Levy fires jail agency chairman

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy abruptly fired the chairman of the tiny state agency overseeing the construction of the jail expansion project in Yaphank after the chairman pressed the county to return jail records to the agency.

In a letter sent Tuesday to Judicial Facilities Agency chairman Martin Cantor, Levy said he was "incensed" to learn Cantor had scheduled a news conference with county legislators Wednesday to demand the release of the records. Levy, who said the records "were already in the process of being released," called Cantor's participation in the news conference "abhorrent."

In addition, Levy spokesman Dan Aug said the county executive fired Cantor because he did not return a phone call from Levy in which Levy planned to say he would send over a "voluminous" amount of records midweek. Cantor said he didn't get that phone call.

Cantor, for his part, appeared defiant at the news conference, saying he would remain on the agency board by being reappointed by the county legislature. He said he was determined to remain "until we get all our documents back." The county turned over some records yesterday morning.

In 2007, at the Levy administration's request, the Judicial Facilities Agency agreed to allow the county to hold all records related to the $156-million jail project, the largest capital project in three decades in Suffolk, to save space and money.

Last November, agency officials -- who are appointed by the county executive and the legislature -- began requesting the release of jail documents. Levy administration officials said the JFA only requested that the county comply with a Newsday Freedom of Information Law request for records in November and did not formally ask for all jail records for themselves until May 10. However, according to minutes of the agency's Nov. 12, 2010, meeting, officials also asked the county to provide the agency with its own copy of project records.

Last week, when agency officials still had not secured the records, they wrote to the state attorney general's office, asking it to intercede.

In February, Newsday filed suit against Suffolk County seeking jail records.

In his letter, Levy said the records had always been available for inspection by the JFA.

The news conference in Hauppauge was held by Legis. Edward Romaine (R-Center Moriches), Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) and Legis. Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) to announce they were filing a resolution directing all county agencies to return jail records to the Judicial Facilities Agency within five days.

Lindsay said the delay is "baffling."

Romaine also questioned the legality of Levy's action firing Cantor. Under the state law creating the agency, any board member who is removed has the right to know the charges against him and has the right to a hearing.