Islip to vote on fired commissioner Gene Murphy

The Islip Town board Tuesday is set to vote on a consulting contract with its former planning commissioner, fired by the new town administration in January.

Gene Murphy, who began with the town in 1975, retired from his post as commissioner in December 2010. He was retained by the prior administration as a part-time planner at $30,000 a year to keep his experience and assist the department, but was fired by Supervisor Tom Croci in the opening days of the new administration.

After the move prompted a public outcry, Croci said at his first town board meeting that planning commissioner Dave Genaway would have discretion to rehire Murphy if there was room in the budget.

A resolution to go before Tuesday’s board meeting would authorize the supervisor to enter into a $20,000 agreement for Murphy to provide professional services to the department.

The resolution states Murphy will provide “services related to the capital improvement program, grants and other special projects.”

Photo: Islip Town Hall