Close to 100 Glen Cove residents crowded city hall on Tuesday, Feb. 26 for a public hearing to discuss the adoption of a local law amending the city charter to supersede the New York State Public Officer's Law relative to the requirement of residency of appointed city officers. The current charter is mute on the subject of residency, and as such the city has technically been out of compliance, with many appointees non-residents. 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.

Residency has not previously been questioned, but with the appointment of Kelly Morris as deputy mayor, residents have brought the subject to light. With this appointment, questions from legalities to mere inappropriateness have been the talk of the town, both at public meetings and in King Kullen on any given Saturday afternoon, prompting the possible charter change. At a prior city council meeting, Timothy O'Rourke criticized the appointment, which was made following Mayor Suozzi's inauguration for his second term of office, saying that the newly elected council members barely knew some of the people they were appointing. He had asked if the council would be willing to meet to discuss the matter, and those who answered him said no, that it was not necessary. Tuesday's meeting, said Mr. O'Rourke, was proof that it was.

The general opinion presented by speakers is that the position of deputy mayor is very different from other appointed positions, as he or she is the person to step into the mayor's shoes, should the mayor be unavailable for any reason, from illness to vacation.

A number of residents have stated that their concern stems from the fact that Ms. Morris is a resident of North Bellmore and has been involved in Glen Cove for just two years, beginning her work as campaign manager for Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi in his first run, then serving as director of strategic initiatives through his initial administration, a position which did not previously exist.

Ms. Morris' friendship with Jane Beckard-Suozzi is another issue on residents' minds, although Mayor Suozzi has stated that Ms. Morris is also his friend and the city employs many of his friends. One resident questioned Ms. Morris' contributions to the city and remarked, "You just don't appoint your wife's best friend to a government position." The mayor responded that as the speaker does not know Ms. Morris, she should not "disqualify her and her work ethic." He added that her friendship with his wife was not an issue, and the speaker asked why, then, she has seen it reported in the newspapers. "The papers want to incite things like what's going on tonight," the mayor answered.

Marie Coyle addressed the council to say, among other things, "If perception means anything, I would suggest to you the perception of our city's chief executive attempting to appoint his spouse's friend to what could be viewed as potentially the second most powerful position in this city, and your possible vote to legitimize that act, is nothing short of a slap in the face to every Glen Cove taxpayer. It is a very hard slap in the face to every voter who elected each of you." She added that while there seems to be no doubt that the city council has the power to change the charter in order to override a state law that requires residency, "that power does not mean that there is the slightest bit of wisdom in exercising it to give a job to a friend of either the mayor or his wife."

Lindsay Anderson also used the word perception in his comments, saying that the position of deputy mayor should be an exception to the necessity of filling a position that requires specific technical expertise or professional qualifications. "The general perception is that the deputy mayor is the No. 2 representative of our city and the logical assumption is that that individual lives in the city he/she represents," he said. He emphasized that his feelings were not about personalities or abilities, adding that he has worked with Ms. Morris, likes her, and is sure she would do an excellent job. "But that is not the issue," he said. "Just as we would never elect a mayor who didn't live in Glen Cove, we shouldn't appoint a deputy mayor who doesn't live in Glen Cove." He concluded, "I know what I say here tonight won't make any difference- you're going to pass this charter change. But as long as it doesn't make an exception with regard to the deputy mayor, it is the wrong move. This issue will not go away and if you pass it I'm certain that if not your administration, another administration is going to reverse it in the future."

Ronni Corbo referenced an article in Tuesday's Newsday, which said of Ms. Morris, "She said not living in the city is an advantage in the day-to-day operations." Ms. Corbo noted that Ms. Morris was not at the hearing, and said she had wanted to know what Ms. Morris meant by the statement. Mayor Suozzi said that he could not speak for Ms. Morris, but said that since his first day in office he has been asked to do things by people he has known all his life and it is difficult when he has to say no. He said he believes Ms. Morris' advantage would be that it would be easier for her to "filter things." The mayor remarked that he had spoken to the Newsday reporter, who was in attendance at the hearing, for one hour, but that he can't decide what makes it into the newspaper.

The mayor also said Ms. Morris was not required to be at the hearing. "This is not a trial," he said. He added that former Deputy Mayor Marilyn Brenner attended city council meetings by choice, and that she and Ms. Morris alternated attendance at pre-council and regular council meetings. It should be noted, however, that Ms. Morris has not attended either since the objections to her appointment have begun.

Robert Staada spoke very briefly. "My question is, will [Ms. Morris] be paying city and school taxes?" As the applause died down, Mayor Suozzi said, "Not here."

Tempers flared when Joan Hawkins took to the podium and made statements to which City Attorney Vincent Taranto took umbrage. He interrupted the speaker to say, "We listen to misinformation at every meeting," adding that what Ms. Hawkins was crediting to him was not what he had said. When Ms. Hawkins continued by saying that she had information that seemed to disagree with him, he again interrupted, saying, "I'd like to see that." He questioned why the public was "castigating" the city administration for "trying to bring the charter into compliance." Mr. Taranto said the public seemed to believe that the deputy mayor could take over for the mayor, but in truth, in the absence of the mayor, the deputy mayor just assumes ministerial duties, does not have a vote and cannot make appointments; she or he merely "tends to day-to-day duties of the city." The attorney added that there are 26,000 people in Glen Cove and "the same four people comment at every meeting."

That comment seems to hit a nerve in other speakers, as the next speaker pronounced that "I am not a regular" but expressed her opinion that it is incorrect to hire outside the city if a qualified individual can be found in the city. Residents who followed each announced which number speaker they were. Many attendees were those who regularly attend city council meetings, but many more were brought to the meeting to see what the uproar was about.

Mayor Suozzi defended his choice of deputy mayor numerous times throughout the evening, in between speakers. He said, as he has before, that it is the mayor's prerogative to appoint a deputy mayor and that he believes Ms. Morris is the best candidate for the job. He said she has "worked by my side through a very successful first administration," and as such adds continuity to his current administration. She has the skills to do the job, he said.

City Councilmen Michael Famiglietti and Sean Dwyer, both first-term councilmen, questioned many speakers as to their objections to the proposed charter changes. Some replied that they believed all city appointees should be city residents; some stated they believed the deputy mayor position to be an exception.

The public hearing was left open until the next city council meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. in Glen Cove City Hall. At press time, Mayor Suozzi said that he is not sure whether or not the council will vote on the charter change at that meeting.