SMITHTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s governor has signed a bill keeping a longtime Long Island town supervisor in office after a paperwork snafu threatened to end his career.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signature Thursday means 83-year-old Patrick Vecchio can serve a full 4-year term as Smithtown supervisor.
The former New York City detective won re-election to his 13th term last year but didn’t sign a required oath within 30 days of taking office in January.
The town clerk declared the office vacant but council members said Vecchio and a councilwoman with a similar discrepancy could stay for a temporary 1-year term.
Vecchio said in the past clerks brought him the papers.
The dispute devolved into a political fight disrupting the leadership of the suburban township of 117,000 people.
That’s when state lawmakers stepped in.
