SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGISLATURE GENERAL MEETING SIXTH DAY April 29, 2014 Verbatim Transcript MEETING HELD AT THE EVANS K. GRIFFING BUILDING IN THE MAXINE S. POSTAL LEGISLATIVE AUDITORIUM 300 CENTER DRIVE RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK Minutes Taken By Alison Mahoney & Lucia Braaten - Court Reporters Minutes Transcribed By Alison Mahoney, Lucia Braaten & Kim Castiglione, Legislative Secretary 1 General Meeting - April 29, 2014 (*The following testimony was taken & transcribed by Alison Mahoney - Court Reporter*) (*The meeting was called to order at 9:39 A.M.*) P.O. GREGORY: Okay. Good morning. Mr. Clerk, can you do the roll, roll call? MR. LAUBE: I will. (*Roll Called by Mr. Laube - Clerk of the Legislature*) LEG. KRUPSKI: Here. LEG. BROWNING: Here. LEG. MURATORE: Here. LEG. HAHN: Present. LEG. ANKER: Here. LEG. CALARCO: Present. LEG. LINDSAY: Here. LEG. MARTINEZ: Here. LEG. CILMI: Here. LEG. BARRAGA: Here. LEG. KENNEDY: Here. LEG. TROTTA: Here. LEG. McCAFFREY: Here. LEG. STERN: Here. 2 General Meeting - April 29, 2014 LEG. D'AMARO: Here. LEG. SPENCER: (Not Present). D.P.O. SCHNEIDERMAN: Here. P.O. GREGORY: Here. MR. LAUBE: Seventeen (Not Present: Legislator Spencer). P.O. GREGORY: Okay, thank you. If you would all please rise, we'll have the Pledge of Allegiance led by Legislator Kate Browning. Salutation If you would please remain standing. Today we're also going to have with us the clergy. The invocation will be given by Father Sean Gann, Pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Kings Park, guest of Legislator Kate Browning who will introduce him. LEG. BROWNING: Thank you. And no, I don't represent Kings Park (laughter), in case anybody wonders. But Father Sean has been a very good friend of mine and that's why I've asked him to come. Father Sean is a graduate of Centereach High School, in 1983. He went to Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, with a Degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Management. During his freshman year, he felt God's calling and applied for admission to the Seminary. He graduated from the college Seminary in Douglaston, Queens in June of 1989, and ordained a priest on May 28th, 1994, St. Agnes' Cathedral in Rockville Center by Bishop John McGann. He was first signed to St. Lawrence The Martyr Parish of Sayville in Sayville, and currently the Pastor at St. Joseph's in Kings Park. He serves as the Chaplain to the Suffolk County Police Emerald Society, and we joke about how in 2012 I was the Irish Woman of the Year and I had to relinquish my tiara to Father Sean. (*Laughter*) So Father Sean, in 2013, was Irish Man of the Year by the Suffolk County Police Officers Emerald Society. Again, a good friend and someone I love to spend a lot of time with. So I introduce Father Sean to do our invocation. REVEREND SEAN: Thank you, Kate. You made me sound very good. I wish you'd do that in front of the Bishop. (*Laughter*) And let us pray. Eternal Father, we ask that you watch over the citizens of this good County, and most especially that you would inspire, guide and sustain all those who are elected to a position of public trust and who act on behalf of all the citizens who dwell here. That in all their deliberations, they might seek the common good for all people so that everyone who lives within the boundaries of this County may enjoy all the good gifts with which you have endowed us. That you watch over all 3 General Meeting - April 29, 2014 those who cry out for justice, who look for peace. And most specially, as the County this week marks all those workers who have passed from this life to the next, that you would welcome them to the joy of eternal life and that you would console and sustain their families. And we ask this, as all things, through Christ, Our Lord, amen. "Amen" Said in Unison P.O. GREGORY: Okay. Thank you, Father. At this time, I'm going to ask people -- to remind people to please turn off your phones or put them on silent. As we go into our Moment of Silence, I want to remember Supreme Court Judge Thomas M Stark. Also, in recognition of Workers Memorial Day, let us remember the workers who lost their lives due to workplace injury or illness. We mourn their passing, honor their memory and commit ourselves to the struggle to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for all. Also, please keep in your thoughts and prayers all those men and women in the military who put themselves in harm's way every day to protect our country. Moment of Silence Observed Thank you. Please be seated. This morning