Altadonna Steps Down as Massapequa Park Mayor

Massapequa Park Mayor James Altadonna presided over his final village Board meeting Monday, announcing he will be appointed Oyster Bay Town Clerk.

"It has really been a privilege and an honor to serve this village," the Mayor said near the end of the meeting. "This is my home and will always be my home."

Altadonna, who was elected to his seventh term in March, will take over Town Clerk's position at Tuesday's Oyster Bay Town Board meeting.

He will take over for Steve Labriola, who resigned in February. Altadonna's name began to pop up in connection with the Town Clerk position in April, and he was nominated by Republicans to run for the job in late May.

The Village Baord, must name a successor to Altadonna and will do so at the next meeting, set for July 24, according to Village Administrator Peggy Caltabiano. 

Until then, Deputy Mayor Jeffrey Pravato will handle the duties of the mayor's office, beginning noon Tuesday. 

Pravato paid tribute to Altadonna at Moday's meeting, calling him "an inspiration and a great mentor to me and everyone else on this board."

Whoever the board appoints as mayor will have the opportunity to go before the voters next March in a special election to fill the remainder of Altadonna's term. There will be another mayoral election in March 2015 for the full two-year term.

Altadonna said his relationship with Town officials led him to seek the clerk's role.

"I work very well with the Supervisor," he said. "And when that position opened up it was something I felt strongly about, that I can work well with that board and I asked to be considered."

The outgoing mayor praised the board and the village staff, saying: "It's been an honor and a privilege and I really did enjoy my stay here. I expect good things from this board to continue. They're more than qualified, more than capable."