Blakeman removes three Democrats from IDA board, appoints two with GOP ties

Three members of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency board, all of them Democrats, have been removed by County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican.

Anthony Simon, Amy Flores and Lewis M. Warren — appointees of then-County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat — did not attend Thursday’s meeting of the seven-member board. Each received a letter dated April 12 informing them that their IDA service was terminated.

Simon leads the Long Island Rail Road's largest union, and Flores and Warren are bankers.

In their place in the meeting room were Blakeman's appointees: William H. Rockensies, a Republican, and Reginald A. Spinello, an Independence Party member who twice ran successfully for Glen Cove mayor on the Republican ballot line.

IDA board members aren’t paid, and in Nassau they serve at the pleasure of the county executive.

"The way this was handled [by the Blakeman administration] was disgusting," Simon said on Friday. "I gave four years volunteering to Nassau County. … We put some of the biggest projects through [the IDA] and then to get a form letter from the county executive was so disrespectful. They didn't even have the decency to call me," he said.

Simon said the termination letter began by addressing him as "Ms. Flores," though it was sent to Simon's postal mail address.  

A spokesman for Blakemen didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about Simon's criticism.

Earlier on Friday, Blakeman said, "With every new administration there is a review of all seats, both vacant and holdovers, to ensure appointments are in the best interest of Nassau taxpayers."

He added that Rockensies and Spinello "are eminently qualified and share my vision for development in the county."

Rockensies, 60, is a retired engineering commissioner for Hempstead Town who now works at H2M Architects + Engineers in Melville.

“With my background in engineering and municipal government, hopefully I can be of assistance to the board,” he said.

Spinello, 69, was chairman of the Glen Cove IDA when he served as the city's mayor. He also is a former CEO of PDK Labs Inc., a Hauppauge-based manufacturer and distributor of vitamins.

Spinello cited his involvement with two redevelopment projects that have boosted Glen Cove: the $1 billion Garvies Point waterfront development and the Village Square project in the city’s downtown. “I look forward to contributing here,” he said.

Blakeman's appointment of Rockensies and Spinello was confirmed by the Nassau County Legislature in an 11-7 vote on Monday. 

"Announcements about other [IDA] board seats and the chairman will be made in the future after a thorough review," Blakeman said on Friday.

IDA chairman Richard Kessel, a Democrat, said of the new board members on Thursday, “They’ve got great backgrounds and come with recommendations from a lot of people in high places. I welcome them with open arms.”

He also praised the three former board members, saying, “They were a valued asset … and they’re going to be missed tremendously.”

Flores, responding to Newsday questions, said, “As the only Hispanic female to have served on the board, I am proud of the work and accomplishments we achieved, and I wish the new board members well on their appointments. I hope they continue the good work that we started for the overall well-being of Nassau County.”

Warren told Newsday that he is “incredibly proud” to “have supported several of the most significant development projects in Nassau County’s history, all with a goal of improving the quality of all of our communities, across Long Island.”

Notable IDA projects in recent years include a housing and retail development on the Superblock site in Long Beach and an Amazon warehouse on the former Cerro Wire site in Syosset, both parcels that have been vacant for more than 40 years and the subject of multiple development proposals that never made it to a groundbreaking ceremony. 

The other IDA board members are John Coumatos, a restaurant owner; Christopher Fusco, a former leader of the Carpenters' union; and Timothy Williams, a financial services executive and IDA chairman under then-County Executive Edward Mangano, a Republican. All were kept on by Curran.

Besides the new board appointments, IDA executive director and CEO Harry Coghlan announced on Thursday that he has accepted a job in the private sector. His last day is Friday.

Prior to joining the IDA in 2019, Coghlan oversaw advertising in Times Square for Clear Channel Outdoor.

By James T. Madore

james.madore@newsday.comJamesTMadore

James T. Madore writes about Long Island business news including the economy, development, and the relationship between government and business. He previously served as Albany bureau chief.