- Supported controversial police pay freezes, funding cuts, and even proposed abolishing the Amityville Police Department, which drew union opposition and was later used against him in campaigns (East Hampton Star, Newsday)
- Faced criticism for lack of transparency and public input on key decisions such as board raises, contract approvals, and the budget process (Newsday 1/25/18, Newsday 5/31/17)
- Frequently at odds with colleagues, often as a vocal minority, and publicly feuded with fellow trustees, police and fire unions, and the mayor, sometimes abstaining from votes or dissenting on budget and staffing (Amityville Record 7/19/17)
- Engaged in high-profile disputes over fiscal priorities, including opposing raises, administrative decisions, and incentive packages, which some critics labeled as obstructionist (Amityville Record 8/29/18, Newsday 3/12/14)
- Accused local government of political retribution and lack of fairness following board disagreements, including calling out exclusion of certain individuals from employment or promotions for political reasons (Amityville Record 6/20/18)
- Several instances of stepping down from budget roles or voting against finalized budgets, claiming inability to reconcile personal priorities with the majority’s, potentially suggesting difficulties in collaboration or leadership (Newsday 4/20/17, Amityville Record 5/3/17)
2018: Trustee Nick LaLota Ran For Mayor According to Amityville Record, "The lawsuit alleges that the fire department infringed on Squicciarini's rights of free speech when it took retaliatory action against him for a Facebook posting he made supporting Trustee Nick LaLota, who was a candidate in last year's mayoral election." [Amityville Record (New York), 2/27/19]
March 21, 2018: Facebook Post Endorsed Nick LaLota And His Ticket According to Amityville Record, "The photo was reposted on election day March 21, 2018, along with an endorsement for two members of La-Lota's ticket stating: 'Vote for the team that has the education, experience and proven track record, vote for the most qualified candidates, Nick, Jim (Wandell) and Jessica (Bernius). Keep the Village moving forward.'" [Amityville Record (New York), 2/27/19]
2022: Bridget Fleming’s Campaign Accused Nick LaLota Of Supporting Police Pension Cuts And Department Abolition As Amityville Village Board Member According to East Hampton Star, "The campaign used the endorsement to criticize Ms. Fleming’s Republican opponent, Nick LaLota, charging that as a member of the Amityville Village Board he ‘supported a policy that would have cheated retiring officers out of their pensions,’ ‘sought to cut funding for the police department,’ and ‘even proposed abolishing the department altogether.’" [East Hampton Star, 9/29/22]
2015: Newsday Reported Nick LaLota Advocated Abolishing The Amityville Police Department Or Seeking Union Concessions To Save Money According to East Hampton Star, "Newsday reported in 2015 on a spending proposal that Mr. LaLota, as budget officer, said would save money ‘by abolishing the Amityville Police Department or by pursuing a middle course of concessions from the police union,’ which he had long advocated." [East Hampton Star, 9/29/22]
2022: Nick LaLota’s Campaign Did Not Comment On Police Funding Criticisms According to East Hampton Star, "Asked on Saturday to comment, Mr. LaLota’s campaign manager had not replied as of yesterday." [East Hampton Star, 9/29/22]
LaLota Served As Chair Of Amityville Police And Fire Committees, Pushed For Public Safety Initiatives According to Dans Papers, during his tenure as chairman of the Village Committee to the Police Department and the Committee to the Fire Department, "he bettered the local quality of life by tackling issues of public safety. He would lead a push to increase the number of uniformed members of the Amityville Police Department. He would also increase funding for first responders and fire services by 40%, refurbishing multiple ambulances and enabling volunteer firefighters to be equipped with the lifesaving gear they need to do their jobs." [Dans Papers, 1/8/23]
2014: Nick LaLota Stated Legal Advice Helped Guide Exclusion Of Village Justice From Term Limits According to Amityville Record (New York), '"On advice of counsel, we believe that passing term limits for the Village justice would be on solid legal ground but under threat of a lawsuit we thought it would not be prudent at this time. We did not want to put the Village and taxpayers through the expense of a lawsuit," said LaLota.' [Amityville Record (New York), 1/15/14]
2013: Mayor Wandell Appointed Nick LaLota To Fill Trustee Vacancy According to Amityville Record, "LaLota, who was appointed by Wandell to fill the vacancy and who worked as Wandell's campaign manager, said he is looking forward to the challenge." [Amityville Record (New York), 1/22/14]
2013: Nick LaLota Was Appointed To Fill Vacant Trustee Seat By Mayor Wandell According to Amityville Record, "Following that, LaLota was tapped by Wandell to fill the seat vacated by Casserly." [Amityville Record (New York), 1/29/14]
February 2014: Nick LaLota Stated Road Repair Would Use Babylon Town Contract Pricing According to Newsday (New York), "LaLota said Amityville would use a Babylon town contract with the company that set a rate of $12 per square foot for the pothole repair work." [Newsday (New York), 2/27/14]
March 2014: Nick LaLota Served As Amityville Village Trustee Appointed By Mayor Wandell According to Amityville Record, "LaLota focused on his work and strong connections in government as chief of staff for Sen. Phil Boyle, his military service and his work on the board since being appointed trustee by Mayor James P. Wandell last year." [Amityville Record (New York), 3/5/14]
March 2014: Nick LaLota Cited Enactment Of Term Limits, Beach Access, And Tax Stabilization As Village Board Accomplishments According to Amityville Record, 'We were able to stabilize taxes, make the beach free, increase transparency, enact term limits while keeping the Village safe and beautiful,' said LaLota of the Amityille First Party. [Amityville Record (New York), 3/5/14]
February 2014: Nick LaLota Proposed Freezing Police Salaries And Increasing Starting Pay For New Officers In Amityville According to Amityville Record, 'LaLota then outlined a proposal calling for a freeze on police officers salaries at $150, 000 a year, saying they were the highest in the state (averaging $176, 000 a year), and calling for an increase in the pay for new officers from $42, 000 a year to $78, 000. "This would enable the officers to live in Amityville," he said.' [Amityville Record (New York), 3/5/14]
February 2014: LaLota Cited Contractor Requirements For Pothole Oversight According to Amityville Record, '"There are specific requirements as to what a contractor has to do," said LaLota.' [Amityville Record, 3/12/14]
2014: Nick LaLota Served As Incumbent Amityville Village Trustee According to Newsday (New York), "The Amityville village board race gives voters a choice between two candidates, incumbent Nick LaLota and Wesley 'Andy' Powell, and the outcome will preserve or end a three-member board majority." [Newsday (New York), 3/12/14]
2014: Nick LaLota Joined Three-Member Majority With Mayor Wandell And Deputy Mayor Bernius According to Newsday (New York), "LaLota, part of a majority that includes Mayor James Wandell and Deputy Mayor Jessica Bernius, has often provided the administration's public voice for initiatives like term limits for trustees and a freeze on base pay for some police officers." [Newsday (New York), 3/12/14]
2014: Trustee Nick LaLota Cited Lack Of Consultation In Geothermal System Installation As Error By Prior Administration According to Newsday (New York), "Trustee Nick LaLota said that lack of consultation was a 'massive error of judgment' by then-Mayor Peter Imbert's administration." [Newsday (New York), 8/15/14]
February 2016: Trustee Nick LaLota Announced Amityville Police Pay Dispute Arbitration According to Newsday, "A pay dispute between Amityville Village and the union for its police officers will go before a private arbitrator Feb. 25, trustee Nick LaLota said." [Newsday (New York), 2/17/16]
February 2016: Nick LaLota Characterized Night Differential As A Perk By Previous Administration According to Newsday, "LaLota, in an email Monday, said the differential was a 'perk' granted by a previous village administration." [Newsday (New York), 2/17/16]
