoman Inez Birbiglia.

"It's a personnel matter that I can't discuss," Birbiglia said.

Hennessey declined to comment and referred questions to the town. Calls to airport Commissioner Robert Schaefer were not returned Thursday.

On Nov. 7, planning Commissioner David Genaway was ousted in an unanimous vote by the town board and replaced by deputy planning commissioner Rich Zapolski.

The town board has declined to comment on the dismissal.

Hennessey, a longtime executive with British Airways, joined MacArthur Airport's team in 2012.

He came on board as deputy commissioner, a position that paid $90,000, under then Commissioner Teresa Rizzuto, an appointee of former Democratic Supervisor Phil Nolan.

He served as acting interim commissioner when Republican Supervisor Tom Croci fired Rizzuto last year.

When Schaefer was named commissioner, Hennessey returned to the deputy's post.

It was not clear Thursday who will replace Hennessey.

During Hennessey's tenure at the Ronkonkoma airport, MacArthur officials tried to stem a decline in flight traffic with management changes and several airport improvement projects, including a roadway realignment and the lengthening of two taxiways.

The airport also wooed two new airlines, PenAir and Allegiant Travel Company, and built a satellite radio studio for radio broadcasting company JVC inside the terminal.