Three high-earning Town of Oyster Bay officials who took retirement buyouts and are receiving pensions in the neighborhood of $100,000 are once again on the town payroll, officials said.
A Town spokeswoman confirmed that James Byrne, who returned as Parks Commissioner, Richard Betz, who will return as Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, and Public Information Officer James Moriarity are all back on the payroll and are being paid up to $30,000 in total hourly wages.
Under state law, the three may still receive their annual pensions if they make $30,000 or less.
Byrne, Betz and Moriarty's annual pensions are $107,340, $97,387 and $99,188, Newsday [paid site] reported.
Although Jay Jacobs, the Nasau County Democratic chamber blasted the rehirings, Deputy Town Supervisor Len Genova, who also serves as Town attorney, argued it will save taxpayer money.
Prior to their retirement Byrne, Betz and Moriarty earned salaries of $150,125, $136,303 and $142,211, according to town officials. Even adding the full $30,000 to the rehired employees' pensions will cost less than if they remained on the job, Genova said.
"The rules allow this," Genova, said. "That's what people need to remember."
Genova said that between retirement incentives that were offered in 2010 and the more than 90 employees who accepted a retirement package in 2012, the Town has lost almost 20 percent of their workforce, many of whom are were longtime workers.
He said that one of the thoughts behind rehiring employees is their years on the job.
"Between them, they have about 120 combined years of experience," Genova said, adding that the employees will help "mentor" younger employees.
But Genova said there no limit has been set as to how long the employees will remain on the Town payroll.
Here's another example WHY WE DON'T TRUST GOV'T.....we CITIZENS are always getting screwed!
You're a Jet all the way From your first cigarette To your last dyin' day. When you're a Jet, If the spit hits the fan, You got brothers around, You're a family man! You're never alone, You're never disconnected! You're home with your own: When company's expected, You're well protected! Then you are set With a capital J, Which you'll never forget Till they cart you away. When you're a Jet, You stay a Jet!
. Lynch mobs and hecklers...so sad. Light a candle and stop cursing the darkness.
DID YOU THINK ABOUT HELPING A VETERAN??A VET WHO LOST THERE JOB OR WHO'S LOOKING FOR A JOB,WHO WENT TO WAR FOR YOU SELFISH PEOPLE!! TERRIABLE SAD AND A DISGRACE......................
Fed up resident 9:46 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 Way to go Jon Venditto and Lenny Genova....keep up with your lies...it's a sad day when Jon Venditto has lost all credibility! Len Genova stated in the papers that only the 3 commissioner will be brought back. Once again, Jon Venditto's deputy supervisor makes a false statement. It has come to my attention that 2 more people who retired during the towns incentive retirement program last year have been appointed to the town of oyster bay zoning board of appeals.......part time job making over 26,000 per year with full benifits. The only question I have is how do 2 secretaries qualify for the zoning board?