Standoff delays benefit-fund meeting

Three Suffolk County police cars showed up last week at the benefit-fund office of the Association of Municipal Employees after new union president Dan Farrell tried to bring three new union board members to a meeting.

In a standoff that delayed the benefit-fund board meeting for about 40 minutes, Jeff Tempera, board chairman, told Farrell that he could enter the closed meeting, but without the appointees. Police listened to both sides, and Farrell's appointees left voluntarily. The fight over the benefits fund is embroiled in a lawsuit, scheduled for hearing Oct. 5 before State Supreme Court Justice Denise Molia.

-- Rick Brand