Town Attorney, Comptroller Reappointed

After a majority to table the reappointments of Town Comptroller Tamara Wright and , the two were unanimously reappointed Tuesday with no further controversy.

Councilman Jim Malone, C-Hampton Bays, who made the motion to put off the votes a week, said he wanted new Councilwoman Christine Scalera, R-Water Mill,  to have the opportunity to interview Wright and Scalera with the full Town Board present before she had to vote on their reappointments. Scalera was sworn in that day and it was her first meeting as a member of the Town Board.

Scalera said Tuesday that she benefited from having a full discussion with Wright and Scarlato prior to voting and that the appointments of the comptroller and attorney positions are held at a higher standard.

"These two positions, in the town management scheme, are of particular importance," she said.

Councilwoman Bridget Fleming, D-Noyac, had criticized the move to put off the vote, saying it put Wright and Scarlato's lives on hold at a time when administrations across Long Island change hands and jobs were filling up.

"I express concern and disappointment that they do not know now what will happen next week," Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst, I-Noyac, said at the time.

Malone deflected rumblings that the move was political. He said he has confidence in Wright and he spearheaded the team that picked Scarlato.

Both appointments last two years. In the 2012 town budget, Wright and Scarlato each have a salary of $117,300.