There is nothing wrong with competent crime with character but these guys can't get it right nor can Andrew Cuomo who closes Nassau OTB only on his holy days and tells other true believers to go to Hell.
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Slimming 'bloated' LIPA reported to be Cuomo aim
Photo credit: Ed Betz, 2011 | Gov. Andrew Cuomo is creating a plan to trim LIPA from what he views as a "bloated" agency, officials close to the governor said in August 2012.
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Andrew M. Cuomo 
Derelict LIPA accounts 
Blog: The Spin Cycle With major contracts for the utility's power and grid management being negotiated or changing hands in coming months, Cuomo's office is seizing a chance to make changes and a "better, quicker, smaller" LIPA is in the works, the officials said. One said changes could be announced before summer's end.
LIPA officials declined to comment Wednesday.
Goal: A leaner utility
"The bottom line is that LIPA has become bloated and expanded far beyond the job it's supposed to do," said an administration official. "The governor believes that LIPA should be returned to its core mission in order to reduce costs for ratepayers. That means drastically reforming the current way it does business."
While the new formation of LIPA is a work in progress, two people familiar with discussions about LIPA said the authority could be reduced to a holding company, which would manage contracts, the debt and legal matters.
Under such a scenario, PSEG, the New Jersey company that won the bidding to manage LIPA's electric grid starting in 2014, would be the outward face of LIPA, while other state agencies, such as the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency and the New York Power Authority, could take on renewable energy and power purchasing decisions.
"Now's the opportunity to put the genie back in the bottle," said a former LIPA official. "You could really downsize LIPA to financial and legal departments."
Last in satisfaction
LIPA, which started with around 20 employees in 1998 after it took over the assets of the former Long Island Lighting Co., has grown to more than 100 employees. Most of its work is done by contractor National Grid, which manages the electrical grid, and dozens of other smaller contractors.
State Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) said he would support changes by the governor's office. LaValle said he's been particularly exasperated in recent months to read of revelations of new power plants being considered by LIPA, even as the fate of existing plants remains uncertain. LIPA last month also fell to last in J.D. Power and Associates' customer satisfaction survey for major U.S. utilities.
"They [LIPA] have reached a point right now of being so erratic and unreliable that I'm not sure it's in the best interests of the public the way they are framed right now that they should continue," he said.
LIPA has been negotiating with National Grid for an extension or renewal of the contract to purchase power from National Grid's 15 existing plants on Long Island. Newsday has reported that LIPA could add new gas-fired plants in Shoreham, Kings Park and Yaphank, and possibly a wind farm, among others.
LIPA is expected to include the option to repower the National Grid plants in the pending contract.
LaValle would prefer that the big three plants -- in Northport, Port Jefferson and Island Park -- be modernized rather than be replaced. LaValle said he has communicated his concerns to the governor's office.
New energy options
Cuomo is in the process of reviewing a state Energy Highway project that could provide vast new sources of energy for the downstate region, and Long Island projects are on that agenda. Among the proposals is one to repower the Northport plant.
LaValle said he would prefer to leave any future decisions about Long Island power plants in Cuomo's hands. "I have great faith in the governor," he said.
One of the officials close to Cuomo suggested a new LIPA may have less autonomy to make those decisions. LIPA "will be changed and significantly scaled down," said the source, who requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak for the governor. The changes could come in the next month or two, the source said.
Not everyone believes the time is right for drastic changes at LIPA. State Assemb. Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), who last year worked with LaValle and Cuomo on a bill that improved LIPA oversight, pointed to ongoing audits of LIPA being undertaken by the state inspector general and for the Public Service Commission in saying drastic reform may be premature.
"It's probably not a bad idea to see the results of the investigation and audits before making more permanent decisions that have to be changed down the road," Sweeney said.
Board of Trustees Bios
Meet the Long Island Power Authority's Board of Trustees.Howard E. Steinberg
Howard E. Steinberg is Of Counsel to the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and General Counsel of Zais Group LLC, a global credit asset management firm.Mr. Steinberg has served as Executive VP and General Counsel of Prudential Equity Group and Prudential Securities. Prior to joining Prudential, Mr. Steinberg served in several senior executive positions at Reliance Group Holdings Inc., including Executive VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining Reliance, he was a partner in the NY firm of Dewey Ballantine, where he specialized in corporate & securities law.
