Glen Cove council mulls lawyers, group home

It’s hard to believe it’s only three weeks since the new mayor and city council took their oaths of office. Whether the subject is group homes, animal shelters, upgrades to the city water system, or attorneys, the council are already beginning to show signs of wear.

In particular, questions about a proposed group home for people with eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, on St. Andrew’s Lane; and the ongoing wrangle about city attorneys brought out the sharp divisions among council members, as well as the most vocal and vehement responses from the public.

After calling the meeting to order, Mayor Timothy Tenke moved acceptance of the minutes from the previous meeting, financial reports, and warrants for various disbursements. He then presented commendations to Fire Capt. Peter Salamido and GCPD officers Matthew Testy, and Kathleen Theodoro, who rescued two residents trapped in a house fire on Jan. 14, on St. Andrew’s Lane.

Next, the mayor proposed the purchase of a new aerial ladder truck for the fire department. The vehicle, costing roughly $1.3 million, would replace the current vehicle, which was past the normal life cycle for such equipment, according to what Chief Robert Marino said at the pre-council meeting on Jan. 16. The department expected to take delivery of the custom-built truck in about a year. The measure was unanimously approved.

The council then took up the issue of the city attorney. This was essentially a rehash of the discussions that have taken place in every council meeting since Jan. 1. Tenke had made a number of attempts to replace Charles McQuair, the city attorney, arguing that the mayor had the right to choose his own official representation. Tenke said he felt the “need for someone I can trust in that role,” and that McQuair did not meet that test. “I’m being forced to work with people and depend on people I did not pick,” Tenke said. Councilwoman Marsha Silverman supported Tenke’s position, suggesting that it was reasonable for the mayor to make his own choice for such a sensitive position.

Then followed discussion of the two other agenda items dealing with city attorneys. In particular, Councilman Kevin Maccarone moved that the mayor “enter into professional agreement with Chase, Ratkopf, & Chase LLP, to provide legal counsel to the planning and zoning boards.” This was the fourth time in three weeks that Maccarone had urged the city to extend the contracts of Messrs Chase et al., despite the fact that they were among the most expensive of the city’s attorneys. Those contracts dated from Spinello’s first term. At one point in the pre-council meeting, an exasperated Silverman had asked, “Why are you pushing so hard for them?” In the end, however, Maccarone’s resolution passed along straight partisan lines — five-to-two in favor.

Finally, Tenke opened the floor to public comments on a proposed group home for people recovering from eating disorders. This home, on St. Andrews Lane, would be covered by the Padavan Law, which stipulates that up to 14 people may live together in therapeutic communities without requiring a zoning variance. In other words, they would be treated exactly as if they were a family.

Tenke announced at the beginning of the meeting that the council would hold a public meeting on Feb. 7, to discuss the issue. But the Padavan Law is designed to avoid NIMBY (not in my back yard) arguments, which leaves the council effectively powerless to block a sale if it is agreed to by the seller and purchaser. What the city and council can do is create a situation that is so inimical to recovery that the community goes elsewhere. Capobianco, for one, seemed inclined to follow this strategy. As for the citizens of Glen Cove, many expressed anger and a lack of support for the group home.