Mastic Beach mayor resigns, cites health

Paul Breschard, the mayor of Mastic Beach and one of the leaders in the drive to incorporate the South Shore community as a village in 2010, resigned Wednesday night, citing health concerns.

Breschard, the only mayor in the brief history of the village of about 11,500, made the surprise announcement during a work session of the village's board of trustees.

The board swiftly appointed trustee Bill Biondi, a local fire official, as the new mayor, a village spokesman said.

Biondi said afterward he had "no idea" the resignation was coming. He stressed unity, noting that recent public meetings have been marked by heated arguments between elected officials and residents.

"I'm going to try to bring all the residents back together as one to make Mastic Beach what it used to be," Biondi said.

Breschard, 62, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

A former teacher in the William Floyd school district, Breschard was one of the leading organizers of a citizens' group that pushed for the incorporation of the village, which residents approved in August 2010.

Since being elected, Breschard has overseen the village's first budget cycle, which fulfilled a promise of keeping a lid on taxes. He also presided over recent meetings in which the village trustees and the public have clashed over village services, zoning laws and code enforcement.

Frank Cappiello, who ran against Breschard for mayor, called the resignation unexpected and unfortunate.

"Sad day for the village," Cappiello wrote in an email.

Fred Towle, a spokesman for the village, said the crowd of about 40 residents at Wednesday night's meeting was "taken off-guard" by the announcement.

"Clearly, Paul was one of the most instrumental people in the creation of the village and is someone who is going to be missed," Towle said.

The resignation temporarily reduces the village's five-member board to four. Trustees will probably appoint a fifth member within a month, Towle said.