Prior to his appointment to LIPA, Mr. Steinberg served as Chairman of the New York State Thruway Authority and Chairman of the New York State Canal Corporation.
He has served as a member of the Board of Regents of Georgetown University, an Overseer of the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences, Chair of the Committee on Federal Regulation of the Securities Industry Association and a member of the Boards of Directors of Sheltering Arms Children's Service and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. While at Georgetown University Law Center, Mr. Steinberg was Editor of the Law Journal. Following his active enlisted service, Mr. Steinberg served as Captain, JACG, USAR.
- Appointed by: Governor Pataki, April 30, 1999.
- Reappointed by: Governor Pataki, November 16, 1999.
- Reappointed by: Governor Pataki, August 28, 2006.
- Reappointed by: Governor Spitzer, January 23, 2008.
- Term Expires: August 31, 2011
Laurence S. Belinsky
Mr. Belinsky is the President of High Point Advisors LLC, a real estate consulting and development advisory firm that focuses on all types of housing and real estate developments. High Point also has extensive experience in Public Private Partnerships (P3) transactions.Prior to joining High Point Advisors, Mr. Belinsky was President and CEO of HELP USA, a $70 million Not-for-Profit organization which was founded in 1986 and recognized by the United States Congress as a national model. HELP USA is one of the country’s largest developers, builders and operators of service-enriched transitional and permanent housing. Currently, HELP USA has developed 28 residences and manages more than 2,200 units nationwide, each one providing high quality security, architectural aesthetics and comprehensive support services to the homeless, populations at risk of becoming homeless and working poor families.
Mr. Belinsky was a Principal of Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. an investment banking firm. Mr. Belinsky has more than 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He headed an international privatization advisory practice at KPMG LLP. He was a Vice President in Merrill Lynch’s investment banking group specializing in Municipal Finance. In addition, Mr. Belinsky has served in New York State’s executive branch and has served as Assistant Director of Special Projects for the New York State Housing Finance Agency developing homeless and special needs housing
Mr. Belinsky received a MBA from Columbia University School of Business and a B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. He served two terms from 2006-2010 as a Trustee of the Manhasset School Board. From April 2002 through April 2004 he has served as a Trustee for the Village of Plandome Heights. Previous to serving as a Trustee he served on the Village’s Zoning Board of Appeals. He and his wife live in Manhasset with their four children.
- Appointed by: Governor Paterson, September 16, 2008.
- Term Expires: August 31, 2013
David L. Calone
David L. Calone is the CEO of Jove Equity Partners LLC, a venture capital and private equity firm which invests in the internet, software, digital media, energy, real estate and health care industries. He serves as a director of eight privately-held companies located throughout the country and is a co-inventor on three U.S. patents. He helped organize the recently formed Congressional Caucus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is the co-founder of the Long Island Emerging Technologies Fund which creates and provides seed funding for early stage technology companies on Long Island. Since 2008, Mr. Calone has served as the Chairman of the Suffolk County Planning Commission. As the Chairman of the Planning Commission for the largest suburban county in the United States, he has led the Commission to focus on land use policies with county-wide impact including infrastructure financing, regulatory streamlining, energy efficiency and distributed generation, smart growth, housing and public safety, and has helped initiate Suffolk County’s first Comprehensive Plan effort in over 30 years. He is also on the Board of the Long Island Angel Network and of the United Way of Long Island and a member of the advisory boards of the Long Island Index and of the Community Development Corporation of Long Island. He was appointed as a member of the federal Long Island Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee. He is a graduate of the Long Island Energeia Partnership.
Previously, Mr. Calone served as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice where he received the national “Attorney General’s Award” for prosecuting terrorism and international crime, and as Special Assistant Attorney General in the NY State Attorney General’s Office where he prosecuted health care fraud. He is an honors graduate of Harvard Law School and has an economics degree from Princeton University where he was named a USA Today College Academic All-American.
Mr. Calone lives in Babylon with his wife, Kate, and their six-year old daughter, four-year old son and six-month old daughter.
- Appointed by: Assembly Speaker Silver, June 8, 2009.
