East Hills Village Justice Gino Papa last Wednesday was presented with the village’s Award of Distinction for his 50-plus years of service to the community.
Papa, the village justice for the last eight years, will not seek a third four-year term for the position in the March election.
He was previously the village’s acting village justice and a village prosecutor for 22 years.
A plaque presented to Papa during the ceremony describes the justice as “an outstanding and exceptional member in the legal profession,” and is also inscribed: “Gino Papa possesses the finest personal attributes of compassion, candor, fairness and integrity.”
Efforts to reach Papa, a practicing attorney in Mineola, were unavailing.
Mitchell Studley, East Hills’ current acting village justice, will run for the village justice position on the Unity Party line alongside trustee candidates Brian Meyerson and Stacey Siegel and Mayor Michael Koblenz. The village election will take place March 18.
“[Papa] is a treasure for our community and we will always appreciate his outstanding service and leadership,” Koblenz said.
East Hills officials said the Award of Distinction is the village’s highest honor.
Papa’s family was on hand for the ceremony, which took place during the village’s board of trustees meeting Wednesday. He was joined by East Hills prosecuting attorneys Leonard Pugatch, Howard Jaslow and Adam Koblenz, who is Michael Koblenz’s son, as well as Studley and Village Justice Clerk Mary Alize Ponzo.
