Long Island Councilman’s Pay Raise Sparks Controversy

A Long Island resident named Paul just got a pay bump to nearly $50,000 for a procedural job that requires her to work only about six and a half days a month. However, she feels it still doesn’t quite cut it.

Dorothy Goosby, the assistant superintendent for the Town of Hempstead, has received a $10,000 salary increase, bringing her annual pay to $48,000. When you add this to her $82,000 salary as a town councilman, her total compensation from taxpayers nears $130,000 across both roles.

The role of a deputy supervisor, as outlined by local ordinances, mainly involves stepping in for the supervisor during their absence. Interestingly, Goosby has only had to do this once, and that was for less than an hour. It happened when Superintendent Don Clavin abruptly resigned last August.

The town’s own statements indicate that the role requires about six and a half workdays a month, with a maximum of six hours each workday, as discussed in a meeting with the state comptroller back in May 2022.

Town Supervisor John Ferretti mentioned that although the raise might seem a bit strange, it’s a reflection of Goosby’s three decades of dedication to the community, suggesting she’s earned it.

Despite being present during the vote for the pay raise, Goosby later remarked that she had no idea how contentious it would become, and she even stated that the increase still felt insufficient. “All I know is that I was told I earned the right to vote,” she noted, adding that she didn’t vote on her own raise.

Ferretti reiterated that Goosby is deserving of her salary, calling her a civil rights icon and a pivotal figure. He faced accusations from some constituents—suggesting that the pay raises were part of a backroom deal, framed as a way to ensure Goosby’s support for administration policies.

Amid all this, Goosby, who consistently votes with the Republican majority and was the only Democrat present during the recent swearing-in of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, has yet to comment publicly on the issue.