Brookhaven Board Makes First Bingo Inspector Appointment

Just weeks after stripping the town clerk of her ability to appoint bingo inspectors, Brookhaven’s Town Board approved its own.

Despite an attempt by Councilman Dan Panico, R-Manorville, to table the motion, the board approved the appointment of Mike Conroy to bingo inspector for the town at its meeting Thursday.

“I have the utmost respect for Mike,” Town Supervisor Mark Lesko said at the meeting. “I can’t think of a better person to be inspecting bingo games in the Town of Brookhaven.”

Panico, who led the campaign along with Jane Bonner, C-Rocky Point, and Tim Mazzei, R-Blue Point, to require potential bingo inspectors get board approval, a motion that passed at the end of December, said he wanted to table the vote to discuss the way the town appoints employees.

“I’d like to see these positions advertised. This is nothing personal,” Panico said to Conroy.

At Panico’s prompting, Conroy gave a rundown of his various former positions, including posts within the carpenter’s union and the organization department for New York State.

“I’m seeking this position like many others, to be quite frank, because I just need the extra money,” he said.

Conroy also confirmed he was a former vice chairman of the Suffolk County Democratic Committee.

“Although you’re a very nice man and you may be the most qualified, I have a problem with the appearance of (that),” Panico said. “I think that appearance is one this town needs to get past.”

Panico abstained from and Bonner opposed the vote to approve Conroy, while all other board members approved the motion.