Hempstead Town wrong to hide information

In the past, when the Hempstead Town Board has voted on hiring, salary increases, promotions, or changes in title or position, the specifics were delineated in board resolutions and other documentation and posted to the town's website, easily accessible to town residents.

That practice has changed. The town board on Jan. 7 instead approved an opaque category called "budget transfers" — $857,660 in spending without any breakdown or details of how the money would be spent. In another recent transgression, the board approved another $599,799 in budget transfers — again, without the accustomed clarity. Town officials told the editorial board that change was due in part to "security concerns" and that residents can file a Freedom of Information Law request for further information.

That's nonsense. Secrecy breeds suspicion. Are there more nephews of the party faithful on the town payroll? Was a ransom paid to hackers of town websites? Did some other security breaches need to be mitigated? Was a payout made to avoid an embarrassing lawsuit?

Public officials are paid by taxpayers, with taxpayer funds, and their salaries, titles and departments have long been a proper part of the public record. The town's sudden unwillingness to make such public information easily accessible is troubling. There's every reason to wonder whether there's another motive for masking the information. Is there a particular hire or salary increase officials don't want scrutinized?

When a member of the public asks for information, they shouldn't receive a word salad of a response. At the town's Dec. 10 meeting, a resident asked about the budget transfer: "What funds? Where are they transferred from? Where are they going to? Why the modifications?" Town attorney John Maccarone gave a nonanswer. "Employees come, employees go, employees get raises. Sometimes we hire people," he said. What does that mean? Without a breakdown of individual salaries, raises, hiring or department transfers, we have no idea.

There is no question that public employees' positions, salaries and pension information are public information. They are. It's just a matter of whether Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin and the town board attempt to hide the data from view, behind the veil of FOIL, or whether they make it widely accessible, as it has been in the past.

By citing FOIL — a system many residents do not know and a process by which public officials often delay or limit their responses — Hempstead is being less than forthcoming. Certainly, town officials must be cognizant of employees' security and safety concerns. That's why most board resolutions omit personal or private information such as addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and Social Security numbers.

In case you are wondering, the Newsday editorial board has filed a FOIL request for Hempstead's information. We'll make public the results if — and when — they come. The clock is running.