Suffolk nepotism issues continue

Suffolk Comptroller John Kennedy said he will suspend the pay of Marisol Martinez, sister-in law of Legis. Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), for her current job as an assistant elections clerk until the county legislature approves a nepotism resolution authorizing her hiring.

The failure to authorize the hiring under the nepotism law came to light last week when Suffolk elections officials promoted Marisol Martinez to the $138,900 a year post as Hispanic outreach coordinator. The board demoted Tina Ramos, daughter of Assemb. Phil Ramos, to the assistant clerk position.

But first, legislators will have to vote on whether to retroactively authorize Martinez’s hiring for her current position as a $45,994-a-year elections clerk. That’s because she never got legislative approval when she first went to work for the county three years ago.

Legislative presiding officer DuWayne Gregory (D-Copiague) filed a resolution last Friday to authorize Martinez’s original hiring and her promotion.

The resolution won’t be laid on the table until the March 6 meeting. That means Martinez will miss the next payday, Feb. 15, and the following one March 2, and perhaps others, if the vote does not occur until the March 20 meeting.

Speaking for Martinez, Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman, said, “It’s going to corrected on March 20 and that’s the appropriate action to be taken.”