- Term Expires: September 7, 2012
X. Cristofer Damianos
X. Cristofer Damianos is a Principal of Damianos Realty Group LLC, a commercial real estate development company located in Smithtown, N.Y. specializing in the development, management and acquisition of office, retail and industrial properties throughout Long Island.Mr. Damianos is also a member of the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI), Vice-Chairman of the Long Island Museum of American Art, History and Carriages, Governor of St. George’s Golf & C.C. and Founder and Director of Gold Coast Bank as well as former Trustee of St. Charles Hospital and Rehabilitation Center.
Mr. Damianos was recently honored as Man of the Year by Brookhaven Memorial Hospital and is the 2007 recipient of the ABLI Developer of the Year Award.
He holds a B.A. from Tulane University and a M.B.A. from Adelphi University. He resides in Suffolk County with his wife and three children.
- Appointed by: Governor Spitzer, November 30, 2007.
- Reappointed by: Governor Paterson, January 20, 2010.
- Term Expires: August 31, 2013.
Gemma de Leon is the Executive Vice-President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Local 1102, representing 13,000 members in the retail and service industries. She is responsible for negotiating and enforcing collective bargaining agreements and is the Local's chief operating officer. She also serves on the Executive Board of the International Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which represents 1.4 million workers in the United States and Canada. Previously, she was Plan Manager of the local union's health and pension funds, which cover over 20,000 lives for major medical, hospitalization, dental and retirement benefits.
Ms. de Leon is also Vice-President of Association of Benefit Administrators, New York, a network of employee benefits, healthcare provider and investment professionals.
Ms. de Leon also serves on the Nassau County Youth Board which coordinates, funds and evaluates youth services for over 45,000 young men and women.
She is also an Advisory Board member of the Energeia Partnership of Molloy College, comprised of Long Island leaders dedicated to promoting civic responsibility and exploring solutions to issues affecting the region.
Ms. de Leon earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration and an M.B.A. in Marketing Management from St. John’s University. She resides in Wantagh with her husband James Lopresti and their children Mark and Matthew.
- Appointed by: Assembly Speaker Silver, April 12, 2010. Term Expires: September 7, 2012.
Lawrence Elovich
Honored by many civic, charitable, fraternal and political organizations, Mr. Lawrence E. Elovich of Elovich & Adell, Esqs. is a practicing trial lawyer specializing in personal injury cases. For the past 25 years, he has been the President of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. He is a Nassau University Medical Center trustee and member and Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society and Long Beach Cancer Care. In addition to holding numerous other positions, Mr. Elovich is a former Chairman of the Nassau County Bar Associations legislative committee and past President of the Long Beach Lawyers Association. He currently serves as the senior member of the Board of Trustees at the Long Beach Medical Center. Mr. Elovich is a member of the Lynbrook Elks Lodge and was a past Exalted Ruler of the Long Beach Elks as well as an Executive Deputy District Governor and Zone Chairman of the Nassau County Lions. While attending law school, Mr. Elovich served as a Long Beach Special Patrolman for two years as well as serving as a volunteer fireman for the City of Long Beach Fire Department.
Currently residing in Long Beach with his wife of 43 years, Mr. Elovich enjoys general physical fitness activities and spending time with his three daughters and seven grandchildren.
- Appointed by: Governor Pataki, August 28, 2006.
- Reappointed by: Governor Paterson, October 15, 2010.
- Term Expires: August 31, 2014.
John Fabio
John Fabio currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner of the Administrative Services Department for the Town of North Hempstead.
Previously he served as Vice President of the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation from 2001 to 2009. He also served as an Educational Administrator with the New York City Board of Education SPARK (Students Assistance) Program, before retiring in 2001 after 33 years of service.
During his tenure with the Board of Education he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of SPARK in 25 Queens public high schools. Mr. Fabio also served as an adjunct college instructor in the Queens College Counselor Education program and the Department of Health Sciences at Brooklyn College.
In 1993 Mr. Fabio was elected to the North Hempstead Town Council where he served until 1997. Prior to his election as councilman, he served as a member of the Town of North Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals.
For the past 35 years Mr. Fabio has been an active leader in community and civic affairs. He has severed as secretary to the Board of the Education and Assistance Corporation (EAC). He currently serves as president of the Greenvale Civic Association and was a founding member and past president of the North Hempstead Civic Coalition. Mr. Fabio also served as a member of the North Hempstead Councilmanic District Commission.
