Mark Bonilla delays resignation decision

Hempstead Town Clerk Mark Bonilla -- who had said he would talk with his family over the weekend about possibly resigning -- reported for work Monday, and said he would work through the week before making up his mind.

Bonilla, 50, of Bellmore, faces several misdemeanor charges stemming from accusations that he harassed female employees. Town officials, including Supervisor Kate Murray, have called for his resignation.

Bonilla said he's talked with his family about whether to resign and decided to continue working at least through this week.

"By the end of the week, I'll make a statement," he said. "We're still discussing. There's a lot of issues here that need to be discussed."

Bonilla declined to comment further.

The town clerk is charged with two counts of official misconduct, coercion and attempted petty larceny.

He pleaded not guilty to three original charges and will enter a plea to two revised charges, as well as the added second count of official misconduct, at his next court date, on Oct. 26 in District Court in Hempstead.

Three women in their 20s have made allegations "of a sexual nature" against Bonilla, describing a "hostile work environment," a law enforcement source has said. Bonilla also asked a deputy town attorney whether he could pay a female subordinate who had accused him of sexual harassment $10,000 to make the employee's complaint "go away," Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice has said.

A spokesman for the Nassau district attorney's office declined to comment on the case Monday.

Earlier Monday morning, town spokeswoman Susan Pokalsky said Bonilla had reported to work, "and as far as we know, he has not resigned."

Attempts to contact Bonilla's attorney, Adrian DiLuzio of Mineola, were not successful. DiLuzio said last week that Bonilla "has no intention of resigning."