Port Jefferson trustee Jim Burke resigns

Port Jefferson trustee Jim Burke has resigned his post because he took a new job with the state attorney general, which bars him from holding elected office, he said Tuesday.

Mayor Margot Garant announced Burke's resignation at Monday's trustee meeting.

She wants to appoint a new trustee by the next village board meeting Nov. 7, and is accepting applications for the part-time job. Those interested can call village hall at 631-473-4724.

Burke, who was elected in 2009, officially resigned on Oct. 3. He said he would like to stay involved with the village in a nonpolitical capacity.

"I can't serve as elected official, but I would like to continue," Burke said. "I would like to lend my experience to help the village in any way. I believe I could serve on the (village) boards, but just not elected positions."

He said he would especially like to help with the village's master plan.

Burke, 51, an attorney, was in private practice before joining the state attorney general's real property bureau in September. He is former counsel to Freeport's Zoning Board of Appeals, was deputy town attorney for Brookhaven for five years, and was chairman of Port Jefferson's planning board for eight years.

The salary for Port Jefferson trustee is $7,000. A proposal to raise the pay to $12,500 was tabled Monday until next month's trustee meeting. The trustees approved a raise for the mayor Oct. 3 from $10,000 to $19,500.