Long Beach Residents Furious Over Payouts By City To Employees

In the midst of the City of Long Beach's ongoing budget crisis, which could lead to a 12 percent tax hike, residents are fuming over the revelation that outgoing employees, including former City Manager Jack Schnirman, may have been overpaid hundreds of thousands of dollars by the city.

Last month, the City Council held a vote on whether or not to bond $2.1 million to cover separation payouts for employees. The measure was voted down due to council members John Bendo and Anissa Moore questioning the payouts.

Since then, residents have learned that some of the employees that were receiving payouts were still working for the city. And former City Manager Jack Schnirman, who stepped down from his post in January after being elected the new Nassau County comptroller, may have been overpaid more than $50,000.

According to the Long Beach Herald, Schnirman was earning nearly $174,000 a year when he left his office in Long Beach. When he left, Schnirman was given a payout of $108,000, which included all of his unused sick days and 50 unused vacation days. However, according to the Herald, since Shnirman was a manager, he was only entitled to being paid for 30 percent of his unused sick days. The Herald also reported that the 30 percent stipulation was in Schnirman's contract.

The Herald wrote that 57 employees, many of whom were firefighters, police officers and CSEA members, were given payouts, even though some still work for the city. Included in the list is Police Commissioner Michael Tangney, who is currently also the acting city manager. He was paid $52,000, according to the Herald.

According to Newsday, under Schnirman's contract, he was entitled to a payout of a little more than $55,000.

Schnirman responded to the criticism levied against him in a statement. He claimed that the calculation used for his payment was standard, and approved by the city's lawyers.

"As Long Beach City Manager, as per my contract, my leave pay from my six years of service was calculated in exactly the same way as all other management employees – no more, no less," Schnirman wrote. "I played no role in calculating my own leave pay. I reported my time off to the payroll staff as I took it, like all employees. That calculation method, developed based on then legal counsel’s interpretation of the city’s code, was applied evenly to all management employees for years."

In the face of the budget crisis, the city says it will run out of money in a few weeks. City Council members are looking at enacting a 12 percent budget increase, which also has residents fuming.

Many local politicians, including County Legislator Denise Ford and New York Assemblywoman Melissa Miller, have asked State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to perform an audit of the city and its payouts.

"While my understanding has been and remains that all payments were calculated properly, if it is determined by a proper review that the city's payment to me was at all in error then I would seek to immediately return any overage," Schnirman wrote.

The next City Council meeting is May 15. Council members will be discussing the budget again, and it is likely that the payments will be a topic of conversation.

Photo: Patch