Amityville fires administrator who worked in mayor’s office

Amityville Village officials have fired Stephen Greenwald, an administrator who served as director of operations and coordinator for the planning and zoning boards.

Greenwald, 51, said he worked his last day Aug. 29, when Mayor James Wandell and Deputy Mayor Jessica Bernius told him shortly before the end of business that they were “reorganizing.”

“I was told I had 10 minutes to pack my belongings and leave,” Greenwald said, adding he was baffled by the decision from Wandell, Bernius and trustee Nick LaLota, who control the five-seat board of trustees and set much of village policy. “It could be something so simple as they saw me talking to someone they don’t like . . . They gave me no real explanation.”

Wandell confirmed Greenwald’s departure but declined to comment.

Greenwald, a former teacher and literacy specialist with Sayville and Copiague schools who has lived in Amityville since 1996, began working part time for the village Building Department in 2014. He was later promoted to a full-time position in Wandell’s office, with a salary of about $55,000.

Greenwald was a familiar face at Village Board work sessions and meetings, and on the second floor of Village Hall, the first stop for many residents seeking help.

“He performed many roles and tried to help village residents as much as he could,” said Joan Donnison, president of the Bay Village Civic Association. “We wish him well.”

Greenwald’s departure follows the resignations earlier this year of building inspector Tom Whelan and deputy treasurer Jill Cervini.

Greenwald said Tuesday that he would miss his job, much of which involved working with families rebuilding their homes after superstorm Sandy and with businesses looking for space in the village.

“I want to see good things happen to the village,” he said.