4 lawyers stripped of pension, credits
As the New York State comptroller stripped four more private attorneys from Long Island of pensions or pension credits yesterday, three of the four plan to fight the decision.
And two of the municipal agencies found by the state to have improperly reported them as employees are backing them up.
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office announced yesterday that it had pulled attorneys John Ragano, Armand Terpening and Gerald P. Rosenberg from the state retirement system. In addition, attorney Anthony J. Sabino lost 11 years of service credit.
The actions are part of a statewide review of attorneys on public payrolls begun by the comptroller's office after a series of Newsday stories on state pension abuses.
"We disagree with the decision," said William Ellinger, a commissioner at the Bethpage water district, which reported Sabino, of Bethpage, as a part-time employee for 19 years and paid him and his law firm more than $72,000 in legal fees.
"We're disputing the comptroller's findings," said Martin Carroll, superintendent of West Hempstead's sanitary district No. 6, which reported Ragano, of Queens, as an employee for 12 years, even though auditors found he did not work fixed hours or file time sheets.
Rosenberg, 78, of Manhasset, was improperly reported as a part-time employee of the Garden City Park Fire and Water District for 20 years, auditors found. He retired in April and must repay $932 to the state. He said yesterday he would not contest the decision. Garden City Park officials did not return calls.
Neither Sabino, 61, nor Ragano, also 61, had begun collecting pensions. Sabino said yesterday that he plans to appeal the decision. Ragano declined to comment.
South Hempstead civic activist Laura Mallay called the districts' actions "incredible." Citing the current state fiscal crisis, she added, "These guys are just not getting it."
Emily DeSantis, a comptroller's spokeswoman, defended the review.
"We do not make these decisions lightly," she said. "Our auditors went on-site and determined the employers did not supervise their daily work activities. They did not have permanent office space, work fixed hours or keep time sheets. These individuals have a right to a hearing if they choose. We are confident the hearings will find in our favor based on the facts."
Auditors found the Floral Park- Bellerose school district improperly reported Terpening, of Rocky Point, as a part-time employee for more than 30 years. Terpening, 81, retired in July 2006. He must repay $9,617 to the state. Reached yesterday, Terpening said he planned to appeal.
Floral Park-Bellerose Superintendent Lynn Pombonyo defended his work for the district.
"He attended nearly every board meeting and gave the board tremendous and loyal, dedicated service for 30 years ... " she said.
Actions after the state's review
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has revoked the public pensions of nine private Long Island lawyers. In addition, he has rescinded the pension credits of a 10th attorney along with an accountant.
Four of the lawyers had already begun collecting a state pension and have to pay back a total of $760,000 to the state. To date, the comptroller has taken action against a total of 39 statewide.
