Five in town attorney’s office get raises, promotions

Janelle Clausen
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth listens as a resident speaks at a town board meeting. (Photo by Janelle Clausen)
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth listens as a resident speaks at a town board meeting. (Photo by Janelle Clausen)

Five employees in the Town of North Hempstead’s attorney’s office will see boosts in their pay this year, officials said, following the approval of raises for three employees at a Tuesday board meeting.

The series of promotions and raises follows the resignation of Mitch Pitnick, the chief deputy town attorney, to accept a job in the Town of Hempstead as counsel to Supervisor Laura Gillen.

Michael Kelly, senior deputy town attorney, who was prompted to chief deputy town attorney, was given an extra $10,000, bringing his annual pay to $119,012.

Deputy Town Attorney Lorienton Palmer, who is replacing Kelly as senior deputy town attorney, will earn an extra $8,000, raising his pay to $118,260.

Donelle Benjamin, a secretary, received a $4,000 raise, bringing her annual salary to $56,910.

Late last year, Deputy Town Attorney Amanda Abata got a $6,087 raise following her appointment as environmental compliance officer, bringing her annual salary up to $80,000.

Moira LaBarbara, a deputy town attorney who is also serving as a procurement director now, will see her salary rise $19,845 to $69,458 because she will be working more hours.

Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio, who represents Port Washington, parts of Manhasset and Flower Hill for the 6th Council District, was the lone “no” vote against the raises, according to meeting documents.

According to Newsday, De Giorgio said she was against the increases “because she was told during budget talks that no individual employee would get salary hikes for 2018-19 outside of union and nonunion negotiated increases.”

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