East Williston Board of Trustees member Michael Braito said last week he will not seek another term in the village election in March.
“I am going to retire and give someone else a chance to run our village government,” said Braito, who was first elected in 2004.
Braito said John Ferro, currently serving in his third year on the board, will run for another term.
Braito, a senior vice president with Chelsea Piers, is overseeing construction of a second Chelsea Piers in Stamford, Conn.
“I’ve got a huge project personally I’m working on up in Stamford and I just don’t have the time to devote to [the village board],” he said.
Braito said he thinks that the more than eight years he’s served on the board is long enough for anyone. And he said “fresh ideas” and “fresh energy” would be good for the board.
“Being such a small village, we have a lot of people who are quite talented,” Braito said.
He said that his “skill set” in the construction business isn’t what’s needed on the board now in the wake of what Braito helped build.
Former Mayor Nancy Zolezzi has said Braito played a key role in the renovation of East Williston Village Hall.
“We accomplished a tremendous amount. We brought the village infrastructure and the way we doing things into the 21st century,” Braito said. “The village is more than just a building. The projects we did over the last few years are part of it.”
Braito said his demanding Chelsea Piers schedule is already making it difficult to make board meetings. But he will continue to be involved in public service in the village.
He has been a member of the East Williston Fire Department since 1999 and said he will remain active as a volunteer fireman.
Braito also is a member of the capital committee for the East Williston School District.
He said he didn’t know of anyone who is intending to run for his seat.
Ferro could not be reached to confirm his candidacy.
Braito becomes the third long-time member of the East Williston Village Board to step down in the past two years, following Zolezzi and deputy mayor James Daw, Jr. who both opted to not run for re-election last year.
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204