September 2015: LaLota With Other Trustees Requested Pay Cap For Some Officers According to Newsday, "Relations between the union and some trustees have been tense since at least 2014, when LaLota, Mayor James Wandell and Deputy Mayor Jessica Bernius signed a letter asking the union to agree to cap pay for some officers." [Newsday (New York), 2/17/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Reported Continued Daily Ticketing Against Security Dodge According to Newsday, "LaLota said ticketing would continue daily." [Newsday (New York), 5/13/16]
2016: Trustee Nick LaLota Asserted Village Patience With Security Dodge Had Run Out According to Newsday, 'But LaLota suggested that the village is no longer open to diplomacy. "Residents of the village have had it with Security Dodge," he said in an interview this week. "They have pushed the village administration past the limits of our patience."' [Newsday (New York), 5/13/16]
2016: Newsday Reported Nick LaLota Served As Amityville Village Trustee According to Newsday, 'Amityville Village trustee Nick LaLota is proposing a transit-oriented district to promote residential development in a mostly industrial area near the village's Long Island Rail Road station.' [Newsday (New York), 5/17/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Served As Amityville Village Trustee And Financial Officer According to Amityville Record, "Amityville Village Trustee Nick LaLota, the Village's financial officer." [Amityville Record (New York), 5/18/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Served As Republican Committeeman And Amityville Trustee According to Babylon Beacon, "Nick LaLota, a Republican committeeman and trustee in the Village of Amityville" supported the council district referendum. [Babylon Beacon (New York), 9/29/16]
2016: Trustee Nick LaLota Questioned Credibility Of Village Financial Review Report According to Amityville Record (New York), 'I question the credibility of a report done in just a couple of hours without ever interviewing the (Village) clerk-treasurer or budget officer,' said LaLota in commenting on the report. 'As far as I am concerned, it is just something that was done on a whim.' [Amityville Record (New York), 10/5/16]
2013: Mayor Wandell Appointed Nick LaLota To Amityville Village Board According to Newsday (New York), "Soon after his election in 2013, Wandell appointed LaLota to a vacancy on the board left by Peter Casserly, who resigned following his run for mayor. LaLota, 38, had run the campaign for Wandell's ticket." [Newsday (New York), 12/29/16]
2013-2016: Nick LaLota Formed Part Of An Amityville Board Majority Bloc With Wandell And Bernius According to Newsday (New York), "Wandell, Bernius and LaLota have been a majority voting bloc on the village board against Smith and trustee Dennis Siry." [Newsday (New York), 12/29/16]
2017: Trustee Nick LaLota Opposed Tax Breaks For GreenTek Project Developers According to Amityville Record, 'I don't think the taxpayers should be subsidizing these kind of developments, especially when they are making a lot of money,' said Trustee Nick LaLota. 'Fifteen years of gradual tax increase is much less than the full freight.' [Amityville Record (New York), 1/25/17]
2017: LaLota Advocated For Developers To Pay Fair Share In GreenTek Project According to Amityville Record, 'With that kind of an increase in value, the developer should pay their fair share and put more money into making this a high-end project,' said LaLota. [Amityville Record (New York), 1/25/17]
2017: LaLota Reported Progress In Negotiations With GreenTek Developers According to Amityville Record, 'LaLota said the Village and the developers have reached agreement on many aspects of the project and that discussions will continue, especially on the issues of taxes.' [Amityville Record (New York), 1/25/17]
2017: LaLota Highlighted Amityville’s Distinction In Tax Incentive Policy According to Amityville Record, 'I know that many communities on Long Island provide these kind of tax incentives but we have demonstrated that this Village does things differently,' he said. [Amityville Record (New York), 1/25/17]
2013: Nick LaLota Was Appointed To The Amityville Village Board As Chief Budget Officer According to Amityville Record (New York), "Wandell attributed the leadership of LaLota, who assumed the role as chief budget officer when he was appointed to the board in March 2013, for turning the Village finances around." [Amityville Record (New York), 3/1/17]
2017: Schaffer Criticized LaLota For Pressing Disciplinary Action Against Four Village Police Officers According to Newsday (New York), "In the ad, Schaffer attacked LaLota, also Suffolk's GOP election commissioner, for pressing for disciplinary action against four village cops who put in for volunteer fire retirement pension credits for fire calls that occurred when they were on duty as police." [Newsday (New York), 3/4/17]
2015: LaLota And The Village Board Voted To Seek Disciplinary Charges Against Four Officers According to Newsday (New York), "LaLota said Siry and village board voted unanimously in 2015 to seek disciplinary charges against the four village officers. The matter was settled later in a confidential agreement." [Newsday (New York), 3/4/17]
2017: LaLota Stepped Down As Budget Officer For Amityville Village According to Amityville Record (New York), "Since then, LaLota has stepped down as budget officer, a title given to him by Wandell, and said in a statement that he decided to do so 'after it became apparent I could not construct a budget that honored by Mayor Siry's campaign promises and mine.'" [Amityville Record (New York), 4/19/17]
2017: LaLota Explained His Reason For Resignation In Statement According to Amityville Record (New York), "I want to support the new administration but found myself in a position where I was forming a flawed budget that I would ultimately vote against,' he concluded, adding that he offered Siry his best wishes on the budget and his advice, if sought." [Amityville Record (New York), 4/19/17]
April 2017: Nick LaLota Quit As Amityville Budget Officer According to Newsday (New York), "Mayor Dennis Siry said the village was racing to put together the budget after budget officer Nick LaLota, who unsuccessfully ran against Siry for mayor, quit as budget officer on April 12. 'It's like the quarterback walking off just before the playoffs,' Siry said." [Newsday (New York), 4/20/17]
April 2017: Nick LaLota Said He Could Not Produce Budget Fulfilling Both Campaign Promises According to Newsday (New York), "LaLota said he quit because he could not produce a budget that supported both his and Siry's campaign promises. During the election LaLota released his own budget, slightly larger but also with a zero tax increase." [Newsday (New York), 4/20/17]
April 2017: Nick LaLota Stepped Down As Amityville Village Budget Information Officer According to Amityville Record, "As reported earlier in the Record, the Village's budget information officer was Trustee Nick LaLota, Siry's opponent in the race for mayor. Last Wednesday, five days before the budget hearing, LaLota stepped down from that assignment saying he could not work on a budget that he would likely not be able to support when it came up for a vote." [Amityville Record (New York), 4/26/17]
April 2017: Nick LaLota Cited Disagreement With Budget As Reason For Resignation According to Amityville Record, '"I found myself in a position where I was forming a flawed budget that I would ultimately vote against," he said at that time.' [Amityville Record (New York), 4/26/17]
April 2017: Nick LaLota Said He Was Pleased That Majority Of His Budget Was Maintained According to Amityville Record, 'Later in the week, he added that he is pleased that the board is maintaining more than 80 percent of his budget and that he looks forward to working with the board to finalize the plan.' [Amityville Record (New York), 4/26/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Dissented On Amityville Village Budget Vote According to Amityville Record, "The vote, taken Monday night, was 3-2, with Trustees Jessica Bernius and Nick LaLota dissenting." [Amityville Record (New York), 5/3/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Opposed Post-Election Raise For Village Justice According to Amityville Record, "LaLota challenged the Siry administration's decision to give Village Justice Debra Urbano DiSalvo a $2,000-a-year raise, saying it is highly unusual to do so after an election. 'There could have been a candidate who might have run (for that position) if the salary were higher at the time of the election,' said LaLota." [Amityville Record (New York), 5/3/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Questioned Need For New Part-Time Building Employee According to Amityville Record, "LaLota also said he did not believe the hiring of a parttime employee 'for the second floor' was necessary, 'especially when you consider that we are reducing other lines dealing with quality-of-life issues.'" [Amityville Record (New York), 5/3/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Requested Increased Funding For Quality Of Life Initiatives According to Amityville Record, "LaLota asked that the board consider increasing funding in the Quality of Life line, saying the employees hired to do that work have been very successful in addressing many of the concerns raised by residents." [Amityville Record (New York), 5/3/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Urged Village To Advise IDA Against Unilateral Tax Agreements According to Amityville Record, "Trustee Nick LaLota said he would like the board to consider formally advising the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) that the Village does not want to be included in these agreements without express consent. [...] 'Every year, they give away more and more and we have no say (in the tax reduction agreements they offer) unless we formally advise them that we don't want them to continue to do this,' said LaLota." [Amityville Record (New York), 5/3/17]
