N. Hempstead highway superintendent job needs hiring process

When is a hiring process not a hiring process? 

When the opportunity is never posted, no interviews are conducted and only one candidate is considered for and offered the job.

That's what is happening in the Town of North Hempstead, where Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey submitted a resolution to rehire Thomas Tiernan as the town's highway superintendent, replacing acting Superintendent Harry Weed. The town council has the hire on its agenda for its meeting Thursday night.

But the town board's attempt to rehire the former highway superintendent came without a formal posting or consideration of any other official candidates. There wasn't a discussion among the full council or with North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena. 

Earlier this year, DeSena nominated Weed to become the permanent highway superintendent, but the board never took up the proposal.

Tiernan has a complex history in North Hempstead. He worked for the town for more than 35 years, including more than a 15 as highway superintendent. But he came under fire after a Newsday investigation found he was the only highway superintendent on Long Island who earned overtime. Tiernan collected more than $134,000 between 2011 and 2016, making him the town's highest-paid employee at the time. While the overtime was paid properly, because Tiernan was designated as a Civil Service Employees Association member, he resigned in the wake of the controversy.

Tiernan also was the subject of a 2016 investigation requested by the town attorney's office, which found that he did not violate any laws but "behaved unprofessionally in his official capacity," during interactions with contractors, public works officials and vendors. Then there are Tiernan's familial connections. His wife and son are town employees and during his previous stint, Tiernan supervised his brother. 

None of that on its own necessarily disqualifies Tiernan for the job. But it does underscore the need for a thorough search for the best candidate. Had town board members opened up such a search, Tiernan, Weed and other candidates could have competed for the position.  The lack of such a process casts a shadow over the plan to rehire Tiernan.

The issue also highlights deeper problems within town government. DeSena is a registered Democrat, but she ran as and caucuses with the Republicans, who are the minority. Since her term began in January, DeSena and the Democrats in the majority have repeatedly clashed, creating a dysfunctional government where members don't communicate or compromise. That's neither sustainable nor helpful to North Hempstead residents. 

Those residents elected DeSena as their supervisor. She deserves a chance to lead. She must be willing to work with the town board and find a middle ground, but the town board members must give her space to govern.

That can begin with the highway superintendent job. Start over, with an open, honest, actual hiring process, with real communication between board and supervisor and with showing residents that this isn't about political theater; it's about them.