Gallagher can't serve on ethics commission

John Gallagher, former Suffolk County police commissioner and one-time chief deputy county executive, is ineligible for a seat on Suffolk's new ethics commission. His nomination by the Bellone administration stalled before the county legislature's Ways and Means Committee after he disclosed he teaches history parttime as an adjunct professor at Suffolk County Community College. The revised ethics law bars public employees from the panel.

Legis. Ricardo Montano (D-Central Islip), committee chairman, contacted college counsel Louis Petrizzo, who confirmed Gallagher is considered a college employee and that the college president files a financial disclosure form, which the commission reviews. Gallagher said he'd been unaware of the restriction but added: "I think it's a good thing. It shows the administration and the legislature are sticking to the letter of the law."-- Rick Brand