2017: Nick LaLota Focused On Amityville Village Trustee Role After Mayoral Loss According to Amityville Record, "LaLota, who recently lost a bid in March for the mayor's spot in Amityville, said his focus continues to be on Amityville Village. 'I have an obligation to the voters who put me in office to watch out for their tax dollars,' he said." [Amityville Record (New York), 5/17/17]
2017: Nick LaLota Confirmed Ongoing Focus On Amityville Village Issues After Mayoral Loss According to Babylon Beacon (New York), "LaLota, who recently lost a bid in March for the mayor's spot in Amityville, he said his focus continues to be on Amityville Village. 'I have an obligation to the voters who put me in office to watch out for their tax dollars,' he said." [Babylon Beacon (New York), 5/18/17]
May 2017: Trustee Nick LaLota Raised Concerns About Shared Services Resolution According to Amityville Record (New York), "You don't cheap out on your lawyer," said Trustee Nick LaLota who raised the issue with the community and the board. "When you are in Supreme Court representing this Village and residents, you don't pinch pennies." [Amityville Record (New York), 5/31/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Voted Against Village-Town Shared Legal Services Agreement According to Amityville Record (New York), "LaLota, who voted against the measure, said he never met the Town attorney, Joseph Wilson, nor did he know his background and he asked that the board commit to ensuring that before they move to use the Town attorney that this information is provided." [Amityville Record (New York), 5/31/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Requested Clause For Board Decision On Case-By-Case Basis According to Amityville Record (New York), "LaLota initially asked that the resolution be modified to include a clause saying that the board had to make the decision to use the Town attorney on a case-by-case basis. Initially, it read that the mayor could make that decision. While the board agreed, the wording was not added to the resolution for the meeting, but amended to reflect that change before the vote." [Amityville Record (New York), 5/31/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Requested Additional Funding For Quality Of Life Officers And Meeting Videotaping According to Newsday, "LaLota and Bernius said they wanted an additional $7,280 dedicated to the village's quality of life officers to fund another shift and wanted $4,000 in funding for the videotaping of meetings to ensure more transparency." [Newsday (New York), 5/31/17]
July 2017: Nick Lalota Abstained From Vote On Amityville Police Promotion According to Amityville Record, "Trustees Nick Lalota and Jessica Bernius abstained saying that the administration had not provided them with background information on Mullin and the two other candidates, APOs Frank Caramanico and Michael Walters." [Amityville Record, 7/19/17]
July 2017: Nick Lalota Expressed Concerns Over Lack Of Transparency In Promotion Process According to Amityville Record, Lalota stated, "But part of the board (he and Trustee Bernius) has been shut out of the process and I find that unfair." [Amityville Record, 7/19/17]
July 2017: Nick Lalota Criticized Delay In Receiving Candidate Information For Police Promotion According to Amityville Record, "Lalota said he only heard about the mayor's choice the Thursday before the meeting on Mon., July 10, and had not had time to complete 'my due diligence.' And, he added, when he asked Police Chief Glenn Slack for the background information on the three candidates, the chief declined, saying the mayor had told him not to release the information." [Amityville Record, 7/19/17]
August 2017: Lalota Claimed Amityville Mayor's Administration Withheld Timely Information From Trustees According to Amityville Record (New York), "Two Amityville Village Trustees-Jessica Bernius and Nick Lalota-are saying that the administration of Amityville Village Mayor Dennis Siry is marginalizing them by failing to provide them with timely information and keeping them posted about things that are going on in the Village. [...] They said they have not received detailed information on the issues in a timely manner, 'in order to be able to do our due diligence as elected officials,' said LaLota." [Amityville Record (New York), 8/16/17]
July 2017: Lalota Reported Mayor Directed Police Chief Not To Provide Requested Candidate Information According to Amityville Record (New York), 'On July 11 he sent a request to the mayor advising him that he wanted to review the performance jackets, including citations, awards and commendations of the three individuals on the civil service list for promotion to sergeant. "The chief told me that the mayor directed him not to provide that information," said Lalota, who reached out to the mayor to ask him to reconsider his position, which he did not.' [Amityville Record (New York), 8/16/17]
August 2017: Lalota Abstained From Board Votes Due To Lack Of Advance Information According to Amityville Record (New York), 'The two, who represent the board's minority on many issues, have abstained on several resolutions, including the recent appointments of Sgt. Christian Mullin and Building Inspector Bryan Donato, as well as a shared services proposal with the Town of Babylon for legal services. They said they have not received detailed information on the issues in a timely manner, "in order to be able to do our due diligence as elected officials," said LaLota.' [Amityville Record (New York), 8/16/17]
August 2017: Lalota Supported Enforcement Against Security Dodge According to Amityville Record, "Her position was supported by Lalota who said this was the sixth continuance that the owners have received. 'I think that they should come into conformity with the law and then we will talk,' he told the mayor." [Amityville Record (New York), 8/23/17]
2015: Nick LaLota Advocated For Creating Amityville Police Commissioner Position According to Newsday (New York), "Trustee Nick LaLota, who advocated for the creation of the position, said at the time the village 'had just lost 70 years in police experience' with the retirement of the police chief and lieutenant. The law's creation, he said, 'was in preparation for another circumstance like that.'" [Newsday (New York), 11/6/17]
Nick LaLota Stated He Would Only Support Commissioner With Law Enforcement Experience According to Newsday (New York), "LaLota said he would have only supported hiring a commissioner who had 'decades of federal or local law enforcement experience.' But the post was never filled because there wasn’t another 'sudden vacancy in the police front office,' LaLota said." [Newsday (New York), 11/6/17]
October 2017: Nick LaLota Voted In Favor Of Public Hearing To Eliminate Commissioner Position According to Newsday (New York), "LaLota, who voted last month in favor of the public hearing to consider eliminating the position, said the commissioner post is important as a 'no-cost insurance policy.'" [Newsday (New York), 11/6/17]
2015: Trustee Nick LaLota Proposed Creating Civilian Police Commissioner Post In Amityville According to Newsday (New York), "Trustee Nick LaLota, who had proposed creating the post, said that at the time the village 'had just lost 70 years in police experience' with the retirement of the police chief and lieutenant, and the creation of the position was in preparation for a similar situation." [Newsday (New York), 11/17/17]
