Rockville Centre mayor adds extra duty as village administrator
Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray has temporarily assumed the added office of village administrator, after Keith Spadaro recently resigned.
Spadaro was unreachable, but Murray said he left to "go into the private sector." His last day as administrator was Oct. 9.
Spadaro, 54, a lawyer and a career NYPD officer who once helped run the city's largest precinct and was later an inspector running the department's communications and 911 operations, became village administrator in his hometown in 2012. He made about $170,000 a year.
Murray stepped into the job on Oct. 12 at no added cost to the village, while the board of trustees conducts a comprehensive search to fill the position, he said.
"Rockville Centre has been truly fortunate to have a man of Keith's integrity, background and experience. He has helped us hold down taxes by increased efficiencies . . . seeking grants . . . and attracting new businesses to our village," Murray said at Spadaro's going-away party on his last day on the job.
Village spokeswoman Julie Scully said Spadaro announced his departure Sept. 23 but had told the mayor "earlier about a better job offer he had not sought but was too good to pass on for his family."
Deputy Mayor Nancy Howard said in a news release that: "The board of trustees has complete confidence in Mayor Murray to bring the highest level of experience and leadership . . . [to] all the department heads and staff while a search is conducted."
The mayor now will supervise 19 departments and be responsible for the village's day-to-day operations. He also will continue to perform mayoral duties, he said.
"Throughout his first term as mayor, Fran was both interested in and heavily involved in nearly every facet of village government," said Michael Schussheim, village comptroller. "I . . . believe that he will be an outstanding interim village administrator."
Murray, who was elected to a second four-year term in June, has run an office-cleaning business for 30 years.He said the village wants a candidate with experience "in strategic planning, public finance and intergovernmental relations. The chosen candidate will assist the board of trustees in continuing to grow and develop this Village while holding down taxes."
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