On Monday, County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, joined by Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Syosset) and Minority Leader Peter Schmitt (R-Massapequa), announced that a bipartisan agreement has been reached regarding the county's contract with insignia/ESG; the formation of a Real Estate Advisory Panel to oversee the county executive's real estate consolidation plan; and an open meeting process to allow for public comment on the plan.

"The creation of this panel will ensure that the county's future real estate dealings will be done in an open, honest and straightforward manner absent political favoritism or conflict of interest," said Suozzi.

The advisory panel will be chaired by Milton Cooper, the chief executive officer of Kimco Realty. In addition to Mr. Cooper the panel's initial members will include: Former Grumman CEO Jack Bierwirth; Robert Green, Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter for Newsday; and Robert Fagiola, a counsel for the Real Estate Group of Sherman and Sterling. The legislature's presiding officer and minority leader will each select a member. Other panel members will be announced shortly.

In addition, an agreement has been reached regarding the approval of Insignia/ESG to serve as the county's real estate advisor and broker. Insignia/ESG will conduct a strategic preview of county real estate and release a draft report on Aug. 31, laying out several options on how to consolidate county government into five campuses.

"Because this is such an important initiative of my administration, I plan to hold a public meeting to solicit comments from all Nassau's residents," said Suozzi. Following the release of the draft report, the county executive will hold a 30-day period for public comment. The report will also be available on the county's website at www.co.nassau.ny.us.

"Real estate is an area of county government that has been in need of review for many years," said Jacobs. "Our bipartisan support will guarantee that the county will continue to move in the right direction."

"The Republican caucus supports the concept of consolidation, rehabilitation and the sale of excess county property. Since the county executive has agreed with our proposal to provide funds to the advisory panel to hire an independent counsel of their choice, we support the Insignia contract before the rules committee today," said Schmitt.