2017: Nick LaLota Advocated For Creative Solutions On Early Tax Payment Acceptance According to Amityville Record (New York), "'I don't think anyone knows of a rule or law that prevents us from doing this, so I think we ought to be creative,' said LaLota during the discussions." [Amityville Record (New York), 12/27/17]
2017: Nick LaLota Estimated Early Deduction Could Save Homeowners $1,000 According to Amityville Record (New York), "LaLota estimated that the deduction could save the average Amityville Village homeowner $1, 000 this year." [Amityville Record (New York), 12/27/17]
2018: Amityville Trustee Nick LaLota Criticized Babylon Town Raises As Lacking Transparency According to Newsday, 'It's just simply not transparent,' said Amityville Trustee Nick LaLota, a frequent Schaffer critic, who was also critical of the timing of the raises. 'Neither the public nor the press really has the opportunity to understand how taxpayer money is being spent.' [Newsday (New York), 1/17/18]
2017: Nick LaLota Decided Not To Continue As Amityville Village Budget Officer After The Election According to Amityville Record (New York), "I helped the Siry administration put together a zero percent budget in 11 days after Trustee Nick LaLota decided to that he would no longer be undertaking that job following the election last year," said Whalen. [Amityville Record (New York), 3/7/18]
Nick LaLota Claimed 90 Percent Of The Village Budget Was Complete Before He Stepped Down As Budget Officer In 2017 According to Amityville Record (New York), "LaLota countered that Whalen is taking too much credit for last year's budget, saying it was almost 90 percent complete when he handed it over to the Siry administration. His decision to step down as budget officer, a post he held since 2013, was due to a disagreement with Mayor Siry on discretionary spending. LaLota wanted to hire new Quality of Life officers, while the Siry administration wanted more money to go to pay raises, he said. ‘These differences are what led me to withdraw my name and led Mr. Whalen to assume the post,’ said LaLota." [Amityville Record (New York), 3/7/18]
2018: Nick LaLota Proposed Requiring Public Posting And Limits On Village Contracts According to Amityville Record (New York), "The Village recently rejected a proposed law that would, among other things, require that all contracts over $1 million be posted online at least a week before they come before the board for approval, and that no Mayor be permitted to sign a contract that would extend one year beyond their term of office. The measure was raised by Trustee Nick LaLota and seconded by Trustee Jessica Bernius." [Amityville Record (New York), 3/7/18]
March 2018: Nick LaLota Did Not Attend The Mayor's Spring Social In Amityville According to Amityville Record, "nor did members of the Village Board's minority, including Trustees Jessica Bernius and Nick LaLota." [Amityville Record (New York), 4/4/18]
2018: Nick LaLota Was A Trustee On Amityville Village Board According to Amityville Record, "members of the Village Board's minority, including Trustees Jessica Bernius and Nick LaLota." [Amityville Record (New York), 4/4/18]
2018: Trustee Nick LaLota Championed Rehiring Lifeguard at Amityville Board Meeting According to a letter to the editor published in Amityville Record, "Trustee Nick LaLota strongly championed this young man's cause. He worked very hard to let the members of the Board see why this young man should be rehired. Then he made a motion to hire the young man." [Letter to the Editor - Amityville Record (New York), 6/20/18]
June 2018: Trustee Nick LaLota Supported Inquiry Into Removal Of Hayden Shuff From Summer Beach Employment List According to Amityville Record, "Trustee Jessica Bernius, the board's liaison to the beach, asked why his name was taken off. [...] Trustee Nick LaLota quickly supported her in that inquiry." [Amityville Record, 6/20/18]
June 2018: Nick LaLota Accused Local Government Of Political Retribution In Shuff Employment Case According to Amityville Record, "LaLota recognized Hayden's mother Margaret, and said he believed the boy's name was removed as a form of political retribution because his mother is politically outspoken." [Amityville Record, 6/20/18]
June 2018: Nick LaLota Urged Hayden Shuff Not To View Local Government Actions As Typical Decision-Making According to Amityville Record, "LaLota told Hayden. 'Don't put this in your head as to how your government is supposed to make its decisions.'" [Amityville Record, 6/20/18]
June 2018: Nick LaLota Voted To Reinstate Hayden Shuff To Summer Employment List According to Amityville Record, "a move by Trustee Tom Whalen who joined with Bernius and LaLota to get Hayden's name back on the list that night, giving the resolution a majority." [Amityville Record, 6/20/18]
June 2018: Trustee Nick LaLota Criticized Security Dodge Operations And Urged Compliance With Court Decision According to Amityville Record, "Trustee Nick LaLota, an outspoken critic of the operations at Security Dodge said Security Dodge should immediately come into compliance with the court's decision. 'Then we can talk about a change of zone,' he said." [Amityville Record, 7/4/18]
June 2018: Trustee Nick LaLota Expressed Opposition To Gasoline Station On Merrick Road Property According to Amityville Record, "Moving forward he said he would oppose a gasoline station but had an open mind for how the property should be allowed to change. He is committed, he said, to ensuring that any decision on use of the property is made in line with Village law and with the quality of life in mid for Secu- rity Dodge's neighbors, particularly those living in Snug Harbor." [Amityville Record, 7/4/18]
June 2018: Trustee Nick LaLota Praised Zoning Board Chairwoman For Decision Wording According to Amityville Record, "LaLota said he believes the decision upholding the Village's position is a direct result of the 'acumen of (zoning board chairwoman) Tracey Cullen who wrote the excellently worded and crafted decision on behalf of the Zoning Board.'" [Amityville Record, 7/4/18]
August 2018: Nick LaLota Dissented In Amityville Village Board Vote On Trailer Application According to Amityville Record, 'The vote was 3-1 with Trustee Nick LaLota dissenting. [...] LaLota explained before the vote on Aug. 14. "I would not want this next to my home, but then I thought, we are a village and part of being a Village is to care for each other." LaLota was the only dissenting vote against the application.' [Amityville Record, 8/29/18]
January 2019: Nick LaLota Announced He Would Not Seek Reelection As Amityville Village Trustee According to Amityville Record, "incumbent Village Trustee Nick LaLota announced that he would not be seeking reelection in March." [Amityville Record (New York), 1/16/19]
Nick LaLota Served As Amityville Village Trustee Since 2013 According to Amityville Record, "LaLota was first sworn in March 2013 after being appointed by former Mayor James Wandell. He assumed the seat held by Peter Casserly, who stepped down. He has been reelected since then." [Amityville Record (New York), 1/16/19]
2019: Village Trustee Nick LaLota Decided Not To Run Again For Amityville Board Of Trustees According to a letter to the editor published in Amityville Record, "Village Trustee Nick LaLota has decided not to run again for his position on the Village Board of Trustees. We wish Trustee LaLota much happiness and success in completing law school and in all his future endeavors." [Letter to the Editor - Amityville Record, 1/30/19]
Letter Writer JoAnn Saladino Reported That Nick LaLota Was Frequently Consulted By Village Officials Regarding Residents’ Questions According to a letter to the editor published in Amityville Record, "Many times I have witnessed the new mayor and trustees deferring residents' questions to him so he could give those residents the correct answers." [Letter to the Editor - Amityville Record, 1/30/19]
Letter Writer JoAnn Saladino Praised Nick LaLota’s Six Years of Service To Amityville Village According to a letter to the editor published in Amityville Record, "For the past six years, Trustee LaLota has given one hundred percent of his expertise, energy, and time to make Amityville Village a better place for us. We appreciate and respect him for his outstanding service." [Letter to the Editor - Amityville Record, 1/30/19]
2019: Nick LaLota Did Not Seek Re-Election As Amityville Trustee According to Newsday (New York), "Trustee Tom Whalen is up for re-election and trustee Nick LaLota is not seeking re-election." [Newsday (New York), 2/22/19]
