Gillen asks Santino to investigate allegations about destroying town documents

Laura Gillen

Christina Daly/Herald

Town of Hempstead Supervisor-elect Laura Gillen hand-delivered a letter to outgoing Supervisor Anthony Santino on Tuesday asking him to investigate and report whether any town documents have been destroyed or deleted.

“In light of allegations received by our transition team concerning the destruction and deletion of materials, documents and or data,” the letter states, “please be reminded that you and all Town employees, commissioners, officers and officials have a lawful obligation to retain and preserve all Town records…”

A spokesman for Gillen did not wish to comment further about the allegations relayed to the transition team.

Gillen, a Democrat who lives in Rockville Centre, prepares to officially take office on Jan. 2 after defeating Santino on Election Day last month, ending more than a century of Republican leadership in the town. She officially named the more than two-dozen members of her transition team last month.

“In furtherance of the best practices for government transitions, I request all documents, data and computers be preserved inviolate through my induction as the new Town of Hempstead Supervisor — regardless of any past practices,” Gillen wrote. “I am confident you can agree such action is necessary to ensure the best interests of the Town’s taxpayers.”

Town of Hempstead spokesman Mike Deery did not immediately responded to the Herald’s request for comment.