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Goldsmith, McKasty win Orient-East Marion Park District election

Residents in the Orient-East Marion Park District on Thursday night elected Linda Goldsmith to a three-year term as a commissioner and voted Jay McKasty to serve a one-year term, taking over for Linton Duell.

A controversy last March led to the resignation of two district commissioners — Stewart Horton and Mary Foster Morgan — after allegations that they had been elected illegally and questions about district finances and missing records.

The resignations left Albie de Kerillis, who had been elected in 2009, as the district’s only commissioner. In line with state law, the Southold Town Board appointed Ms. Goldsmith and Mr. Duell to temporary positions until a legal election could be held this month.

Ms. Goldsmith received 35 votes and Ms. McKasty 28 votes, giving Ms. Goldsmith the full three-year term, according to Mr. de Kerillis. There were no write-in votes, he said.

He also noted that the commission trimmed its $36,500 budget for 2010 by 8 percent. The new tax rate for 2011 hasn’t yet been calculated, he said. But he said savings have resulted from a decision to cut telephone service, the removal of a dumpster at the site after the summer season, and elimination of costs for landscaping and grass cutting.

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