Huntington town supervisor criticized over handling of employee's suspension

A Huntington Town Board member still had questions a day after criticizing Supervisor Chad Lupinacci's decision to suspend a town department head who sent an email containing “vulgar and sexual references” about a female co-worker from his official town account to male subordinate employees, without notifying most of the board.

Joan Cergol said she awaited an explanation for the administration's quiet handling of the matter and her written request for a copy of the email was denied.

“That only serves to heighten my skepticism that there’s more going on here than meets the eye,” she said Wednesday.

Lupinacci released a statement Wednesday that said he would not be commenting on the matter because it’s town policy not to comment on personnel issues.

“That being said, we believe it is important to note that the matter at issue came to the Town’s attention through its normal oversight procedures and not through a complaint from any employee,” the statement said. “The matter was addressed with the employee involved in a manner consistent with Town practice."

But not everyone was left out of the loop. Republican Town Board member Ed Smyth said Lupinacci told him about the email in early December. 

“He told me, but because it was a personnel matter it was confidential,” Smyth said. “So that was the end of it for me.”

Cergol said she did not know Smyth knew about the email. 

“The plot thickens,” she said.

Cergol, Smyth and their board colleagues Democrat Mark Cuthbertson and Independence Party member Gene Cook all refused to confirm the identities of the employees, citing privacy concerns.

Cergol said after she was notified about the email, which was sent in November, she sent a text to Lupinacci and when he did not immediately get back to her she called Town Attorney Nick Ciapetta.

“I wanted confirmation that this in fact happened and, after many questions as to the timing of it and the disciplinary action, and how it was arrived at and what was the process,and why did it take so long, he confirmed it and acknowledged my concerns,” Cergol said.

She said when Lupinacci eventually called her he confirmed what Ciapetta had told her.

“The manner in which this incident was handled, its lack of transparency and apparent departure from Town of Huntington protocol demand further investigation and satisfactory answers to the Town Board and the residents to which we are accountable,” Cergol said in a statement.

The department head was recently suspended for two weeks and must undergo sensitivity training, Cergol said.

She said town software was set up to detect objectionable words, and language used in the email triggered the system.

Cuthbertson said the employee would not have been given the "slap on the wrist” punishment Lupinacci meted out unilaterally if other board members had been consulted. 

“This vulgar and misogynistic email is dated November 26, 2019,” Cuthbertson said. “In the ensuing two months there was no effort to consult with the town board, which is the body that is charged with hiring and firing department heads under state law.”

Cook's only comment was: “This is a personnel issue that I just heard about yesterday afternoon.” 

Cergol said her other lingering questions include why the department head was not suspended immediately; was the department head’s town email account reviewed to determine if other emails existed that violate the town’s email policy; was the town’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy followed; were the staff of the department interviewed to determine if they had been subjected to a hostile work environment.

"I continue to be deeply disturbed by the incident," Cergol said.

By Deborah S. Morris

deborah.morris@newsday.comdsvmorris

Deborah Morris is a native Long Islander and covers the town of Huntington.