With a number of employee retirements expected in its Highway Department, the Town of North Hempstead is rehiring a former Building Department head to assist with the department’s transition with new employees.
Kevin Cronin, 64, left the town in May 2014 after serving as its building commissioner for six years.
“Mr. Cronin’s expertise will help us devise a smooth transition for the Highway Department, as many of our long-time employees begin to retire,” Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said. “We also hope to codify the many processes and procedures of the department so that those new employees coming on board will have knowledge of the workings of the department.”
A town spokeswoman, Carole Trottere, said Cronin would be serving as a temporary part-time administrative assistant in Bosworth’s office.
“Mr. Cronin will be looking to codify all the different processes and procedures in the Highway Department to help us plan for the future and to see how we can improve customer service,” Trottere said.
The position pays an annual salary of $122,500, but since Cronin will only be working part-time, he will make $98,000.
Trottere said he will be working at the Highway Department four days a week.
Cronin told Newsday in 2014 that it was a personal decision to leave his town post and that he was pursuing “other interests.”
Trottere said Highway Superintendent Thomas Tiernan intends to retire soon and that Cronin is not someone the town was looking at to replace him.
Tiernan is currently on medical leave after having a knee operation.
“The town will soon begin a search for a new superintendent,” she said.
Trottere said the Highway Department has had a number of retirements this year and the town is expecting more next year.
