Nassau Community College offers Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray general counsel position

Joe Nikic

Nassau Community College trustees voted 6-2 Tuesday to offer outgoing Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray the school’s general counsel position.

The offer comes a month after Murray, running as the Republican candidate, lost to Democrat Madeline Singas in the race for Nassau County’s District Attorney in November.

“To find someone with the depth of experience and skill set that matches the needs of the college is an extraordinary stroke of luck,” board Chairman Jorge Gardyn told Newsday.

The counsel’s position became available after Chuck Cutolo told college officials in September he planned to retire by January.

Because of their reliance on county and state funding, Gardyn said at the November board meeting, it was essential to find a replacement who could advocate for the college.

Nassau Community College has a budget of just under $214 million.

Some trustees voiced opposition to a replacement for Cutolo in the past.

At the November board meeting, Trustee Kathy Weiss said the school should consider dispersing Cutolo’s responsibilities to other employees rather than make a new hire.

“I don’t think just because somebody is leaving that we have to or should replace that position,” Weiss said. “I think we have an obligation as we look at not filling some of our faculty positions, full-time faculty, that we look at not filling administrative positions. I think we have to look at administrative positions and decide if we need all of them, because in this fiscal time, we’ve got to cut.”

Trustee Anthony Cornachio said he agreed with Weiss’ comments at the time, but still voted in favor of offering Murray the position.

Weiss and Trustee Arnold Drucker, who donated $400 to Singas’ campaign, were the only two trustees who voted against Murray’s hire.

Trustee Wanda Jackson abstained from voting, according to Newsday.

Murray, who headed her last Hempstead Town Council meeting Tuesday, currently earns $160,000 per year.

Cutolo’s current salary is $151,000, which Gardyn said Murray would make should she accept the position.

Republican Anthony Santino, who defeated Democrat Rita Kestenbaum in November, will replace Murray as town supervisor in January.

Efforts to reach Murray were unavailing.

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