Bellone's wife to get parks job for now
Newly elected Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone speaks about his departure from the Town of Babyon and his transition to county executive in his office at Babylon Town Hall in Babylon. (Dec. 20, 2011) Credit: Howard Schnapp
The incoming Bellone administration has told Suffolk Parks Commissioner Joseph Montouri he will be out of a job at week's end, which means that his deputy, the county executive-elect's wife, Tracey, will be temporarily in charge of the $16-million-a-year agency.
However, Jon Schneider, transition team spokesman, said that Steve Bellone's wife, a Levy appointee who has been deputy parks commissioner since 2004, will be in charge only until Bellone can name someone else as a nominee for commissioner.
Tracey Bellone, who makes $106,000 a year as parks deputy, is currently expecting the couple's third child and is expected to go on maternity leave in March, Schneider said.
He said no decision has been made on whether she will return to her post later.
"It's a new administration and they want to go in a different direction. I have no problem with that," Montouri said.
Montouri, a Conservative Party activist, is expected to become parks chief in Islip Town under the new GOP administration headed by Tom Croci.
Montouri's replacement will cost the county far more. A retired state parks superintendent, Montouri made only $30,000 a year under state law because he was already receiving a state pension. His predecessor, John Pavacic, made $124,000 a year.
Legis. Kate Browning (WFP-Shirley) is lobbying Bellone to bring back Pavacic to his old post, citing his parks expertise and institutional knowledge. Pavacic, a Republican, now works as executive director for the Central Pine Barrens Commission.
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