Smithtown lawyer is executive director of human rights panel

Suffolk’s Human Rights Commission has a new executive director: Dawn Lott, 47, a Smithtown lawyer with a 20 year background in civil rights and discrimination cases.

Rabbi Steven Moss, commission chairman, said Lott was chosen over two dozen candidates who submitted resumes and was selected from two finalists on a 5-2 vote with two board member abstaining.

“We are very confident she will be a leader who will be able to move the human rights commission into the future,” Moss said. “She has a very mature sense about her and a passion for human right issues.”

Bellone administration officials say the final salary is still in negotiation, but Moss expects it to be in the $90,000 a year range.