Bellone gets OK on hiring, economic revamp

The Suffolk County Legislature gave County Executive Steve Bellone his first legislative victory Tuesday night, approving emergency measures allowing him to remake the economic development department as he moves to spur new job growth.

Lawmakers also relaxed residency rules to allow him to recruit top aides who live in Nassau County, and approved funding for a new team to streamline government.

They voted unanimously for a resolution to provide $1 million to fund six positions in a new economic development agency. Last fall, lawmakers axed a similar department, placing it in the planning department alongside units covering areas including energy and environment.

Legis. Edward Romaine (R-Center Moriches) backed the economic development move, saying he expected Suffolk's budget deficit to "come in well north of $200 million."

"We have to come together in a time of great crisis," Romaine said.

Bellone, a Democrat who took office last month, praised the legislature "for working in a bipartisan fashion and taking this important step forward to grow our economy and make government more efficient. It demonstrates what can be done when the executive and legislature work together."

The change in residency requirements for some new hires was approved 14-4 after insertion of language requiring the county executive to issue a statement of need to fill top management posts with Nassau County residents. Nassau has a similar requirement.

Legis. Lynne Nowick (R-St. James), who opposed the resolution, said her district is home to many constituents who have lost their jobs on Wall Street and could qualify for top county jobs. "I don't want to give my constituents the idea that we prefer to go outside," she said.

The measure could affect as many as 53 jobs. Deputy County Executive Jon Schneider said Bellone will use the power "very sparingly" and perhaps not at all, but wants the flexibility to assemble a top team.

Bellone said the new economic development jobs would be funded by money saved through layoffs last week in the county attorney's office. But James Widirstky, a county attorney laid off from Family Court, noted that his work on child support cases was largely funded by federal aid.

"How can there be significant savings . . . when 80 percent was paid for by the federal government?" he asked.