Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto (back row, second from right) along with, from left: Town Clerk James Altadonna Jr., Councilman Chris J. Coschignano, Councilwoman Rebecca M. Alesia, Councilman Joseph D. Muscarella, Venditto, Receiver of Taxes James J. Stefanich and Councilman Joseph G. Pinto, recently joined in honoring two Town of Oyster Bay Highway employees, Rubin Fournier (front row center) and Joseph Kozikowski (second from right) for excellence in public service. In the aftermath of a devastating fire in Hicksville, which involved two homes, Town of Oyster Bay Highway crews were dispatched to the location to secure the scene for safety reasons. They demolished the remnants of one of the homes and fenced off the debris. In the process of operating heavy equipment at the scene and loading debris, the two highway employees discovered a substantial amount of cash in the rubble.
Without hesitation they immediately retrieved the money and turned it over to Kevin Hanifan, commissioner of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Highway Department. Due to the alert and selfless actions of Rubin and Joseph, Commissioner Hanifan was able to contact the homeowner’s insurance company to arrange a meeting with the grateful homeowner and the cash was returned to him. The town board presented citations and commended the highway employees for acting selflessly and with the highest integrity in the service of the public.
(Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay)
