By Anthony Rifilato
At a community meeting at the Baldwin Public Library last week, Scannell said that Jacobs had acted inappropriately by not telling her fellow legislators of her intentions when she tried to include the raises in next year's budget.
"What's happened here is a real violation of trust," Scannell. "I didn't feel confident in her ability to handle our finances."
Scannell's comments come after it was announced that Jacobs included nearly $400,000 in next year's budget to increase legislative salaries, something that hasn't been done since the legislative body was formed in 1996. The raises, which would have boosted legislative salaries from $39,500 to $56,000, were not disclosed to lawmakers, Scannell said, and was going against the county charter, which bars pay hikes until after the next legislative election in 2007.
"It was specifically against the Nassau County charter," Scannell said after the meeting. "It prohibits her from putting the money in for raises now. It doesn't go into effect until after the election, and the money doesn't hit legislator's pockets until 2008."
Scannell, who opposed the pay increases, said this is done so voters are aware that lawmakers had voted to give themselves raises before the elections in 2007.
Jacobs, said Scannell, was looking to change the county charter, and had put the raises in with legislative assistant salaries before lawmakers were made aware of the plan.
"The problem was she admitted what she did but didn't think what she did was that egregious," Scannell said. "Someone who would use unethical budget practices shouldn't be in a leadership position."
But Jacobs maintained that the public would have been informed about the raises, since lawmakers would ultimately have had to vote to change the county charter before the elections in 2007.
"Her excuse was, 'I'm going to change those rules,' to give herself a raise," Scannell told over 100 residents at the meeting. "So on Monday, I asked her to step down."
Jacobs took issue with Scannell's allegation that she was being deceptive and said that she had placed the raises for legislators in with salaries for legislative assistants as a preliminary measure.
"I wasn't going against the charter at all," Jacobs said. "I can tell you that there was absolutely nothing but openness and truth in budgeting, and being really transparent. I felt that if it does happen, we really should have the money set aside in our own budget."
Jacobs said the move was blown out of proportion, and that there was no illegality on her part, saying that the budget process is still underway.
"We haven't even passed the budget yet," she said. "I would not do anything illegal to have something passed. We are bound by the charter and Scannell knows I would never circumvent the charter."
Jacobs said she has since rescinded the raises in light of the controversy and said the money would be used for services that have yet to be determined.
"We will definitely use [the money] to the advantage of Nassau County," she said.
She said that she has formed a bipartisan panel to study top elected officials' pay and come up with a reasonable amount in order to possibly include raises in future budgets.
With the high cost of living on Long Island, Jacobs said that legislators deserve raises, and hoped that they would be in line with what CSEA union employees receive.
"I believe that it's very unusual for people who are in a job for 11 years and have never seen an increase in salary," Jacobs said.
Scannell's call for Jacobs' resignation irked most of his fellow Democrats in the 10-member majority. Scannell said he called for a vote of no confidence in Jacobs during a closed-door caucus on Sept. 25, but the move did not have the backing of his fellow Democrat legislators.
Last week, Jacobs said she had considered removing Scannell from his post as head of the public safety committee, which Scannell called retaliation.
"It's totally within her discretion to do so," said Scannell, who explained that as presiding officer, Jacobs has that authority. "But that would be a total retribution move and not based on merit. She wouldn't have a legitimate motive. It's disappointing to me."
But Jacobs said that although she was urged to strip Scannell of his post from some lawmakers, she ultimately decided against it.
"We have to concentrate on developing the best budget for 2007," Jacobs said.
Some legislators also accused Scannell of trying to make life difficult for Jacobs on behalf of County Executive Tom Suozzi, who did not receive support from Jacobs during his run for governor, something that Scannell said is ridiculous.
"It's pretty disgusting politics, because they were doing something that was wrong and now they're trying to spin it like I was doing Suozzi's bidding," he said.
Accusations of favoritism by lawmakers, Scannell said, are also unjust, after Scannell began working for a Manhattan lawyer and friend of Suozzi - Steven Worth - last month. Scannell said Worth is good friends with Tom Suozzi, but that he has worked for Worth in the past and has known him for 17 years.
"I didn't know who Tom Suozzi was then," Scannell said, who works as a lawyer representing New York city police officers at civilian complaint hearings.
Scannell said that he would not switch over to the Republican caucus in light of the friction in his party over his actions, something that would tip the balance in the 10-9 Democratic majority.
"I'm going to stay a Democrat," he said. "Our responsibility is to work for our districts, and everybody understands that in the end."
Jacobs, too, said that the latest drama at the legislature will pass, and that they will continue to work together.
"We're all functioning very well," she said.
