Continuing their ongoing commitment to increase transparency and ethics in the Town of Oyster Bay, Supervisor Joseph Saladino and members of the Town Board recently appointed Rabbi Dr. Joel Levenson to the Town of Oyster Bay’s Board of Ethics.

 

“We welcome Rabbi Levenson to the Board of Ethics and thank him for volunteering the time needed to best serve the public,” said Supervisor Saladino. “The Town Board of Ethics helps advance accountability and transparency in government, and this independent group of wonderful individuals will continue to help the Town in our ongoing pledge to maintain the highest level of ethics in government.”

 

Rabbi Dr. Joel Levenson serves a wide spectrum of populations handling pastoral needs as well as dynamic programs for diverse populations including young families, teens, preschool, and empty nesters at the Midway Jewish Center in Syosset. A Chaplain with the New York National Guard, Rabbi Levenson earned a doctorate in Pastoral Care & Counseling from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he also received a Masters Degree in Jewish Education. He earned a B.A. from Miami University in Oxford, OH with degrees in Psychology and Political science, with studies abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is a former President of the Long Island Board of Rabbis. Rabbi Dr. Levenson and his wife, Leora Cohen, are proud parents of three wonderful children: Shir, Sam, and Gideon.

 

Ethics reforms have been a priority of the Saladino administration. In fact, the rules governing the Town of Oyster Bay Ethics Board were enhanced by Supervisor Saladino and the Town Board to provide real and meaningful oversight. In addition to reviewing financial disclosure statements, the board works to provide clear and reasonable standards of ethical conduct to officers and employees of the Town. Together, the Town Board and Supervisor have also instituted disclosure requirements for contractors, vendors and high-level employees to prevent conflicts of interest and misdeeds.  An individual who previously worked with the FBI, CIA and DEA was hired to serve as Long Island’s and the Town’s first-ever Inspector General to protect the wallets of taxpayers by overseeing contracts and procurement. For more information on these initiatives and programs, visit www.oysterbaytown.com.