James Olivo to retire after
38-year career with Garden City
James E. Olivo’s commitment to financial excellence has served the Village of Garden City well for nearly four decades.
Hired as an accountant in 1977, Olivo began serving as auditor in 1982. During his 38-year career, his accomplishments helped streamline day-to-day financial operations. The conversion of the village’s manual accounting systems to integrated systems information processing was just one of his many undertakings.
Under his leadership, the village’s annual financial reports have earned Certificates of Excellence in Financial Reporting for 19 consecutive years. Further, the village’s bond rating improved from Aa1 to Aaa, the highest credit rating any municipality can receive from Moody’s.
Olivo has served as president of The New York State Government Finance Officers’ Association, the New York State Society of Municipal Finance Officers and the Long Island Village Clerks and Treasurers Association. In addition, he has served on numerous advisory committees for the State Comptroller’s office and New York Conference of Mayors, as well as the Nassau Citizens Budget Committee.
He will continue to remain an active member of the New York State Government Finance Officers’ Association, serving on its education staff.
In 1988, the New York State Society of Municipal Finance Officers named Olivo “Distinguished Finance Officer.”
While retiring from the village, the longtime North Merrick resident is embarking on a new endeavor, continuing his lifelong career ambition of teaching. He will remain an adjunct faculty member at Molloy College, teaching accounting. He also intends on staying active pursuing his twin hobbies, bowling and golf.
“I’ve always been about education, whether it was coaching kids at bowling or hockey, or lecturing at conferences,” Olivo said. “I’ve done a lot of corporate training for other communities and public speaking became something I got very comfortable with. It translates real well to the classroom.”
Olivo said the camaraderie amongst Garden City’s executive staff is second to none, especially during times of crisis.
“This place had the absolute best cohesive management team of anything I ever saw,” he said, reflecting on Superstorm Sandy and the millennium New Year. “The fact we could spend the millennium together when everybody thought the world was going to stop because computers weren’t going to run says it all.”
Also retiring will be Frank Kelly, deputy village treasurer and village assessor, as well as Virginia DeFabbia, the village’s purchasing agent.
Kelly worked in the finance department since joining the village in 1993, becoming deputy village treasurer in 1995 and in 2003 assuming the duties of assessor. He is a past president of the New York State Society of Municipal Finance Officers and the recipient of its 2014 “Distinguished Finance Officer of the State” award. Kelly also maintained professional memberships in the New York State Government Finance Officers’ Association, the Long Island Village Clerks and Treasurers Association and the New York State Assessors’ Association.
DeFabbia began her career with the village in 1985 as a typist clerk. She later served as an account clerk, senior account clerk and assistant purchasing agent until she assumed the head position in 1999.
With the retirement of Olivo, Kelly and DeFabbia, the finance department is being restructured to better redistribute duties.
The board appointed Garden City resident Irene Woo to treasurer, effective July 6, for the balance of the official year, ending April 4, 2016. Woo, who was instrumental during the most recent village budget process, brings extensive experience in financial analysis, planning and reporting to the position.
Woo, a New York State–certified public accountant, most recently served five years as vice president of financial planning and analysis at AXA Equitable in New York where she managed and directed the company’s expense management initiatives and processes, including budgeting, forecasting and expense analysis for gross expenditures in excess of $1.2 billion.
The board of trustees also appointed Sandra Yu-Clarson to village auditor, effective July 22, for the balance of the official year, ending April 4, 2016.
Yu-Clarson served as comptroller, payroll director, human resources director and budgets director for the City of Long Beach between 2003-2012, where she was responsible for accounting, internal audit, financial reporting and computer systems management. Prior to that, Yu-Clarson served as audit supervisor and auditor in charge for the New York City comptroller’s office between 1988 and 2001. She is well versed in accounting, medical and payroll systems software.
Olivo, who retires, effective July 31, is serving as temporary village auditor to aid his successor, Yu-Clarson, during the transition.
The board of trustees wishes Olivo well in his retirement.
“On behalf of the board of trustees, good health to you and your family and best wishes in your new association,” Mayor Nicholas P. Episcopia said.
Trustee Robert A. Bolebruch added, “Mr. Olivo has given the village his heart and soul for the last 38 years. He has always been there to answer any question and has always looked to do whatever was needed to help our village grow. His passion for his job and his love for Garden City will be missed. I wish him and his family all the best.”
