Gillen appoints town’s first African-American comptroller

Tom McCarthy
Averil Smith is the first female and African American to serve as Hempstead's comptroller. (Photo courtesy of Michael Fricchione)

Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen appointed town Finance Director Averil Smith as acting comptroller on Monday.

Smith, from Elmont, is the first woman and African-American to serve as comptroller.

“I am humbled that Supervisor Gillen has asked me to serve in this vital role and I look forward to scrutinizing every taxpayer dollar that flows through Town Hall,” said Smith.

Smith is a certified public accountant with an extensive background in auditing and previously served as comptroller for North Hempstead.

According to Gillen’s office, North Hempstead earned several credit rating upgrades to AAA, the highest possible and best among Nassau County towns during her tenure.

“Averil Smith is an exceptionally talented and uniquely qualified financial expert who is needed to help oversee the Town’s finances,” Gillen said. “Her prior experience ferreting out corruption and overseeing public dollars with an eagle eye approach is exactly what taxpayers want.”

Gillen said that Smith has agreed to take on the new role at her same pay and that a new finance director will not be appointed, which Gillen believes will result in large savings for taxpayers. Smith will also forgo the use of a town car previously assigned to the comptroller.

Smith has over a decade of experience as a financial auditor working in various firms, including Ernst & Young. In North Hempstead, Smith is credited with identifying a former employee, Helen McCann, who embezzled more than $98,000 from the Solid Waste Management Authority. McCann pleaded guilty to one count of corrupting the government in the second degree, a felony, according to Gillen’s office.

“Averil Smith has already started working with the comptroller’s office and planning the 2020 budget,” said Gillen. “She is the perfect candidate to ensure a seamless transition during the middle of budget season.”

Smith replaces long-serving town Comptroller Kevin Conroy, who “unexpectedly retired,” according to Gillen’s office. The resignation came after controversy  over a contract extension at the town-owned Malibu Beach Park in Lido Beach, according to Newsday.

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