Cuomo has chance to pick majority of NIFA

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo could appoint a new majority to Nassau's fiscal control board by Jan. 1 -- just in time to consider a proposed county sewer deal.

Cuomo named banker John Buran to the seven-member Nassau Interim Finance Authority, and has another vacancy to fill. On Dec. 31, the terms of NIFA member Leonard Steinman and chairman Ronald Stack expire. All four seats are the governor's picks.

Former Gov. David A. Paterson replaced four NIFA members whose terms had expired soon after County Executive Edward Mangano took office in 2010. The revamped board voted to take control of county finances, and has opposed Mangano's sewer privatization. But Mangano is still pursuing a sewer deal. -- Celeste Hadrick