2013-2014: Nick LaLota Claimed Efforts Helped Stabilize Village Taxes And Budget According to Amityville Record, "LaLota said that as a part of Wandell's team, he has helped the administration move to stabilize taxes, gain control of the budget and 'bring fiscal responsibility to the Village while easing the burden on taxpayers.'" [Amityville Record (New York), 1/22/14]
March 2014: Nick LaLota Proposed Freezing Base Pay For Some Amityville Police Officers According to Newsday (New York), "LaLota, running for re-election in a March 18 village election, said his proposal to freeze the base pay of officers with gross 2013 earnings of more than $150,000 is needed to avoid double-digit tax increases." [Newsday (New York), 3/10/14]
March 2014: Amityville Police Union President Criticized Nick LaLota's Proposal According to Newsday (New York), "Amityville's police union says in a letter to village residents that trustee Nick LaLota is 'attacking' officers in his recent proposal to freeze the base pay of some of its members." [Newsday (New York), 3/10/14]
March 2014: LaLota Stated Police Pay Freeze Proposal Was To Avoid Tax Hikes According to Newsday (New York), "I want our village to have the best police services," he said. "I just want them at a cost the taxpayers can afford." [Newsday (New York), 3/10/14]
March 2014: Amityville Police Union Argued LaLota Exaggerated Police Department Costs According to Newsday (New York), "Steve Pfost - The Amityville police union argues Village Trustee Nick LaLota is exaggerating the costs of running the police department." [Newsday (New York), 3/10/14]
2014: Letter Writer Jane Schmitt Reported Nick LaLota Supported Cost Cutting over Tax Increases and Took Salary Cut as Trustee According to a letter to the editor published in Amityville Record, "Nick is in favor of cost cutting (and has taken a cut in his own salary). As a homeowner whose Village taxes have dramatically increased in the time I've owned my home, I am not in favor of another tax increase. I don't know many people who are." [Letter to the Editor - Amityville Record, 3/12/14]
2014: Letter Writer Jane Schmitt Reported Nick LaLota Opened Discussions About Freezing Salaries or Other Employee Cost Measures According to a letter to the editor published in Amityville Record, "I think it is to his credit that Nick has opened discussions about freezing salaries or other measures that a ect Village employees. [...] It is not easy to be the one broaching a di cult subject, but we have to address these issues now." [Letter to the Editor - Amityville Record, 3/12/14]
2014: Letter Writers Cruthers, Cullen, Donaldson, Haffner, and Nicholson Noted Trustee LaLota Proposed Reopening PBA Contract for Financial Relief According to a letter to the editor published in Amityville Record, "The outcry against Trustee LaLota's proposal appears to be an objection to the source, rather than the proposal itself." The writers discuss the context of reopening the PBA contract for financial relief. [Letter to the Editor - Amityville Record, 3/12/14]
2014: Nick LaLota Voluntarily Took 20 Percent Pay Cut As Trustee According to Newsday (New York), "And, while LaLota, Wandell and Bernius took voluntary 20 percent pay cuts soon after taking office, Powell said he would take no pay at all until all potholes are filled, the village beach is fully open after superstorm Sandy-related repairs and the deficit is eliminated." [Newsday (New York), 3/12/14]
2014: Nick LaLota Claimed To Author Village Budget Under 2 Percent Tax Cap According to Newsday (New York), "LaLota highlights his stewardship of village finances, including what he said was the first-ever village budget to come in under the 2 percent tax cap and the voluntary pay cut that he said permitted the elimination of municipal beach fees." [Newsday (New York), 3/12/14]
2014: Nick LaLota Advocated For Freeze On Police Base Pay According to Newsday (New York), "LaLota, part of a majority that includes Mayor James Wandell and Deputy Mayor Jessica Bernius, has often provided the administration's public voice for initiatives like term limits for trustees and a freeze on base pay for some police officers." [Newsday (New York), 3/12/14]
2014: Nick LaLota Referenced Voter Mandate For Fiscal Management In Amityville According to Newsday (New York), "'Voters have spoken for two years in a row. They want a management team to fix Amityville's finances,' LaLota said." [Newsday (New York), 3/19/14]
2015: Nick LaLota Distinguished Former Employee Carol Ketcham’s Eligibility For Amityville Insurance Benefits From Policy Makers’ According to Amityville Record (New York), '"We should not be throwing out the baby with the bath water," said LaLota when the distinction was pointed out to him. "She was an employee who was told by her supervisor that she was entitled to the benefit; everyone else was a policy maker; that is what we are looking to undo."' [Amityville Record (New York), 9/9/15]
September 2015: LaLota Cited NYS Civil Rights Law In Declining To Comment Publicly On Discipline Issue According to Amityville Record, "LaLota responded in an email state that 'It would be against NYS Civil Rights Law 50-a for a Village Official to speak publicly about the discipline issue you've referenced. As such, if a Village Official is sharing emails with the press about that issue, they're putting their political agenda ahead of their duty to follow the law.'" [Amityville Record, 9/30/15]
September 2015: LaLota Presented Fiscal Data To Justify Police Commissioner Proposal According to Amityville Record, "Prior to the vote, Trustee LaLota handed out a Powerpoint presentation outlining the Village's fiscal problems. The move to hire a commissioner will save the Village approximately $100,000 over what it was paying for a lieutenant to be in that post." [Amityville Record (New York), 10/7/15]
2015: Trustee Nick LaLota Served As The Administration's Budget Officer For Amityville Village According to Amityville Record, "That drew a quick response from Trustee Nick LaLota, the administration's budget officer." [Amityville Record (New York), 12/2/15]
2015: LaLota Stated That Amityville Village Paid Down $3 Million In Debt Over Less Than Three Years According to Amityville Record, "Perhaps Moody's recent decision to remove the negative outlook from Amityville Village's credit rating was due 'to the commitment we made three years ago to protect taxpayers and repair the Village's fiscal health,' said LaLota. 'In less than three years, we have paid down $3 million of Imbert-era debt and have closed more than half of the $750,000 deficit we inherited.'" [Amityville Record (New York), 12/2/15]
2015: LaLota Supported Bonding Expenses For Amityville Village As The Best Of Two Poor Alternatives According to Amityville Record, "Following the meeting, LaLota said he saw the bonding of these expenses as the best of two bad alternatives." [Amityville Record (New York), 12/2/15]
2015: LaLota Questioned Board Member's Lack Of Alternative Budget Proposals During Amityville Village Financial Discussion According to Amityville Record, "That drew a quick response from Trustee Nick LaLota, the administration's budget officer. 'Where were you at budget time offering alternative proposals'? he asked Smith. 'All I hear from you is ʻnay, nay, nayʻ." [Amityville Record (New York), 12/2/15]
2015: LaLota Noted Current And Future Budgetary Savings For Amityville Village Through Staffing Changes According to Amityville Record, "'The Village also expects to realize current budgetary savings by not replacing the retirees immediately and future budgetary savings as a result of the reduction in salaries attributable to the retirees by the replacement of such retirees with lower-paid employees,' the memorandum concluded." (as described in the memorandum referenced during the board discussion where LaLota was present) [Amityville Record (New York), 12/2/15]
2015: Trustee Nick LaLota Reported Amityville Faced $2.6 Million In Property Tax Claims According to Newsday, "The village faces $2.6 million in claims from property owners who say they were overtaxed and has exhausted the $200,000 budgeted for settlements this year, trustee Nick LaLota said. Several settlements are likely to be announced in coming months, he said, with the village paying out of its contingency fund, finding nontax-revenue sources or arranging to make installment payments over periods as long as a decade." [Newsday (New York), 12/2/15]
2015: Nick LaLota Characterized Village Officials' Delay In Settling Tax Claims As 'Borderline Negligence' According to Newsday, "Some claims are a decade old, LaLota said, calling officials' failure to settle them 'borderline negligence.'" [Newsday (New York), 12/2/15]
