Hempstead Town Board reappoints John Ferretti as supervisor

The Hempstead Town Board reappointed John Ferretti as town supervisor Tuesday following a contentious hearing.

Ferretti's earlier appointment, on Aug. 5, is the subject of a lawsuit brought by the Republican's opponent, Democrat Joseph Scianablo, in this fall's supervisor election. The suit alleges that appointment violated New York State Open Meetings Law. 

Ferretti left Tuesday's town board meeting shortly after it started to recuse himself from discussion about his appointment. He wasn't sworn in a second time when he returned and presided over the remainder of the meeting. He did not take questions from a reporter following the meeting.

Councilwoman Laura Ryder, a Republican, said in an opening statement she asked for the resolution for Ferretti’s appointment to be placed on the agenda.

“It is important to realize that what we are doing here is not necessary as the board's actions on Aug. 5, 2025, followed the law,” Ryder said. “However, for selfish political reasons, a baseless lawsuit was brought without regard for how much it will cost taxpayers.”

More than a dozen speakers voiced opposition to Ferretti's reappointment at the meeting Tuesday while three people spoke in Ferretti’s favor.

Opponents have criticized Ferretti’s appointment as giving him an advantage of incumbency to run the town as the Nov. 4 election approaches, and to send out taxpayer-funded mailers with his name on them following former Town Supervisor Donald X. Clavin Jr.’s resignation, also on Aug. 5.

Following Clavin's resignation, which had not been previously announced, the town board quietly hired him for another job with the town and then appointed Ferretti to be supervisor. Clavin, who is seeking a judgeship, retired three weeks later.

On Tuesday, Leslie Martin, 62, of Baldwin, questioned whether it was appropriate for Ferretti to be appointed.

“I would say he has been complicit in the provision of a no-show job to Don Clavin,” Martin said. “All of you on the town council are part of the conspiracy to put him in a no-show job valued over $179,000 a year.”

Last week, Martin filed a complaint about Clavin’s job with state Attorney General Letitia James’ Office. On Tuesday, that office confirmed it had received the complaint and was reviewing it.

Town Attorney John Maccarone several times interrupted speakers who were critical of the appointment to rebut points they made. 

Those interruptions drew fire from Frederick K. Brewington, an attorney and organizer with The Corridor Counts, a Hempstead Village community organization that held a protest outside Town Hall before the meeting, calling for Ferretti’s resignation.

“Your job is to advise them appropriately on the record with them, not to interrupt me,” Brewington said to Maccarone.

Brewington, who co-signed a letter asking the attorney general's office to investigate Clavin’s job, told the board, “If you vote yes to appoint Mr. Ferretti at this time, you join in the abuse of authority and violation that he has engaged in and become complicit.”

Chris Howard, a fire commissioner from Franklin Square, urged the board to reappoint Ferretti.

“He's the kind of person you can count on without a second thought,” Howard said. “Whether you need help navigating within the town, advice on a tough decision or just someone to grab a coffee with, John's there, no questions asked.”

In a news release, the town said that with Ferretti’s reappointment, “Hempstead Town government can move forward with its responsibility of serving the public, unfettered by the frivolous legal theater of Mr. Scianablo.”

Scianablo told the board that it had lost integrity when it first appointed Ferretti.

“You broke the law,” Scianablo told the board. “The fact that we're standing here today for a revote proves it.”

Scianablo told Newsday that Ferretti’s reappointment will not stop his lawsuit.

The town board voted 4-0 to appoint Ferretti again, with one absence and one abstention. Dorothy Goosby, the lone Democrat on the Republican-dominated board, abstained from voting.