Jack Naylor to stay on as Greenport Village utilities director
Greenport Village Mayor David Nyce today confirmed Jack Naylor will remain as utilities director despite the Village Board voting in April to reduce his term to six months, which expired Tuesday.
During the Village Board’s annual reorganization meeting April 5, Trustee Mary Bess Phillips proposed cutting Mr. Naylor’s one year term in half because she has been dissatisfied with his oversight of the wastewater treatment and light plants.
The board approved the shortened 180-day term, 3-1. Mr. Nyce cast the lone dissenting vote after failing to sway his fellow trustees to vote on a one-year reappointment. Trustee Chris Kempner was absent.
While Mr. Naylor’s appointment expired Tuesday, Mr. Nyce said the Village Board doesn’t have to approve a new agreement because his civil service job is protected until the next reorganizational meeting in April. If the board decided to fire Mr. Naylor, who was first appointed in 2007, legal action by the village’s labor council would be required, the mayor said.
Mr. Naylor wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Over the past six months, the mayor, Ms. Phillips, former utilities director Bill Swiskey and others have criticized Mr. Naylor’s handling of the village’s wasterwater treatment plant and light plant upgrade projects.
When asked about Mr. Naylor’s performance over the past six months, Mr. Nyce said he believes he and the Village Board have been critical about work being delayed, but have also praised him when progress was made.
“His evaluation is an ongoing process,” Mr. Nyce said. “I’ve made my opinions about his progress at meetings and the board has made their thoughts well known of his progress or lack thereof.”
Read more about this story on Oct. 11 in The Suffolk Times or on our E-Paper.
