Suffolk ethics panel gives Levy a pass but pursues his ex-aide

Suffolk’s ethics commission gave County Executive Steve Levy a pass on filing a county financial disclosure form -- but still is pursuing a two-year-old complaint against former Chief Deputy County Executive Paul Sabatino. The commission two weeks ago subpoenaed Cheryl Felice, president of the Association of Municipal Employees, to testify. The union hired Sabatino to consult on Suffolk’s 2009 budget. In a complaint, Levy aides said that violated a ban on former officials appearing for two years for clients in matters that were before county boards or commissions when the officials were employed. Sabatino says the 2009 budget wasn’t filed until nine months after he left and that he never appeared for the union before the legislature or any county agency. Felice said union lawyers would move to quash the subpoena.