South Country ambulance chief fights charge

South Country Ambulance Chief Gregory Miglino used a court appearance Monday to call for a trial to dispute a charge that he elbowed a colleague in the chest during an after-hours confrontation - a violation that carries a fine of no more than $250.

Miglino, a polarizing figure in the community who is also a former South Country School Board president, also pleaded not guilty during the brief appearance before Judge Patricia Filiberto at District Court in Central Islip.

The charge against Miglino, based on a complaint filed by South Country ambulance driver Stephen Ervin of East Patchogue, accuses the chief of second-degree harassment for striking and punching Ervin "during a verbal dispute" on Nov. 11.

Miglino called the violation "a speeding ticket" and "a private matter," but added that he wants to "have a day in court to tell my side." He added that he and Ervin had a confrontation in which Ervin charged him and he acted defensively.

Miglino and his attorney, Craig McElwee of North Babylon, said Ervin filed the charges to besmirch Miglino's name in the community.

"Half the people love him, half the people hate him," McElwee said of Miglino. "We believe this half falls into the 'hate him' category."

Ervin, who was not present at Miglino's court appearance, did not respond to a phone call seeking comment.

After the court appearance, Miglino released a statement that he and Ervin had the confrontation at the home of another department member where Ervin had arrived unannounced and refused to leave.

Miglino said Ervin is currently suspended from the ambulance company for an unrelated matter.

Miglino, of Brookhaven, was at the center of a controversy in the South Country school community in May when several residents accused him of creating a $61,200-a-year patronage job for himself to slide into after he stepped down as school board president at the end of the school year.

Miglino, who was a school board member for four years and board president for three, adamantly denied the accusations. He said the school board hired him as building services administrator to shepherd a school construction project.

A few of Miglino's school district opponents attended Monday's court appearance. One of them, former school board member Antoinette Huffine of Bellport, said she attended "on behalf of the community."

She added: "He's out of control. He's bullying people."

Miglino is due back in court on Jan. 31 for a conference.