Supervisor Joseph S. Saladino

54 Audrey Avenue
Oyster Bay, NY 11771
(516) 624-6350
josephsaladino@oysterbay-ny.gov

On January 31, 2017, Joseph Saladino was sworn into office as the 70^th Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor and immediately took action to increase governmental accountability, transparency and integrity.  Supervisor Saladino kept his pledge to residents by cutting property taxes in 2018 and freezing property taxes in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. As a result, nearly $10.4 million is back into the pockets of homeowners rather than the coffers of government.

 

To further protect the checkbooks of residents, Supervisor Saladino instilled fiscal discipline and landmark reforms that together have laid the groundwork for our future. Without raising property taxes, his administration turned an operating deficit into a multi-million-dollar surplus. A commitment to restricting long-term borrowing, along with fiscally sound policies and conservative budgeting principles, has helped decrease the Town’s debt by a historic $185 million – the largest reduction of debt in Town history.  The Town’s financial turnaround has been recognized with nine upgrades from two independent Wall Street credit rating firms. Additionally, the New York State Comptroller’s Office entirely removed the Town of Oyster Bay from its fiscal stress monitoring list. This financial turnaround was accomplished while also increasing services, upgrading parks, and repaving over 40% of town roadways.

 

Supervisor Saladino has worked tirelessly to deliver critical services – especially during the COVID-19 public health pandemic. Services were never slowed nor stopped during the pandemic; instead, services were enhanced to collect food for individuals in need of assistance and blood donations for local hospitals. Career services were offered virtually to help people reenter the workforce, and red-tape was limited so restaurants could offer immediate outdoor dining. The Saladino administration’s anti-tax, pro-jobs strategies have laid the foundation for the return of jobs. These policies helped attract the corporate headquarters of 1-800-Flowers to Jericho, as well as a Home Depot Final Destination facility in Hicksville. Furthermore, a new Amazon distribution facility and hundreds of jobs opened in Syosset. Dream Car Restorations found a new home in Plainview, and their automotive skills are featured on The Discovery Channel. New York Institute of Technology recently transformed a vacant hotel into a modern residence hall for students pursuing professional degrees.

 

To keep our downtowns vibrant and storefronts filled, the Supervisor Saladino is supporting small businesses and non-profit organizations with Federal grant money. In fact, millions of Federal dollars were distributed to small businesses and chambers of commerce to boost shop local initiatives. Oyster Bay Today, which aims to attract tourism and boost the local economy, was launched and features dining, shopping and leisure experiences in the Town of Oyster Bay.

 

In Hicksville, nearly 190 new residential units along with retail and restaurant space are under construction at 99 Newbridge Road. This $111 million investment by Alpine Residential Development is just one of several projects in the downtown. Future projects will support increased access to transportation, improved walkability, and 500 new housing opportunities. These projects, along with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $132 million investment in the Hicksville railroad station, will continue to transform Hicksville into a vibrant downtown for downsizers, empty nesters, senior citizens and what millennials asked for and what will keep them here on Long Island. Nearby, plans are being developed by the private sector to transform both Broadway Commons and the former Sears site into greater economic engines for the region.

 

Supervisor Saladino delivered on his pledge to enhance ethics, transparency and accountability in government. From the appointment of an independent Board of Ethics with real and meaningful oversight to putting enhanced safeguards in place and disclosure requirements for contractors, vendors and employees, the Town Board is preventing misdeeds and conflicts of interest. To enhance transparency, the administration enhanced live streaming of Town Board meetings and improved the Town’s website. Reforms were long overdue and the good-government organizations, Reclaim New York and the Empire Center, recognized Supervisor Saladino and the Town Board for proactively improving transparency and provide residents unprecedented access to government.

 

A strong advocate for the environment and safe drinking water, Joseph Saladino has led the fight for the complete hydraulic containment and remediation of the Grumman-Navy plume. As a State Assemblyman, he authored and passed milestone legislation to begin the state’s process of cleaning up the largest and most highly-concentrated plume of dangerous chemicals in a sole source aquifer anywhere in the nation. This legislation paved the way for the remediation initiative launched by New York State. As Supervisor, Joseph Saladino jumpstarted the environmental cleanup of a contaminated ballfield and complete remediation of Bethpage Community Park. His ongoing commitment to the environment remains steadfast in his role as Town Supervisor, where he continues environmental initiatives aimed at protecting the Town’s natural resources and drinking water, including its miles of pristine waterways, open space and wildlife refuges on both the North and South Shores.  At the same time, Supervisor Saladino has launched quality of life initiatives to tear down zombie homes, improved parks and beaches, and also significantly increased funding for road repaving. He has successfully stopped progressive plans from New York State lawmakers to flood single-family home neighborhoods with high density apartment buildings. On his watch, the Town of Oyster Bay earned recognition as a Climate Smart Community and was also named a leader by NYSERDA for helping assist residents with obtaining residential solar panel permits.

 

Prior to serving as Town Supervisor, Joseph Saladino served residents in the New York State Assembly for six terms where he was one of the original sponsors of – and approved – New York State’s Property Tax Cap and STAR Rebate Checks.  He was a leading advocate for Megan’s Law, which requires law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders.  Supervisor Saladino began his career in broadcast journalism as a news anchor and reporter with Long Island’s largest television and radio station. He also worked with a Long Island civil engineering firm immersed in civil construction and environmental engineering projects. A lifelong community volunteer, he is a 30 year member and past Kiwanis Club President, where he received the distinguished “Kiwanian of the Year” award. He has been named an honorary member of the Massapequa Fire Department Companies 4 and 6. He has spent decades serving the community as a volunteer, including as a member of the Lions Club, the Sons of Italy-Columbus Lodge, the Chamber of Commerce, and as a former Trustee of the Historical Society. He was inducted into the Massapequa High School Hall of Fame and the Massapequa Mustangs Hall of Fame.

 

Supervisor Saladino is an outdoorsman, mountain climber, experienced fisherman and boater, who has studied marine resources and has brought this background to the government, protecting our waterways and preserving clean and plentiful drinking water. He is a musician and enjoys jamming with his band at local restaurants throughout the Town of Oyster Bay.  He attended Tulane University and holds a Master’s Degree from the New York Institute of Technology, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. Joseph and his wife Halina reside in Massapequa, and are the proud parents of three daughters.