By Dave Vieser
Board President pushed GOP event on Town time
Salvatore Scrimenti, President of the East Rockaway School Board, was suspended for three days last week from his $31,272 Town of Hempstead position as a clerk in the Town Attorney's Office, for what Town officials described as an "inappropriate use of town resources." Mr. Scrimenti allegedly used his Town phone, on Town time, to pitch volunteer participation in an upcoming visit by GOP Presidential candidate George W. Bush to New York City.
"After an in-house investigation into the matter, Mr. Scrimenti was suspended without pay during the period of September 18-20 for inappropriate use of Town resources," said Town spokeswoman Marlene Kastleman. She would not elaborate on the incident and Mr. Scrimenti declined to comment.
Mr. Scrimenti was reportedly calling volunteers from his taxpayer-funded office in Hempstead Town Hall, urging them to volunteer by driving automobiles from LaGuardia Airport to the Waldorf Astoria when Texas governor George W. Bush visits New York. His conversations were overheard by a Newsday reporter who was in the Town Attorney's Office doing research on an unrelated matter.
Reaction to Mr. Scrimenti's suspension was both swift and predictable. Jerry Lamonica, Democratic candidate for the Hempstead Town Board, said he suspects that what Scrimenti did in the open is something which many other Republican town workers and officials do privately, in a more discreet manner.
"What he has done at the Town really violates the trust of the taxpayers in both the village and town, and I believe he should be removed from the school board", said Mr. Lamonica. "It just sets a terrible example."
