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Prior to convening the regular Glen Cove City Council meeting of Tuesday, Feb. 26, Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi and the city council will hold a public hearing to "discuss [the] Glen Cove City Council adopting a local law amending the City's Charter superseding Section 3 of the New York State Public Officer's Law relative to the requirement of residency of appointive city officers" as approved by the council at its Tuesday, Feb. 12 meeting.

The Glen Cove City Charter is mute on residency requirements; appointed positions include deputy mayor, city clerk, public relations officer, youth bureau director, director of senior services, city attorney, director of DPW, city controller and city attorney.

It is the position of deputy mayor that has raised controversy in the community since Mayor Suozzi and the city council's appointment of Kelly Morris, formerly the city's director of strategic initiatives, as deputy mayor upon the administration's inauguration on Jan.1. Residents began public questioning of the propriety of the appointment at the city council meeting of Tuesday, Jan. 8, as reported in the Record Pilot.

Ms. Morris is a resident of North Bellmore and has worked in Glen Cove since 2005, first as then-candidate Ralph Suozzi's campaign manager and, following his initial mayoral win, as director of strategic initiatives. Residents have stated that the deputy mayor position is "very different" from other appointeds, as the deputy mayor has the authority to act in the mayor's stead should the mayor be incapacitated or otherwise unavailable.

Mayor Suozzi has been totally supportive of his and the council's choice of Ms. Morris as deputy mayor and has said of her, "She has worked in Glen Cove for two years; she knows the workers, the consultants...she has put in many hours and is more than qualified to do the job."

The public hearing to discuss the proposed charter amendment will begin at 7:30 in the main chamber of city hall on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Any resident who is unable to attend the public hearing and wishes to comment may do so by contacting Mayor Suozzi. Written comments may be mailed to Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi, 9 Glen Street, Glen Cove, NY 11542; faxed to 676-0108 or emailed to rsuozzi@cityofglencoveny.org.