Glen Cove public works commissioner can collect salary, pension

James Byrne, Glen Cove’s new public works commissioner, is eligible to receive a $107,340 pension in addition to his $130,000-a-year salary from Glen Cove after taking an early retirement package from Oyster Bay, where he was parks commissioner, in August 2012.

Glen Cove Mayor Reginald Spinello said Byrne’s pension status was not the city’s concern. “There’s a lot of people out there looking for jobs and he was a qualified person and someone mentioned him to me,” Spinello said without identifying who suggested he hire Byrne.

Byrne received $309,798 in compensation in 2012, Oyster Bay records show. His salary had been $150,125. Oyster Bay rehired him in 2013 but his salary was capped at $30,000 because of state rules governing retirees who are collecting pensions before turning 65. Public records show Byrne will turn 65 this year.

Byrne, who retired with 40.25 years of qualifying service, is eligible to receive a gross monthly pension of $8,945 and this year is not subject to a cap on salary, according to the state comptroller’s office.

Byrne was one of several Oyster Bay employees who took early retirement incentives that the town estimated in 2012 would cost $6.2 million.