Cuomo signs bill allowing Vecchio, Nowick to complete full four-year terms in Smithtown

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has signed legislation to allow two Smithtown officials to complete their full four-year elected terms, ending months of uncertainty.

The bill preserved the terms of Smithtown Town Supervisor Patrick Vecchio and Councilwoman Lynne C. Nowick, both Republicans who failed to file their oaths of office within 30 days of taking office on Jan. 1, as required by state law. They will be sworn in Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

State Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport) and Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) sponsored the bill, which passed in April and June in the Senate and Assembly, respectively. Cuomo signed it Thursday.

Nowick said she was grateful for the work that Flanagan and Fitzpatrick did. "It's the right thing for the community," she said. "I think it's the right thing for the voters."

Vecchio said the governor's signature "puts an end to a very sordid part of Smithtown's political history."

Conservative Town Clerk Vincent Puleo declared Vecchio's and Nowick's offices vacant after they failed to file written oaths, but in February they were appointed to one-year terms by the remaining town board.

Bill Ellis, chairman of the Smithtown Republican Committee and also a deputy commissioner of the Suffolk County Board of Elections, said that following Cuomo's signature "the state Board of Elections notifies Suffolk County Board of Elections that there's no need to place them on the ballot for November's election."