Mr. Fabio received his B.A. and M.S. degrees from Queens College, certification for Health Education from Brooklyn College, and New York State School Administrator and Supervisor certification from C.W. Post College.
Mr. Fabio and his wife have resided in Nassau County for the past 40 years.
- Appointed by: Assembly Speaker Silver, April 30, 2003.
- Reappointed by: Assembly Speaker Silver, July 15, 2005.
- Reappointed by: Assembly Speaker Silver Nov 30, 2009.
- Term Expires: September 7, 2013.
Neal M. Lewis
Neal Lewis is an attorney with a broad range of experience in both civic and environmental matters. He is the former Executive Director of the Long Island Neighborhood Network, and is active on environmental issues. His extensive experience in organizing cooperative efforts involving large coalitions and study groups has helped enact policy changes at various governmental levels. Current project initiatives at the Sustainability Institute include the Clean Energy Leadership Task Force, the LI Clean Energy Roundtable, and the Long Island Interfaith Environmental Network. In addition to his commitment to the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, Neal currently serves as a member of the Nassau County Planning Commission, the Nassau County Environmental Bond Act Advisory Committee, and was appointed by the Suffolk County Legislature to Co-Chair the Carbon Cap Committee and Suffolk County’s Homestead A-Syst Committee to develop an informational program for Suffolk residents to reduce risks associated with pesticide usage.
Neal was previously a member of the Nassau County Charter Revision Commission, which rewrote the charter (constitution) of Nassau County, to make it consistent with the one-person, one-vote constitutional principle. Neal authored and advocated in favor of budgetary, good-government, and environmental reforms that were adopted as amendments to the new Charter of Nassau County. Regarding service on the Charter Revision Commission, the Newsday editorial board wrote: “Nobody brought a greater sense of civic responsibility to the charter-revision effort than Neal Lewis.” (“Politicians Imperil Nassau’s Reforms,” Newsday editorial, September 19, 1994).
As an environmental attorney, Neal successfully litigated a case decided at the Appellate Division in New York on the question of pesticides used by golf courses (S.P.A.C.E. v. HURLEY, 739 N.Y.S.2d 164(2d Dept 2002)). He was also successful with a case raising similar issues at the lower court level against Suffolk County (Lewis v. Gaffney).
Neal received his bachelor ‘s degree from SUNY New Paltz and Juris Doctor from CUNY Law School. He is a graduate of the first Energeia class (2006) at Molloy College, and completed the Columbia Business School Institute for Not-for-profit Management’s Leadership Development Program (2003).
- Appointed by: Majority Leader Smith, December 16, 2009.
- Term Expires August 31, 2013.
Susan Gordon Ryan
Susan Gordon Ryan has held a variety of executive level positions in the field of education, government, and not for profits. She has had a distinguished career. She began her career as a special education teacher at the Henry Viscardi School in Albertson, NY. After her special education career, she worked for the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historical Preservation. She founded the “Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged,” a fitness and competition program for people with disabilities, which serve approximately, 2000 children per year. She was able to use her personal and professional background to develop this unique and innovative program that is celebrating its 24th year.
She is also the first woman to serve as Long Island Regional Director for the NYS Parks, largest and busiest state park region. She coordinated all administration, programs, events and activities throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.
After her 12-year tenure with the government, she moved on to work in the not-for-profit field including corporate and foundation relations at St. John’s University. She also coordinated government relations, special events and fundraising for several other not-for-profits. Before returning to the National Center for Disability Services, now known as ABILITIES, she served as the Chief Deputy Parks Commissioner for Nassau County Parks.
She has been the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgement including NY Senate Woman of Distinction. She has served on the Nassau County Environmental Bond Act Committee and is a member of the Energeia Partnership.
Susan resides in Point Lookout with her husband Francis X. Ryan and children, Shayne and Taylor.
- Appointed by: Governor Paterson, April 2, 2008.
- Term Expires: August 31, 2011.
Suzette C. Smookler
Suzette C. Smookler of Port Jefferson, New York has had a distinguished career in healthcare and education. She currently is the Administrator for Hospitality Services at Stony Brook Medical Center. Ms. Smookler served on the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education from 1996 to 2002 and for four years as President. She is a registered dietitian and served as the President of the Long Island Dietetic Association from 1984 to 1985.