2015: Trustee Nick LaLota Estimated Amityville Would Still Owe At Least $1.5 Million After Settlements According to Newsday, "While the claims, known as tax certiorari, are often settled for cents on the dollar, LaLota said the village will still likely face a hefty bill of at least $1.5 million. 'It's a burden to our budget, and it's one we must work through,' he said." [Newsday (New York), 12/2/15]
2015: Nick LaLota Suggested Village-Wide Reassessment Could Reduce Future Tax Claims But Cited Cost Barriers According to Newsday, "A village-wide reassessment would substantially reduce the number and size of tax certiorari claims, LaLota said, but would cost approximately $500,000 - money the cash-strapped village doesn't have at the moment. 'Should $500,000 fall out of the sky, we may fund it,' he said." [Newsday (New York), 12/2/15]
2016: Nick LaLota Identified $1.25 Million In Immediate Roadwork For Amityville Village According to Newsday (New York), 'It will also identify $1.25 million in roadwork that could be done in the 2016 fiscal year, an amount LaLota said would permit the village to stay under the state tax-levy cap.' [Newsday (New York), 2/12/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Stated Amityville Would Use $300,000-$400,000 For Road Repairs From Operating Funds According to Newsday (New York), 'The village will also likely make piecemeal repairs to one or more roads over the next year, setting aside $300,000 to $400,000 from operating funds, LaLota said.' [Newsday (New York), 2/12/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Urged Prioritization Of Spending Due To Village Fiscal Constraints According to Amityville Record (New York), "We believe that refurbishing the ambulance, which has broken down twice with a patient on board, is more important than replacing a pickup truck we've been without for eight years," said LaLota. "I think we have to prioritize our spending, get through this budget process and determine how much we have to allocate to fire department priorities; you have to have patience," he told the chief. [Amityville Record (New York), 3/9/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Emphasized Tough Decisions Were Needed Amid Budget Discussions According to Amityville Record (New York), 'Times are tough, and we have to make some tough decisions,' said LaLota. [Amityville Record (New York), 3/9/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Announced Village Withdrawal Of Deficit Borrowing Request According to Amityville Record, 'Their decision comes as a result of a closer look at Village finances, said Amityville Village Trustee Nick LaLota, the Village's financial officer.' [Amityville Record (New York), 5/18/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Cited Village Surplus As Reason For Withdrawing Borrowing Request According to Amityville Record, '"After a careful review of the 2015-16 budget, which is set to close at the end of this month, we realize that we have a small surplus and that, in addition to some new revenue created, we can now absorb the deficit in the separation pay line," said LaLota.' [Amityville Record (New York), 5/18/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Defended Village Financial Practices And Administration According to Amityville Record, 'LaLota countered that Smith's comments reflect a continued pattern of failing to be a part of the process and to understand the Village's financial picture. He pointed out that the Village's debt has actually been reduced by 30 percent since Wandell took office.' [Amityville Record (New York), 5/18/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Argued Village's Finances Improved Under Wandell Administration According to Amityville Record, 'For his part LaLota said the fact that the Village is now able to absorb those costs without borrowing shows that the Wandell administration has done a good job of turning around the Village's finances. And, he added, the improvement in the Village's credit rating is proof of that.' [Amityville Record (New York), 5/18/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Praised Department Heads And Treasurer For Fiscal Prudence According to Amityville Record, '"As a result of our work and giving credit to the department heads who worked with the treasurer to ensure that every dollar of taxpayers' money that was spent was done so wisely, we are now able to forego the emergency borrowing measures and ensure that this $839, 000 budget gut is closed."' [Amityville Record (New York), 5/18/16]
May 2016: Trustee Nick LaLota Said Improved Finances Allowed Amityville To Pay Police Separation From General Funds According to Newsday (New York), "Trustee Nick LaLota, who prepares the village budget, said it was the result of improved finances and smart fiscal management." [Newsday (New York), 5/24/16]
May 2016: Nick LaLota Circulated Resolution To Withdraw Amityville's Bond Request For Separation Pay According to Newsday (New York), "Then LaLota circulated a resolution earlier this month rescinding the appeal altogether." [Newsday (New York), 5/24/16]
2016: Trustee Nick LaLota Cited Board-Approved Resolution Explaining Deficit Coverage According to Amityville Record (New York), 'LaLota said all Smith had to do was ask, and produced a resolution approved by the board in May 2016, when the Village rescinded its request for the deficit borrowing bill. That resolution outlined where the Village had saved enough money to fill the gap.' [Amityville Record (New York), 10/5/16]
2016: Trustee Nick LaLota Stated Village Budgeting Was Praised By Agencies According to Amityville Record (New York), 'We are far from perfect,' said LaLota. 'But the public loves its cops and likes low taxes and we are doing our best to balance these priorities and both Moody's and S&P and the New York State comptroller have said that our budgeting has been pretty good.' [Amityville Record (New York), 10/5/16]
2013-2016: Nick LaLota Served As Financial Architect Of Amityville's Fiscal Turnaround, Per Wandell According to Newsday (New York), "To turn the village around financially and get the credit rating upgrades and do it within the tax cap four years in a row is something that I'm very proud of and Nick is the financial architect of that," Wandell said. [Newsday (New York), 12/29/16]
James P. Wandell Credited Nick LaLota With Amityville's Financial Turnaround According to Amityville Record (New York), '"There is no question that the overall financial improvement of the Village is due directly to the work of the budget officer, Nick LaLota," said Wandell, whose team points to a reduction in the Village's debt of 18 percent compared to three years ago.' [Amityville Record (New York), 3/1/17]
Nick LaLota Claimed His Team Increased Village Credit Rating And Achieved A Balanced Budget According to Amityville Record (New York), '"We did not inherit the New York Yankees, a flush organization, but we did make a campaign promise to fix the Village's finances. Today we have the Village's credit rating up and a balanced budget, while staying within the cap."' [Amityville Record (New York), 3/1/17]
Nick LaLota Explained Creation Of Separation Pay Budget Line For Employees According to Amityville Record (New York), '"The Wandell administration also established a budget line for separation pay employees accrue. "Essentially we had no piggy bank when we took office from which to take this money," said LaLota. "We think that when you sign contracts with employees you have to be able to fund what you agree to pay."' [Amityville Record (New York), 3/1/17]
Nick LaLota Initially Said Amityville Needed To Borrow For Police Retirements, Later Said Funds Were Available According to Amityville Record (New York), 'The issue became critical last year when the Village had to come up with more than a million dollars for retirements in the police department, money that LaLota initially said publicly that the Village did not have and had to borrow. Later, however, LaLota said he found the money in the budget to pay the retirement costs.' [Amityville Record (New York), 3/1/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Voted Against Amityville Village Budget Adoption According to Newsday, "Trustees Nick LaLota and Jessica Bernius voted against the final proposed budget. Prior to the vote, LaLota presented a list of spending modifications that he said, if adopted, would lead to his approval of the budget. Those modifications were voted down by the board, 3-2." [Newsday (New York), 5/31/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Cited Transparency Concerns With Budget Process According to Newsday, "LaLota said he couldn't support a budget that 'neglects vital programs . . . and whose process lacks transparency.'" [Newsday (New York), 5/31/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Proposed Eliminating Handheld Ticketing Device Cost According to Newsday, "One of the costs they would have eliminated is $14,000 for three handheld ticketing devices for parking and quality of life violations." [Newsday (New York), 5/31/17]
