State Senate hires figure in Islip dumping case

A Suffolk Conservative Party executive and former Islip Town employee who pleaded guilty for his role in an illegal dumping scheme has a new job at the state Senate, documents show.

Brett A. Robinson began working as a legislative analyst in the Republican Majority Operations Office last month, according to a Senate payroll document. Robinson, who is also the operations vice chairman for the Suffolk Conservative Party, started the legislative aide job within the last few weeks of Republicans’ holding the Senate majority before Democrats assume power in January.

Robinson pleaded guilty in August 2016 to disorderly conduct, a violation that is not a criminal disposition, for knowing about the illegal dumping in Roberto Clemente Park and failing to stop it.

He could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Robinson, of Lindenhurst, worked as executive secretary to the Islip Town parks commissioner at the time that a hauler dumped nearly 40,000 tons of toxic construction and demolition material in the park in 2013 and 2014, officials said. He was fired in 2014, days after the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office announced an investigation, and his boss, parks commissioner Joseph J. Montuori Jr., resigned.

He was sentenced to a conditional discharge, and Judge Fernando Camacho ruled the charge could be ultimately sealed if Robinson complied with the terms.

Frank Tinari, Suffolk Conservative Party chairman, said Robinson’s charge was sealed and compared it to a speeding ticket because they are both non-criminal charges.

“He’s been involved in politics for many, many years,” Tinari said. “There’s nothing that would prevent him to serve and to continue to serve.”

In the last two years, Robinson has managed three unsuccessful political campaigns, including for two judgeships and a state Assembly seat, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Robinson was hired by the state Senate as a “temporary employee to fill a short-term need, and his employment will conclude at the end of the month,” said state Senate Republican spokesman Scott Reif, who declined to comment further.

Robinson, 34, was paid $1,346.16 between Nov. 15 and Nov. 28, the payroll document shows.

Senate Democratic spokesman Gary Ginsburg called Robinson’s hire an abuse of power.

“Giving a party loyalist a cushy job is offensive and a complete waste of taxpayer money," Ginsburg said in a statement.

Nelsena Day, a Brentwood resident who monitored the cleanup of the park and the dumping hearings, said she was “flabbergasted” by Robinson’s hire, which she called “unbelievable.”

By Rachelle Blidner

rachelle.blidner@newsday.com@rachelleblidner

Rachelle Blidner covers Suffolk County government, politics and breaking news.