By KEITH GRANT
Building commissioner Steven Polcer formally moved up a floor on Monday into Cammarato's old seat. Polcer becomes the city's new director of operations, Long Beach's second in command to the city manager.
The shakeup had long been expected, as Cammarato had not exactly made a secret of his interest in retiring from the city this year. The moves were all but confirmed by the city's preliminary 2002-03 budget that initially showed the absence of a "director of operations," with an "assistant city manager" listed in its place. That was eventually changed to maintain the "director" title, but it was clear what was afoot as the salary put aside for the post represented a decrease from Cammarato's $102,000, 2001-02 salary.
Likewise, the salary slated for building commissioner was $7,000 less than what Polcer was paid in that post this past fiscal year, indicating a change was coming at the top of that department.
The city finally confirmed this week the departure of Cammarato, a longtime top administrator often attacked by opposition due to his simultaneous roles as a top city official and head of Long Beach's Democratic party.
He was often accused of holding a conflict of interest, and a citizens' lawsuit last year succeeded in at least ruling that the post of director of operations was illegal due to its lack of inclusion in the city charter, leading to a change of the charter by council members that formally created the position he already held. The citizens who filed the suit are still calling for Cammarato--or council members, all of whom are Democrats--to repay salary monies to the city that they feel Cammarato never should have been allowed to collect in what a court ultimately ruled was an illegal job.
In the meantime, Cammarato moves on after nearly two decades as one of the city's top-level administrators. He had served as an assistant to city manager Ed Eaton for many years before taking the title of director of operations under city manager Bruce Nyman in 1999.
Cammarato could not be reached before press time regarding his career change.
Polcer, though, was eager to begin his new work, and hopeful to not be the lightening rod his predecessor was.
"The city manager runs the city," Polcer said on his first day in his new office. "I am here to assist him in any way he deems fit."
Polcer ran the building department for the past seven years and
acknowledged the challenge he faced ahead. "It's going to be a learning
experience. I went from being in charge of 11 people to 300."
A longtime Cammarato deputy in the local Democratic party, Polcer refused to comment on possible political grenades that may be tossed his way, as they were with his predecessor. The lone statement he offered to critics regarding his politics was, "I would dare anyone to find one decision I made as building commissioner that was politically motivated."
Nonetheless, the move will undoubtedly draw criticism due to Polcer's political standing. Councilman Lenny Remo, though, commented, "The proof will be in the pudding. Is the city being run well? Is the quality of life getting better? If the answers are yes, then it won't matter if the [director of operations] is a Martian."
Kemins takes over buildings
Polcer, who spent the past 20 years in the city's building department, was replaced there Monday by his deputy, Scott Kemins. Kemins, 40, served as the Director of Buildings since 1998. A 36-year resident of Long Beach, he is a retired 11-year veteran of the New York Police Department and served as a chief of the Long Beach Fire department from 1989 to 1997, and from 2001 to present. In June he was elected chairman of the Nassau County Fire Commission.
New posts for Wimmer, Piazza
Supervisor of billing and collection for the tax department Ann Wimmer has been named treasurer by city manager Harold Porr, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of longtime treasurer Catherine Pirrone.
A 27-year veteran of the tax department, Wimmer will be responsible for the collection of State, County, and City taxes in Long Beach. Additionally, Wimmer will be signatory for all city disbursements including accounts payable and payroll services.
In addition, Porr named Robert Piazza as superintendent of the department of public works. A 12-year veteran of city government, Piazza most recently served as assistant superintendent of street maintenance. From 1998 to 2001, Piazza worked on a variety of important projects while holding the title of "special projects manager," a city post that a judge ruled illegal along with director of operations before the latter was added to the city charter last year. But prior to that ruling, Piazza worked on several city projects including: the Long Beach 2000 Readiness Program; was city liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau; Long Beach Resource Conservation Management Program; and worked with the Nassau County Community Development Agency on commercial redevelopment and affordable housing projects in the city.
As the superintendent of public works, Piazza will oversee street and highway maintenance, beach maintenance, sanitation, engineering, water transmission and sewer maintenance.
Piazza is a 1986 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He, his wife, Margaret and their children are longtime residents in Long Beach.
"Bob Piazza is a solid administrator," Porr said. "His knowledge and hands-on approach will be a great asset in the areas of infrastructure reconstruction, development and general unkeep of facilities and services."