June 2017: Nick LaLota Criticized IDA Tax Agreements For Increasing Tax Burden On Residents According to Amityville Record, "'What these agreements do is choose to benefit one part (of taxpayers) at the cost to the others,' said LaLota who pointed to the fact that the cost of the savings afforded the businesses are passed along directly to other property owners, including residents." [Amityville Record (New York), 6/14/17]
Lalota Objected To Lack Of Timely Access To Budget And Expenditure Reports In Amityville According to Amityville Record (New York), 'Lalota also requested, and did not receive, a detailed report of charges for the contractual/recording services line since 2010, as well as up-todate figures on expenditures prior to the board's approving the monthly budget figures.' [Amityville Record (New York), 8/16/17]
August 2017: Lalota Asserted Security Dodge's Losses Were Self-Created According to Amityville Record, "He added that any financial loss that Security Dodge is claiming as a result of the Village's decision is selfcreated. 'We have an ironclad case,' he told Siry." [Amityville Record (New York), 8/23/17]
Amityville Record Reported That Nick LaLota Stepped Down As Village Budget Officer After 2017 Elections According to Amityville Record, "When Nick (LaLota) stepped down as the Village's budget officer after the elections, it was Whalen who stepped up and worked very hard to make sure the residents had a solid budget that was under the tax cap and put taxpayers first." [Amityville Record (New York), 1/24/18]
January 2018: Trustee Nick LaLota Opposed Raises Lacking Public Input According to Newsday, "The dissenting vote came from trustee Nick LaLota, who objected to the raises not being on the meeting's agenda. [...] An effort by LaLota to pass a resolution tabling the vote until the next meeting to allow for public input failed 3-to-2." [Newsday (New York), 1/25/18]
2018: Nick LaLota Supported Merit But Advocated For Public Participation In Board Decisions According to Newsday, LaLota said he agreed that the raises are merited, 'but still I think the public ought to be a part of the process.' [Newsday (New York), 1/25/18]
January 2018: Trustee Nick LaLota Proposed Greater Public Transparency On Administrative Pay Raises According to Amityville Record, "Trustee Nick LaLota took exception to the procedure saying he wanted to table the vote until the next board meeting in two weeks so the public has a chance to review and comment on them. 'It would be wise and prudent to have the community be part of the process,' he told the board as he presented a change in Village policy that would require that the board put these types of pay raises into a resolution that would be subject to public review and input prior to a board vote." [Amityville Record (New York), 1/31/18]
August 2018: Trustee Nick LaLota Criticized Proposed Police Chief Contract In Amityville According to Newsday, "Trustee Nick LaLota, who provided Newsday with a copy of the proposed contract, criticized the agreement, which has been negotiated for more than a year. 'We gave a lot and we got nothing in return,' LaLota said. 'They gave him this $50,000 provision and got nothing in return.'" [Newsday (New York), 8/13/18]
August 2018: Nick LaLota Asserted Chief's Pay Increase Was Not Justified Nor Affordable For Village According to Newsday, "LaLota said that while village police officers 'deserve to earn a good living,' the chief's salary and payout increase is 'neither commensurate with the risk the chief takes nor representative of what the village can afford.'" [Newsday (New York), 8/13/18]
August 2018: Nick LaLota Voted Against Amityville Police Chief's 11 Percent Raise According to Amityville Record (New York), "The vote was 3-1 with Trustee Nick LaLota dissenting. Slack's contract expired in 2017 [...] LaLota did not comment on the resolution at the meeting, except to vote against it, but in an email to the Record outlining his position, LaLota said the pay raise was much more than the 2-3 percent per year raises given to DPW employees, and that while in some respects it is in line with what is being paid to chiefs in other village police departments, taxpayers' ability to pay is not equal." [Amityville Record (New York), 8/29/18]
August 2018: Nick LaLota Cited Income Disparity In Opposition To Police Chief Raise According to Amityville Record (New York), "While the median household income in Amityville is $85k, the median household income in those other Village such as Old Westbury, Malverne and Northport are much higher, at $164k, $120k, and $116k respectively, he said." [Amityville Record (New York), 8/29/18]
August 2018: Nick LaLota Recommended Prioritizing Infrastructure Over Raises According to Amityville Record (New York), "'Many of our roads still need to be repaved and our drainage system needs massive overhaul,' he said. 'Rather than increase a $255,000 employee's compensation, Village officials should prioritize these other projects and work toward lowering taxes.'" [Amityville Record (New York), 8/29/18]
Letter Writer JoAnn Saladino Credited Nick LaLota With Helping Resolve Amityville Village Deficit According to a letter to the editor published in Amityville Record, "Trustee LaLota has been instrumental in getting our Village out of its horrible deficit and bringing back our good standing name." [Letter to the Editor - Amityville Record, 1/30/19]
2014: Trustee Nick LaLota Supported Amityville Beach Revitalization Plan According to Newsday (New York), '"This beach is a gem, and we are going to make that gem shine again," said trustee Nick LaLota.' [Newsday (New York), 1/22/14]
2014: Trustee Nick LaLota Discussed Future Projects for Amityville Beach According to Newsday (New York), 'Later projects could include fixing a concession stand that was badly damaged by superstorm Sandy and staging small evening concerts, LaLota said.' [Newsday (New York), 1/22/14]
February 2014: Trustee Nick LaLota Introduced Proposal To Expedite Pothole Repairs According to Amityville Record, "Trustee Nick LaLota introduced the proposal at the morning workshop meeting and explained that the Village wanted to be prepared to move in the event the Village's Highway Department was unable to fill the approximately 200 potholes in Village roads." [Amityville Record, 3/12/14]
February 2014: LaLota Explained Concerns About Highway Crew Timeline For Repairs According to Amityville Record, '"We don't know if the weather is going to hold up to give you the time you need to get these potholes fixed," said LaLota.' [Amityville Record, 3/12/14]
September 2015: Trustee Nick LaLota Expressed Frustration With Fire Chief Over Comment Regarding Officer's Suspension According to Amityville Record, "LaLota responded to that letter saying the Chief that had 'alienated,' him, 'someone who used to have a lot of respect for the Department's leaders-someone who has fought for the volunteers time and again.' Apparently LaLota was upset over the reaction of fire department officials to the suspension of Village Police officer and firefighter Eric Onderdonk, who, according to LaLota 'is accused of stealing from taxpayers.'" [Amityville Record, 9/30/15]
September 2015: Trustee Nick LaLota Criticized Fire Department Leadership's Handling Of Officer Suspension According to Amityville Record, "'In doing so, you've set us up to be the bad guys and you've drawn the Fire Department into a political battle it shouldn't be in,' said LaLota. 'I'll get over the impact it has on me, but how many residents think much of the Department lacks honor, not just one person. The people you're charged with leading deserve better than that.'" [Amityville Record, 9/30/15]
September 2015: Fire Department Council Requested Mayor Replace LaLota As Board Liaison According to Amityville Record, "Apparently the issue has heated up with the Fire Department Council sending offa letter to the Mayor last weekend asking that he replace LaLota as the board's liaison to the department. That, apparently, led to the board's decision to meet with fire department officials to iron out their differences." [Amityville Record, 9/30/15]
