Ex-Islip parks chief to lead Suffolk parks

In an ironic twist, Suffolk County plans to appoint as parks commissioner Greg Dawson, a registered Republican recently demoted as head of Islip town's parks department.

Newly elected Islip Supervisor Tom Croci, a Republican, demoted Dawson from his $103,100 parks commissioner post to make way for Joe Montuori, a Conservative Party activist who had been paid $30,000 as county parks commissioner under former Executive Steve Levy.

Registered Conservatives accounted for about 12 percent of the vote in the supervisor's race Nov. 8, which Croci won with a margin of 343 votes. Montuori is a longtime ally of Suffolk County Conservative Party leader Ed Walsh.

Dawson, a 16-year veteran of the New York City parks department who rose to deputy chief of operations for Brooklyn parks, will be paid $115,000 to serve in County Executive Steve Bellone's administration, deputy county executive Jon Schneider confirmed.

"Obviously, Mr. Dawson brings a very strong background in parks, he has a great record, and we look forward to having him come on board," Schneider said.

Dawson, who presided over more than 11,700 acres of the 106 town parks and a budget of more than $10 million in Islip, will start work for the county the week of Feb. 13 in an interim capacity, pending confirmation by the legislature at its March 13 meeting.

The county has more than 46,000 acres of parkland. Its parks department budget was $17 million last year.

Dawson said he would miss his Islip team but is "delighted at the opportunity" to head the county unit. The Oakdale resident has served on the county's parks department board for the six years, most recently as chairman.

Bellone called Croci Friday to inform him of the county's plans.

Croci announced last month that he would demote Dawson, and the town would seek a waiver from the state to pay Montuori, who has a pension after retiring as superintendent of Heckscher State Park, more than the $30,000 cap on those receiving public pensions. Croci has not disclosed how much the town will pay Montuori, but with Dawson's departure there is an $80,000 provision in the parks budget.

"I thought I could have everything," Croci said after learning of Dawson's new job. "It didn't turn out," he said, adding that he wished Dawson well.