NY Sen. Phil Boyle appointed to Long Island economic council

State Sen. Phil Boyle has been appointed to the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, which helps determine how millions of dollars in state business aid is distributed each year.

The Bay Shore Republican was appointed by State Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan (R-East Northport) to replace Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola), who is leaving state government and running for the U.S. House of Representatives.

The council, one of 10 across the state, is implementing a five-year economic development plan that it has devised for the Island. The council also reviews and recommends applications for state tax credits and grants. Members are unpaid volunteers.

State lawmakers were excluded from being voting members on the regional development councils when they were established in 2011 by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. He eventually agreed to alter the councils’ makeup after the State Legislature threatened to remove funding from the state budget.

Boyle is chairman of the Senate’s Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee. He served in the Assembly for 14 years and was elected to the Senate in 2012.

Boyle said this week that he would work to ensure that the Long Island council backs “meaningful projects that truly promote economic development and job creation.”

He joins as the council is reviewing 178 aid applications; its recommendations are due in Albany on Oct. 3.

The council now has 24 members, led by Lt. Gov. Kathleen Hochul as chairwoman and co-vice chairmen Kevin Law, president of the Long Island Association, and Stuart Rabinowitz, Hofstra University president. Fifteen are original members, appointed by Cuomo five years ago.