State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher is examining Nassau Community College’s decision to offer outgoing Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray the school’s general counsel position while it is without a president, a SUNY official told Newsday.
“Chancellor Zimpher’s focus is not on a staff appointment but rather on the presidential search at NCC and on supporting Dr. [Tom] Dolan in his role as interim president in every way possible while that search is ongoing,” SUNY spokeswoman Casey Vattimo said in a statement.
“Best practices within higher education nationally indicate that college councils or boards name their president and then trust that president to appoint the senior leadership team,” Vattimo added.
Nassau Community College trustees voted 6-2 on Dec. 8 to offer Murray the post currently held by Chuck Cutolo.
The counsel’s position became available after Cutolo told college officials in September he planned to retire by January.
Some trustees voiced opposition to a replacement for Cutolo in the past.
At the November board meeting, Trustee Kathy Weiss said the school should consider dispersing Cutolo’s responsibilities to other employees rather than make a new hire.
Because of their reliance on county and state funding, board Chairman Jorge Gardyn said, it was essential to find a replacement who could advocate for the college.
NCC has a budget of just under $214 million.
Murray, a Republican, opted to not run for re-election as Hempstead supervisor, choosing instead to run for District Attorney against then acting District Madeline Singas. Singas defeated Murrary by a wide margin In a race which Singas focused on her Republican rival’s lack of courtroom experience.
Murray’s position is considered “acting” and can be stripped once the college selects a new president, who will have the authority to keep or select new senior staff.
Gardyn told Newsday the college would begin interviewing presidential candidates by the end of January.
“By March, April at the latest, I figure they should be presenting someone to the board,” Gardyn said. “We’re within a couple of months of having our next president.”
NCC has been seeking a permanent president since Donald Astrab left the position in July 2012.
Dolan, the former superintendent of Great Neck Schools, was appointed interim president on Sept. 2.
“I think that that person has an opportunity, perhaps, and is likely to increase the probability of us receiving more funding from the state and from the county,” Dolan said of Murray at December’s board meeting.
Murray is expected to begin the job on Jan. 1, according to Newsday, the day after her last day as supervisor.
Cutolo’s current salary is $151,000, which Gardyn said Murray would make should she accept the position.
Efforts to reach Murray were unavailing.
Reach reporter Joe Nikic by e-mail at jnikic@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x203. Also follow us on Twitter @joenikic and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
