New Huntington Zoning Board Chairman Appointed
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By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com
The Huntington Town Board has installed a new zoning board chairman.
A resolution sponsored by Councilman Eugene Cook, and approved by the board 3-1-1, has named John Posillico to the post.
Posillico, 62, of Northport, is a former longtime Village of Old Westbury zoning board chairman, and CTO of Westbury-based Arizona Beverages.
“I have worked on the design and building of projects that range from the most complicated and capital intensive to the most elegant; that type of knowledge can be useful in understanding projects that are somewhat involved or complicated,” said Posillico, who was appointed to a seat on Huntington’s zoning board in June 2016.
Posillico, who assumed his new role on Monday, will remain in the position until at least the end of the year, at which point the board could vote to reinstate him or appoint a new chair.
He replaces former longtime chairman Christopher Modelewski, who held the post for 16 years since 2002.
“Mr. Modelewski possesses consummate knowledge of land use and zoning,” Posillico said. “His shoes will be hard to fill.”
Cook, Supervisor Chad Lupinacci and Councilman Ed Smyth voted in favor of the change.
After the meeting, Cook praised Modelewski’s stewardship as ZBA chairman, but argued the timing was right for a change.
“I think it’s time for new people who have good ideas and are talented,” Cook said. “Mr. Posillico is one of the most talented guys I’ve seen in a while.”
Cook and former town councilwoman Susan Berland voted against Posillico’s appointment in 2016. Cook acknowledged the change of position, saying Posillico has done “exceptionally well” on the board.
Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, who voted against the appointment, voted in favor of Posillico’s original appointment to the board in 2016. Cuthbertson voted against the motion to make Posillico chairman because he believes Modelewski is best suited for the role.
Modelewski, a Huntington-based attorney, “is one of the best zoning board chairmen on Long Island,” Cuthbertson said.
Councilwoman Joan Cergol said she abstained from the vote because she was not given enough time to learn about Posillico’s “abilities to serve as the chairman.”
“I only just learned about this appointment this afternoon,” she said.
The move to appointment Posillico came days after a surprising ZBA decision on Feb. 15 that stalled a developer’s plan to build 14 apartments on Creek Road in Huntington.
Modelewski was one of the board members to vote in favor of that proposal’s advancement, while Posillico abstained from the vote.
Modelewski, in a statement emailed Tuesday, said he’s “proud of a legacy of excellence at the Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals.”
“For years while I was chairman, Justice Leon Lazer brought law students to Huntington to show them what a well-run zoning board looks like and sounds like,” Modelewski said. “From a legend like Leon Lazer, no higher compliment could be paid.”
It was unclear as of deadline Wednesday whether Modelewski would remain on the board as a member; his term runs until 2021.
Modelewski declined to comment on whether the town board’s move to replace him came as a surprise.
