Politics & Government

Sex Offender Trailer Legislation May Have to Wait, Again

Initially scheduled for discussion at Tuesday's Suffolk County Legislature meeting, the resolution may be tabled due to massive county layoffs proposed.

Residents outraged about two homeless sex offender trailers parked in Riverside and Westhampton Beach might have to wait even longer for some action.

Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman initially said in early April that he had a resolution on the agenda for a meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature in Riverhead on Tuesday, April 24 . If the measure was approved, that trailer could be closed in 60 days, he said.

Schneiderman says he has received no support from his colleagues, save North Fork Legislator Ed Romaine, to close the Riverside trailer, because they believe it is in a secure location near the jail.

Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But on Monday night, both Schneiderman and Romaine said it was unlikely the homeless sex offender item would see the light of day on Tuesday's Legislature agenda, due to the dramatic layoffs of approximately 400 or more county employees expected to be discussed.

The resolution regarding the homeless sex offender trailers was likely to be tabled, Schneiderman said.

Find out what's happening in Riverheadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Romaine said he expected the Legislature to be "overwhelmed" by the number of layoffs proposed. The Legislature is facing its last chance to accept the lower number of layoffs, he said; should the measure be rejected, County Executive Steve Bellone could move for even more postions to be excised. "There's going to be a lot of drama there," Romaine said.

A wide swath of cuts could impact departments including the Suffolk County Department of Social Services, which runs the homeless sex offender trailer program.

On Tuesday, Bill Faulk, an aide to Romaine, said at first blush, it seems as though the layoffs in the Suffolk County Department of Social Services appear to only impact security guards at DSS offices. The homeless sex offender trailers are guarded by private security, he said.

No department would be safe under the proposed "massive" layoffs, Romaine said, including child protective services and other critical county programs. "Everything will be affected," he said. "It will slow down the county."

 


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