Smithtown Town Board Reappoints Vecchio, Nowick

The Smithtown Town Board reappointed Patrick Vecchio and Lynne Nowick to the positions of supervisor and town councilwoman, respectively, at a special meeting Thursday night. 

The reappointments end a week of turmoil in Smithtown that began when Town Clerk Vincent Puleo declared the supervisor's post "vacant," saying that Vecchio and four other Town officials, including Nowick, who were elected in November did not file a required written oath within 30 days of taking office. 

Deputy Supervisor Thomas McCarthy, who called Thursday's meeting at the Eugene A. Cannataro Senior Citizen Center, made the motions to reappoint Vecchio and Nowick. Immediately following the 3-0 vote–with councilmen Robert Creighton and Edward Wehrheim also casting yes votes–Vecchio was sworn in and then McCarthy said to Vecchio, "Would you do me a favor and sign your oath of office?" 

The line solicited plenty of laughter from the standing room only crowd, many of whom had been rallying for a week to get Vecchio and Nowick back in office. 

"I want you to know you are using my pen," Creighton joked to his political rival.  

Although Vecchio and Nowick, who did not attend Thursday's meeting, are now back in office, they will both need to run for re-election in November, barring legal action or a change in state law. State Sen. John Flanagan and Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick have said they plan on introducing legislation that would allow Vecchio and Nowick to serve out their full four year terms. 

Puleo, a conservative who supported Creighton is his bid to unseat Vecchio in November, has said the move to oust Vecchio, in office since 1978, and Nowick was not political, but others have criticized Puleo for not reminding Vecchio and Nowick of the deadline to file the written oath. 

After being reappointed, Vecchio said he was "full of gratitude" as he thanked the board members and his many supporters in the crowd whom he said "have gone above and beyond."    

Admitting he was a bit nervous, Vecchio joked to the crowd that it's not often "that one gets to get sworn in twice for the same job."