Howard Weitzman, a former Nassau County comptroller and mayor of the Village of Great Neck Estates, said on Friday that he will assist the Town of North Hempstead in preparing its 2015 budget, following the departure of the town Comptroller Kathleen Mitterway.
“The comptroller gave her two weeks notice, actually two weeks ago, which put the town in a really bad operational crunch,” Weitzman said. “That leaves them very, very little time with a lot of work to do.”
Carole Trottere, the town’s director of communications, said Mitterway, who had worked with the town since September of 2007, left the position to take a job with PSEG Long Island.
Weitzman said he heard of Mitterway’s departure while having lunch with a town staff worker, and asked how he might be able to help with preparing the budget.
“We had a discussion about what I could do to help on an interim basis,” he said. “And now, here I am.”
Weitzman, a certified public accountant, started working with the town on Aug. 26., according to town officials, but his contract won’t be approved until the town board’s meeting on Tuesday.
Trottere said in an e-mail that Weitzman’s duties will include “leading the comptroller’s office staff in preparing the budget, as well as overseeing town preparation for borrowing in October and issuance of Official Statement (financial position) in connection with borrowing.”
Weitzman and the town’s finance department will submit a draft 2015 budget proposal to the town clerk by Sept. 28, according to Trottere.
Weitzman said preparing the town budget will be a “real challenge.”
“Nothing in government is easy these days,” he said. “We’re working very close with all the departments to stay within the tax cap.”
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth said in a statement that the town “is extremely fortunate to be gaining Howard Weiztman’s experience and expertise in finance, government and budgeting.”
“His reputation for hard work, independence and integrity will make him a wonderful addition to our Town’s team of public servants,” Bosworth added.
Weitzman, a Democrat, served as comptroller from 2001 to 2009, until being defeated by current county Comptroller George Maragos.
Weitzman unsuccesfully ran for comptroller again in November.
He also served as mayor of Great Neck Estates from 1989 to 1995.
Reach reporter Anthony O’Reilly by e-mail at aoreilly@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x203 or on Twitter @reilly_anthony. Also follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