Ms. Smookler was employed by the New York State Department of Health – Office of Health Systems Management from 1980-1991. In this role she monitored Long Island hospitals and long term care facilities for compliance to New York State and Federal codes and regulations.
Ms. Smookler earned her Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University and her Masters; Health Care Policy and Management from Stony Brook University.
Suzette was born in Glen Cove and raised in Nassau County. She and her husband have resided in Suffolk County for the past 33 years. They have three grown sons.
- Appointed by: Majority Leader Bruno, October 27, 2006.
- Reappointed by: Majority Leader Skelos, August 19, 2008.
- Term Expires: August 31,2012.
Peter K. Tully
Peter K. Tully is a third generation President of Tully Construction and Affiliates (“Tully). Tully Construction Co., Inc. is a New York based family owned and operated business with a history that dates back over 75 years. Tully is involved in public works projects including road construction, airport construction, water mains, storm and sanitary sewers, landfill construction, solid waste disposal, bio-solids hauling and disposal/reuse, yard waste hauling and composting and a variety of other projects.Under Peter’s leadership, Tully Construction was given several industry awards including being honored by New York Construction News; 2002 Project of The Year: The World Trade Center Recovery Project and The Rehabilitation Project of The Year: The Reconstruction of St. Felix Street in Brooklyn. Also, Tully’s Westside Highway Project was honored as the 1998 Project of the Year. In 2002, Peter earned the title of New York Construction News “Man of the Year” and in 2003, “Contractor of the Year” relating to Tully Construction’s recovery and cleanup efforts at the World Trade Center Ground Zero site after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.
Several other notable projects are the reconstruction of the 1 & 9 Subway line after 9/11, Newtown Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant, the Staten Island Marine Transfer Station, Manhattan’s Second Avenue Subway, runways at LaGuardia Airport and the environmental cleanup and restoration at Alley Pond Park in Queens.
The Tully family continues to be a leader in the heavy and highway construction industry. Peter followed his father, Kenneth Tully, and his grandfather, Edward Tully Sr. as president of the General Contractor’s Association of New York (GCA), advocating on behalf of the construction industry in New York City. Tully Construction is a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. Peter serves as Vice Chairman of the New York Building Congress; Building Trades Employers’ Association (BTEANYC), and he proudly serves on the Board of the College of Engineering at Notre Dame University.
Peter attended St. John’s University in Queens earning a BA degree and a Juris Doctor in Law from Hofstra University School of Law and was admitted as a member of the New York State Bar Association in 1986. Peter is married, has three grown children and resides in Lattingtown, New York.
- Appointed by: Governor Cuomo, May 24, 2011.
- Term Expires August 31, 2014.
Lawrence J. Waldman
Lawrence Waldman is Partner-in-Charge of Practice Development in EisnerAmper’s Long Island office, supporting the firm’s ongoing initiatives to grow the Long Island marketplace. Previously, Larry was Audit Practice Partner-in-Charge and then Managing Partner of the Long Island office of a Big 4 firm where he was responsible for the direction and management of the Long Island marketplace. Larry ‘s background includes more than 35 years of experience in public accounting serving a wide range of public and private clients, including several multi-nationals.
Larry is an active leader in the Long Island business community serving as Treasurer of the Long Island Association (LIA) and as a Trustee of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). He also serves as Treasurer and Board Member of the Long Island Angel Network and the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at Stony Brook University. He is the Chairman of the selection committee for the Long Island Technology Hall of Fame (LITHF).
Larry earned both his MBA and B.S. from Hofstra University. He is actively involved with the university serving as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council and as an Adjunct Professor of Accounting in the Frank G. Zarb School of Business graduate program.
A devoted volunteer for a broad array of charitable and civic organizations, Larry served as President of the Nassau Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA). He was the President of the East Williston Union Free School District and was the Treasurer of the Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association. He also served on the Board of the United Way of Long Island. In addition, Larry is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
- Appointed by: Majority Leader Skelos, December 10, 2008.
- Reappointed by: Governor Paterson, March 11, 2010.
- Term Expires: August 31, 2011.
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