Don Clavin's 'bridge' job in Hempstead Town begs explanation
What Donald X. Clavin was supposed to be doing in his post-supervisor position in Hempstead Town remains unaddressed. Credit: James Escher
On the heels of Donald X. Clavin’s abrupt resignation as Town of Hempstead supervisor on Aug. 5, the town board, in Republican lockstep, appointed Clavin to another job with the exact same $179,375 salary and benefits. Clavin received the title of "Community Services Representative." Minutes after Clavin quit, the board anointed former Nassau Leg. John Ferretti as his successor.
It’s well known that party machines take care of their own, and none better than Hempstead Town — which has been under Republican control for all but two years of its modern history. As part of the fiefdom, Clavin's expensive "maybe-show" position was aimed at keeping his rate of salary and pension status in place until the end of the year, after which he’s assured of being elected a county judge, having been cross-endorsed by the Democrats.
The whole scenario stinks.
From the start, this appointment smacked of being a shadowy sinecure, especially for its opacity and mysteriousness. For three weeks, town officials declined to disclose Clavin’s title or salary. The appointment never appeared in the town’s meeting materials posted online. The only trace was an unexplained salary provision in a budget line for the department.
On Wednesday, in response to written questions from Newsday, a town official wrote in an email that "Don Clavin works out of the Nassau Road office of the Department of Planning and Economic Development." But Newsday reported five years ago that this office was closed and, according to the town website, it still is.
What absence of government transparency is this, you may wonder. Lo and behold, on Thursday, came another sudden announcement: Clavin was "retiring" from the town government, perhaps in hopes that the mystery and irregularities would be erased in this season of local elections. "I have decided to resign my current position and retire from the Town of Hempstead, effective immediately."
What Clavin was supposed to be doing in the position remains unaddressed. Town spokesman Brian Devine’s earlier response on the subject sounds especially rich in retrospect: "Don has a wealth of institutional knowledge that made him the ideal in-house candidate." We wonder if anyone would or should succeed Clavin in the post at any salary.
Ordinarily, such an odiferous payroll arrangement could backfire on a politician pursuing his next elected job. But Clavin is unlikely to feel voter backlash. A loyal Republican, the Garden City lawyer is unopposed on the November ballot for a seat on the County Court bench, which pays above $200,000.
Clavin held his murky "bridge" job on Ferretti’s watch. This fall, to stay as supervisor, Ferretti will have to be elected. All the circumstances of his succeeding Clavin are fair questions for town voters. As Clavin's chosen successor, this was a good deal for Ferretti — who now has a good deal of explaining to do to the voters.
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