by Chris Munzing
The position of City Comptroller, recently vacated by the 17-year veteran, has been filled by Alice Schildkraut of Fort Salonga, N.Y. Schildkraut comes to The City by the Sea from the Town of Huntington where she served as Deputy Comptroller.
She will have very little time to settle in, however, as she already finds herself at the center of a brewing conflict.
The city council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to retain Barlotta as a temporary consultant to ease Schildkraut's transition into the job. He will, in effect, help his successor figure out how the office was run during his tenure, and for his assistance he'll be paid $100 per hour.
The conflict began at the City Council meeting Tuesday night: the council voted to hold a public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of budget notes of $2.77 million. The money would be used to pay the termination salaries of city employees and make retirement system contributions. This expenditure was unforeseen when the 2003-04 budget was passed.
Though the item was merely a procedural one, councilman Denis Kelly voted against it, saying that a "lame duck" council should not be making decisions that will affect the city greatly when three of its members, Gina Guma, Joel Crystal and Scott Nigro, will not be sitting on the council in less than 30 days.
Kelly also said that throwing Schildkraut into the fire with such a large bond issue when the city's finances are already a growing concern is unfair to both Schildkraut and the city. "We are now in a financial disaster," he said.
Councilman Lenny Remo, who will remain on the council with Kelly, voted for the procedural issue, but seemed to be leaning towards voting against the bond at the Dec. 16 meeting. One thing he was definitely sure of, however, was his disapproval of retaining Barlotta any longer than necessary.
"I cannot in any way, shape or form approve this," Remo said. "I find it unconscionable that after 17 years of receiving his salary, and now his termination salary and retirement pay, that [Barlotta] expects to be paid for this as well."
The measure nonetheless passed on a 4-1 vote, which was floated because of Barlotta's knowledge of the city's finances and the assistance he can provide Schildkraut.