we have several presentations, Legislators presenting proclamations, the first of which would be Deputy Presiding Officer, Legislator Jay Schneiderman will present proclamations to the following three basketball teams: The Pearson/Bridgehampton Lady Whalers, the Southampton Mariners and the Hampton Bays Lady Baymen D.P.O. SCHNEIDERMAN: Thank you, Mr. Presiding Officer. Student athletes in my district tend to give me a lot of bragging rights lately, and today I actually have three teams, two of which are Suffolk County -- actually, all three are Suffolk County Championships, champion teams, and also one that's a Long Island Championship team, and a couple of really just extraordinary athletes. So you're looking at one very proud Legislator. We're going to start out with the Southampton High School Basketball, Boys Basketball Team. You guys can come forward. Applause On February 19th, Southampton came out on top at Northport High School outlasting the top seed Babylon Panthers to win the Suffolk County Class B Championship. It's the first County title for the Mariners since 2004. With the score tied at 58-58 and less than a minute left, senior guard Shaundell Fishburne grabbed a rebound off of Babylon's missed free-throw and was fouled, sending him to the line with a chance to put his team up by two with 35 seconds left. Fishburne calmly sank both shots giving the Mariners the lead that they would not relinquish. I'd like to congratulate Coach Laminson and the Southampton High School Basketball Team for a great season and a Class B Championship. Applause We're also -- and I'm going to present them with a proclamation in a second, too. I just want to highlight one particular athlete, Shaundell Fishburne. Put your hand up, Shaundell. On December 17th, history was made in Southampton. Shaundell Fishburne, a senior at Southampton High School, scored his 1,000th career point for the Mariners. Shaundell was the first male student to do 4 General Meeting - April 29, 2014 so in the history of the school. His basketball career spanned over five years. During his time in the Mariner program, Shaundell has won several awards, including Rookie of the Year, the Most Improved Player Award as well. He is a three-time All Conference Player, a two-time Romo Award Winner, and was selected for the All-County Team in 2012 and 2013. He averaged over 20 points, six rebounds and six assists per game this season. He also excels in football as well, he's an All-County running back for Southampton Football. He's a winner on and off the court as well, becoming a member of the High Honor Roll and the Honor Roll throughout high school. So it's my pleasure to honor Shaundell, single him out for his achievements here today as well with a First Career 1,000 Point Scorer in Southampton history. Applause So, if I could -- is Coach Lamison here? You're way in the back. Why don't you come forward. You've got a lot to be proud of, we all have a lot to be proud of, really a group of fine young men in Southampton. I want to give you an opportunity to say a couple of words. I know how proud you are. COACH LAMISON: Good morning. Indeed, I am very proud of these young men that stand before you. First, I would like to thank Councilman -- D.P.O. SCHNEIDERMAN: Legislator. COACH LAMISON: Legislator Schneiderman for this opportunity to come before you and to represent Southampton as well. These kids persevered through a tremendous season where we finished 18 and 6, and also winning the Long Island Championship. And I'm happy to say that my five seniors are all going off to college next year and will be playing sports in college. Applause D.P.O. SCHNEIDERMAN: I know you guys are all in a hurry to get right back to school, right? (*Laughter*) And Shaundell, you're going to college next year, right? You're going to Pennsylvania? Congratulations on that. Again, you know, to the whole team, you really made all of us very proud. Congratulations. Big round of applause. Applause D.P.O. SCHNEIDERMAN: All right. Moving on, we have the Lady Whalers. This is actually a combined team of Sag Harbor's Peterson High School and the Bridgehampton High School. Let me see if I can -- they're here in the audience, too. If we can get through the crowd. Can I bring the Lady Whalers up? The Lady Whalers, under the coaching and tutelage of head coach Kevin Burn, are Suffolk County Champions. The Lady Whalers Varsity Basketball team returned to prominence with a 54-49 victory over Southold and the Suffolk County Class E Championship at Northport High School. It is their first County title in basketball since 2000.