At the Glen Cove City Council meeting of March 25, the council passed a resolution to allow the city to enter into an agreement with MB Consulting to retain its services to "assist the city's finance department in the formation of policies, operations and completion of certain ongoing and anticipated projects and operations." Resident Joan Hawkins questioned the resolution for a more specific definition of what the firm would be doing. Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi commented that the city is working under the auspices of New York State, following the recent state audit, and is working with a new accounting system. He then deferred to city Controller Sal Lombardi. Mr. Lombardi further explained that the city's year-end report is due to be filed and the city is working on better policies to tighten internal budget constraints. "This takes a lot of time," he added, and said that as he is involved in so many aspects of fiscal responsibility, including "putting out little fires," his department needs more help.

Ms. Hawkins asked if this help has been required in the past, and Mayor Suozzi answered that the department currently has more needs. "I ask a lot of questions that take Sal's time," he said, and his requests often require Mr. Lombardi to stop what he is involved in doing. When Ms. Hawkins asked if the position was that of "clerk," the mayor remarked that it was a more "sophisticated" position and the controller added that he needs someone with a background in bank reconciliations and other financial matters.

Marie Coyle asked the background of MB Consulting. The MB stands for Michael Bono, said Mayor Suozzi, who worked as a city employee in the finance department for 31 years. The mayor added that as such, Mr. Bono is not only "local;" he is "familiar with the financial transactions of the city."

Mr. Bono told this reporter that he retired from the City of Glen Cove in 2000 and worked as a consultant for the city until January of 2005. He made a point of stating that he now has a "company that does consulting work." MB Consulting has been hired at $50 per hour, with a cap of $40,000.