The Massapequa Park Village Board named Tina Schiaffino as their newest member, Monday night.
She will fill the vacancy created last month when Jerry Laricchiuta stepped down.
Schiaffino, who has been active in the community as a volunteer with church and with the . She will finish out the remainder of Laricchiuta's term, and will run for the seat in March, Mayor James Altadonna said.
"There's three principles we look for in our village," the mayor said. "We look for integrity, we look for honesty and we look for compassion. Ms. Schiafinno fills that role."
Altadonna praised the new trustee for her help during the March wind storm that struck the village. Schiaffino, who works as a manager at the Southgate condominium complex was instrumental in getting residents help as more than 100 trees toppled and some homes lost their roofs, according to the mayor.
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto was on hand to swear Schiaffino in while the new trustee's daughter Daniela held the bible.
Venditto expressed his appreciation at being invited calling it "a very loud statement that the relationship between the Village of Massapequa Park and the Town of Oyster Bay is as good as it gets."
"I would venture to say that [Schiaffino] is here in the same spirit of inter-community cooperation.," the supervisor added.
Schiaffino, who says she's a registered independent, said that she was looking forward to her new role and has "always wanted to be involved in the community."
"I 'm very excited to be with this board, I think they've done great things for the village," she said.
"I'd like to contribute my experience in dealing with people, with budgeting and dealing with the overall well being of the community."
Also on the agenda last night, the village approved a plan to take over the issuing of dog licenses from the state of New York. The state has gotten out of the dog licensing business and has mandated that municipalities take over.
Massapequa Park will begin issuing the new licenses on January 1 according to Altadonna. The fees will go up by two dollars with standard licenses going for $10. The fee goes up to $18 if the dog is not neutered.
