Nassau election commissioners' raises nixed

Nassau legislators were poised last Monday to approve a $21,000 pay hike for the county's elections commissioners, Republican Louis Savinetti and Democrat William Biamonte.

But the legislation, which would have increased their salaries from $128,000 to $149,000, was pulled at the last minute by Presiding Officer Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow).

"There wasn't a consensus on it," Republican spokesman Frank Moroney said. Questions had been asked behind the scenes if the raise would have conflicted with a three-year wage freeze imposed by Nassau's financial control board, but officials did not seem to believe that applied to appointed commissioners.

Asked if the legislation would be reintroduced next year, Moroney said, "Time will tell." -- Celeste Hadrick