Suffolk OTB News
06-05-2007, 11:32 AM
Suffolk group votes to eliminate its free health insurance months after refusing to stop the practice
BY RICK BRAND
rick.brand@newsday.com
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June 5, 2007
Suffolk OTB's board of directors quietly voted late last month to drop free health benefits for themselves by year's end after balking in April about cutting the benefit.
The bipartisan three-member board voted unanimously to end the benefit at its May 24 meeting, one day after town made a similar move for various part-time board members.
"I think it's fair," said Jeff Casale, president of Suffolk Off Track Betting. "What they are trying to do is give themselves enough time to find out where they can go. You don't want to rip out someone from underneath." Casale said the resolution allows board members to pay for the health benefits if they want to be covered.
The resolution was introduced by board secretary Patrick E. Byrne Jr., a Democratic candidate for county legislature who tried to put forward a similar resolution in April but failed to get support from the other board members.
"It was the right thing to do," said Byrne, adding that his fellow board members "just needed time to digest the idea and see how it affects the rest of the agency."
Byrne's designated GOP opponent for the legislature, lawyer Vincent Trimarco, called the OTB board action "a step in the right direction."
Byrne, a financial consultant, started taking benefits only earlier this year when his wife, a teacher, went on extended leave after having a baby. OTB officials say the benefit is worth about $14,000 a year. Board vice chairman Herbert Hemmendinger, former Babylon GOP leader, does not take the medical benefit, but recved $6,200 in cash in lieu of it. Board chairman Democrat Dominick Feeney, a retiree who was once deputy Suffolk labor commissioner, recves health benefits. Everyone in herbie's family is on z payroll of the County.
Several sources say Feeney and Hemmendinger had balked at cutting the benefits because they were concerned that it might affect other OTB officials or former directors no longer on the board.
The board's action came after the Suffolk Legislature presiding officer, William Lindsay (D-Holbrook), put forward a resolution that would set a legislative policy not to appoint board members to OTB and the Suffolk Water Authority unless they agreed to end the free benefits.
"I think they did the right thing," Lindsay said. "It certainly makes one of my resolutions not needed." He added that he expects the water authority board to take similar action after Democrats vote to appoint former Democratic Suffolk Legis. Jane Devine of Huntington to the board later this month.
BY RICK BRAND
rick.brand@newsday.com
Email this story
Printer friendly format
June 5, 2007
Suffolk OTB's board of directors quietly voted late last month to drop free health benefits for themselves by year's end after balking in April about cutting the benefit.
The bipartisan three-member board voted unanimously to end the benefit at its May 24 meeting, one day after town made a similar move for various part-time board members.
"I think it's fair," said Jeff Casale, president of Suffolk Off Track Betting. "What they are trying to do is give themselves enough time to find out where they can go. You don't want to rip out someone from underneath." Casale said the resolution allows board members to pay for the health benefits if they want to be covered.
The resolution was introduced by board secretary Patrick E. Byrne Jr., a Democratic candidate for county legislature who tried to put forward a similar resolution in April but failed to get support from the other board members.
"It was the right thing to do," said Byrne, adding that his fellow board members "just needed time to digest the idea and see how it affects the rest of the agency."
Byrne's designated GOP opponent for the legislature, lawyer Vincent Trimarco, called the OTB board action "a step in the right direction."
Byrne, a financial consultant, started taking benefits only earlier this year when his wife, a teacher, went on extended leave after having a baby. OTB officials say the benefit is worth about $14,000 a year. Board vice chairman Herbert Hemmendinger, former Babylon GOP leader, does not take the medical benefit, but recved $6,200 in cash in lieu of it. Board chairman Democrat Dominick Feeney, a retiree who was once deputy Suffolk labor commissioner, recves health benefits. Everyone in herbie's family is on z payroll of the County.
Several sources say Feeney and Hemmendinger had balked at cutting the benefits because they were concerned that it might affect other OTB officials or former directors no longer on the board.
The board's action came after the Suffolk Legislature presiding officer, William Lindsay (D-Holbrook), put forward a resolution that would set a legislative policy not to appoint board members to OTB and the Suffolk Water Authority unless they agreed to end the free benefits.
"I think they did the right thing," Lindsay said. "It certainly makes one of my resolutions not needed." He added that he expects the water authority board to take similar action after Democrats vote to appoint former Democratic Suffolk Legis. Jane Devine of Huntington to the board later this month.