September 2015: LaLota Affirmed Board Support For Fire Department Volunteers Amid Controversy According to Amityville Record, "He added that the Board is proud to support each and every one for our AFD Volunteers who leave their jobs and families to come to our fellow Villagers' aid..'We thank our volunteers for their service and there is no controversy when it comes to this Board's unconditional respect and dedication to their safety.'" [Amityville Record, 9/30/15]
September 2015: LaLota Approved Addition Of Police Commissioner Position To Amityville Village Code According to Amityville Record, "the board's majority, consisting of Wandell and Trustees Nick LaLota and Jessica Bernius, were making a 'proactive move to be ready in the event we need to move (and hire a commissioner,) to address quality-of-life issues,' should they arise." [Amityville Record (New York), 10/7/15]
September 2015: LaLota Asserted Board Would Intervene In Case Of Chief-Commissioner Disagreements According to Amityville Record, "Trustee Nick LaLota responded by pointing to the board members saying they would intervene. That, too, brought groans from many attending the meeting." [Amityville Record (New York), 10/7/15]
September 2015: LaLota Stated No Immediate Intention To Hire Police Commissioner According to Amityville Record, "We have quality of life in mind with this local law and we have no intention of filling this position now," said LaLota. [Amityville Record (New York), 10/7/15]
2016: Trustee Nick LaLota Advocated For Phased Amityville Village Road Repairs According to Newsday (New York), '"If we do this right, we'll be able to tackle four or five streets at a time and we'll save taxpayers money by enjoying economies of scale," said trustee Nick LaLota, the village's budget officer.' [Newsday (New York), 2/12/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Noted Need For Updated Road Conditions Study Post-Storms According to Newsday (New York), 'A 2010 study identified some of the main north-south roads in the village's waterfront neighborhoods as being first in line for upgrades, but conditions may have changed since then, necessitating the new study, LaLota said.' [Newsday (New York), 2/12/16]
2016: Nick LaLota Cited Damage To Roads From Major Storms Including Sandy According to Newsday (New York), '"We've had two huge storms, including Sandy, and various other degradations of the roads," he said.' [Newsday (New York), 2/12/16]
2016: Trustee Nick LaLota Recommended Grant Funds Be Used For Ambulance Refurbishment Instead Of Pickup Truck Purchase According to Amityville Record (New York), "LaLota says while that is the case, other priorities have surfaced since then and he is recommending that the money stay in the Village's general fund and eventually be used to pay for those priorities, which include a refurbishing of the department's ambulance." [Amityville Record (New York), 3/9/16]
March 2016: Nick LaLota Supported New Laws Requiring Maintenance Of Vacant Homes In Amityville According to Newsday, '"The goal is improved quality of life and improved property values for the homeowner," trustee Nick LaLota said. "If you have a vacant home on your block, this is one of the most important things the village can do for you. You don't want your kids riding around there on their bikes; you don't feel proud inviting your neighbors over for dinner."' [Newsday (New York), 3/23/16]
March 2016: Nick LaLota Indicated Amityville Would Likely Model New Law On Brookhaven’s According to Newsday, 'Amityville would likely model its legislation on Brookhaven's, LaLota said. That town's laws call for a $250 annual vacant home registration fee along with names and contact information for homeowners and their agents. Failure to register can bring a fine of up to $15,000.' [Newsday (New York), 3/23/16]
March 2016: Nick LaLota Expected Vacant Home Law To Be In Place By Summer 2016 According to Newsday, 'LaLota said he expects the laws to be in place by the summer, when unmown grass and weeds make vacant homes more readily identifiable.' [Newsday (New York), 3/23/16]
2016: Trustee Nick LaLota Opposed Establishing Separate Police Taxing District According to Amityville Record (New York), 'LaLota said such a move would take away the board's fiscal obligation to taxpayers and could increase taxes, something he is not in favor of.' [Amityville Record (New York), 10/5/16]
October 2016: Trustee Nick LaLota Motioned To Table Security Dodge License Renewals According to Amityville Record, '"We want to build a record (about their noncompliance) and be able (at a later time) to file an injunction to stop the business," said Trustee Nick LaLota who offered the vote to table the requests.' [Amityville Record (New York), 11/9/16]
October 2016: LaLota Cited Village Legislation Restricting New Auto Uses On Merrick Road According to Amityville Record, 'In speaking to that, LaLota said the Village, under the administration of former Mayor Peter T. Imbert, passed legislation against establishing any new auto uses along Merrick Road. Security Dodge's request for adding the parking lot is an extension of automotive use, said LaLota.' [Amityville Record (New York), 11/9/16]
Nick LaLota Said Village Successfully Pursued Grants, Hired Grant Writer According to Amityville Record (New York), '"We have received grants because we pursued them," said LaLota, adding that the Village hired a grant writer, an expense that has paid off. "Grant money just doesn't fall into place [...]"' [Amityville Record (New York), 3/1/17]
2017: Nick LaLota Advocated For Councilmanic Districts In Babylon Town According to Amityville Record, 'Now a political operative named Nick LaLota is planning to destroy all the progress we have made by tearing our Town apart,' Schaffer wrote. [...] 'Councilmanic Districts won't divide the people of our Town, they'll divide the power of its Supreme Leader, who serves as both a Political Party Chairman and Town Supervisor -a dual role that, in an effort to prevent conflicts of interest, is illegal in most other Long Island Towns,' said LaLota, referring to Schaffer. 'Councilmanic Districts will hold Town politicians more accountable and residents will see better results on important issues such as property taxes, public safety, zoning and flood management.' [Amityville Record (New York), 5/17/17]
2017: Nick LaLota Opposed Babylon Town Supervisor Over Councilmatic Districts According to Babylon Beacon (New York), "Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer will be holding a rally on the steps of Babylon Town Hall May 20, to gather supporters and pushback an effort by Babylon Town Republicans, including LaLota, to bring Councilmatic Districts to the Town." [Babylon Beacon (New York), 5/18/17]
2017: Nick LaLota Advocated For Councilmanic Districts In Babylon To Increase Accountability According to Babylon Beacon (New York), "'Councilmanic Districts won't divide the people of our Town, they'll divide the power of its Supreme Leader, who serves as both a Political Party Chairman and Town Supervisor -a dual role that, in an effort to prevent conflicts of interest, is illegal in most other Long Island Towns,' said LaLota, referring to Schaffer. 'Councilmanic Districts will hold Town politicians more accountable and residents will see better results on important issues such as property taxes, public safety, zoning and flood management.'" [Babylon Beacon (New York), 5/18/17]
May 2017: Nick LaLota Noted Limited Hours Worked By Quality Of Life Officers According to Newsday, "Siry said there are three officers, two full time and one part time, but LaLota said the most hours each officer works in a week is 20." [Newsday (New York), 5/31/17]
June 2017: Trustee Nick LaLota Introduced Resolution For More Village Input Into IDA Agreements According to Amityville Record, "Trustee Nick LaLota, who introduced the resolution, said that it at least gets the word out there that the Village wants more input into these decisions, and gets the process started." [Amityville Record (New York), 6/14/17]
August 2017: Lalota Supported Mia Jealous-Dank's Planning Board Qualifications According to Amityville Record, "She is the most qualified planning board member this Village has ever had," added Trustee Nick Lalota. [Amityville Record (New York), 8/23/17]
Letter Writer JoAnn Saladino Credited Nick LaLota With Improving Village Infrastructure and Property Values According to a letter to the editor published in Amityville Record, "He has also helped to bring many new benefits that have elevated our standard of living here including our newly paved roads. During his term on the Board, the value of our homes have risen, and his hard work has been a tremendous help in making this happen." [Letter to the Editor - Amityville Record, 1/30/19]