Lindenhurst Village fills position after nearly 2-decade vacancy

The Village of Lindenhurst has hired its first superintendent of public works in nearly two decades. 

The village has chosen Richard Sorrentino, 68, of Smithtown for the position after a monthslong search. The full-time appointment is provisional, requiring Sorrentino to take the Civil Service test when it becomes available. 

Sorrentino, who retired in 2000 according to state pension records, was a supervisor with the Smithtown highway department.

For more than 15 years, the village has relied on foremen to oversee the Department of Public Works, but now, Clerk-Treasurer Shawn Cullinane said, the village board wants to go back to a more “traditional” way of running the department.

Sorrentino will receive $75,000 annual salary plus benefits. He will oversee 53 people, Cullinane said, and will report to the village board.

The village has also hired a full-time building inspector. Bryan Donato was chosen from the Suffolk County Civil Service list as a probationary building inspector. He will work a 32-1/2-hour work week, earning an annual salary of $42,000