Pavacic lands job on Central Pine Barrens Commission

John Pavacic, dumped by Suffolk Executive Steve Levy as parks commissioner in April, will take over next month as $110,000-a-year executive director of the Central Pine Barrens Commission.

Pavacic, a well-regarded parks professional, was told he will be replaced by Conservative activist Joseph Montouri, who had been at Heckscher State Park in Great River. Critics claim a link to county Conservative chairman Edward Walsh's backing Levy for governor. Levy denies political motive and calls Montouri an innovative parks professional.

Levy had offered Pavacic a lower-level planning job as liaison to the Council on Environmental Quality, which Pavacic rejected.

The Suffolk Water Authority board approved a five-year contract for former Levy aide Jeff Szabo, a Democrat, as the authority's $172,000-a-year chief executive, succeeding Republican Stephen Jones at the same salary.

- Rick Brand