Hempstead Town Council Reappoints John Ferretti As Supervisor

Town Council (L to R) Chris Schneider, Laura Ryder, Dorothy Goosby, Dennis Dunne Sr. and Thomas Muscarella. Sept. 16, 2025

Tuesday morning, while most people were out at work or school, the Town of Hempstead Town Council convened to hold a re-vote on their appointment for Town Supervisor. 

A little over a month earlier, the council appointed legislator John Ferretti to replace the longtime Supervisor Don Clavin who announced he wouldn’t seek reelection. What he didn’t announce was an elaborate contingency plan to ensure the Nassau GOP would have an incumbent in the race. 

The meeting, which began about 15 minutes late, was set to tackle about thirty cases regarding anything from handicapped parking to business permits. However, nearly the entire first hour of the meeting was spent on the first resolution to reappoint Ferretti as Supervisor. 

The standard procedure of the pledge of allegiance was followed by a moment of silence requested by the Council for the late Charlie Kirk. Almost everyone observed, however one member of the public shouted “no”, something that would come up again later in public comments. 

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“I am outraged,” said a member of the public. “Why for Charlie Kirk? Did you do it for the people in Minnesota who were gunned down in their house?” 

But most respected the request for a moment of silence. They were there to show their support or lack thereof regarding the appointment and subsequent reappointment of Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti.

“Politics, politricks, lies and deception.” Some of the words one resident who spoke during the public comments period used to describe the Council’s actions. 

Councilwoman and Council Member Laura Ryder began the meeting saying the vote was “not necessary,” but rather because of a lawsuit filed by Ferretti’s opponent in the November election, Joe Scianablo. 

Joe Scianablo (D) Candidate for Town of Hempstead Supervisor at Hempstead Town Hall. Sept. 16, 2025  

Scianablo is suing the Town of Hempstead and its council over what he alleges was a violation of the New York State Open Meetings Law, which says “any resolutions, policies and other public documents to be discussed at an open meeting at least 24 hours prior to the meeting, “to the extent practicable.”

While the law is vague and the Town can argue that it followed the law “to the extent practicable,” Ferretti’s family was in attendance and almost all town signage was changed to reflect Ferretti’s new position immediately. Unlike the rest of the Town Council, Ferretti’s name wasn’t on most of the signs already and couldn’t have simply been moved to the Supervisor spot. 

“His name was already on the bandwagons, on August 5th as soon as we left here. National Night Out, his name was all over.” said James Hodge, a community advocate for LIPA from Long Beach. National Night Out was held across the country Tuesday August 5th, the same day Ferretti was appointed.  

One of the more impassioned speeches and definitely the most contentious involving the council was made by Frederick Brewington. A Hempstead attorney who is a “co-convener” of The Corridor Counts, a coalition of community members from various sectors who unite to make positive change in Nassau County. 

When Brewington approached the podium, he asked the council to not begin his time until he properly greeted them. Before he was even finished putting his notes down on the podium, the town’s clock began counting down.

Frederick Brewington speaking at Hempstead Town Hall. Sept. 16, 2025

Brewington represented the current Deputy Supervisor Dorothy Goosby in a lawsuit back in 1988, where they alleged the Town’s at-large election system discriminated against people of color.

“The same words came out of the mouths that [were] sitting up there. That it was a frivolous lawsuit and yes it had to be fought in order to make things right,” said Brewington. It took eleven years, but the judge ruled in favor of Goosby, who soon after won a spot on the Town Council making her the first African American woman to do so. 

“When you do the wrong thing, you have to make sure things are done right,” Brewington continued. He went on to allege that Ferretti was, “complicit in making sure that someone else got a no-show job (referring to Don Clavin’s $179K job at an abandoned office) you then became part of that conspiracy, you became part of that corruption.”

“Mr. Brewington, Mr. Brewington,” said John Maccaronne, the Town Attorney. 

“No, you will not interrupt me. I will not stand down.” Brewington continued, “your job is not to answer for them. Your job is to advise them appropriately off the record with them. Not interrupt me.” 

Frederick Brewington (right) and Town Attorney John Maccarrone (left) during Brewington’s comments. Sept. 16, 2025

Much of the audience applauded Brewington, before he implored the Deputy Supervisor to take herself out of the voting process. “My wonderful sister and friend Dorothy Goosby. I ask you to not even vote on this situation and not be complicit in any aspect of this.” 

New York State Assemblyman and Hempstead native Noah Burroughs spoke after. “We’re here because something is wrong.” If you're wondering if state officials often show up to the Town of Hempstead’s council meetings, Burroughs laid it out. “It’s not right. It is complicity to breaking the law. It is why you have state officials like myself here, I shouldn’t be here.”

NYS Assemblyman Noah Burroughs addressing the Town Council. Sept. 16, 2025

“I do think it's an unmistakable admission that they violated the law,” said Joe Scianablo, who spoke to us in the Dorothy L. Goosby Plaza outside Town Hall. “We subpoenaed the whole town council including Don Clavin who has recently resigned, and we’re going to be proceeding at the Nassau Supreme Court with testimonial evidence.” The hearing is set for later this week.

ToH Sup. Candidate Joe Scianablo during the public comment period.  Sept. 16, 2025

The council voted unanimously to reappoint Ferretti. Laura Ryder, Dennis Dunne Sr., Thomas Muscarella and Chris Schneider all voted yes. Melissa Miller was absent and yes, Dorothy Goosby declined to vote. 

Boos followed the results. Some held up signs that read “FERRETTI MUST RESIGN” and Fred Brewington stood up to announce he was leaving. A large crowd followed him. 

(Left) Frederick Brewington announcing his departure with audience members holding signs. (Right) A segment of the crowd following Brewington. Sept. 16, 2025

“No one wants to see a person appointed who did not earn that position. I wouldn’t feel comfortable having a position where I was given the position,” said Assemblyman Burroughs during the meeting. Over a dozen Nassau residents shared that view, using almost all of their three minutes and in some cases more to express their displeasure. 

Town Council, (L to R) Laura Ryder, Dorothy Goosby, John Ferretti, Dennis Dunne Sr., Thomas Muscarella. (Chris Schneider to the left of frame) Sept. 16, 2025

The meeting continued on, amending local laws on parking or standing violations and going through the approval process for a new oil change business. However, the mood inside the Nathan H.L. Bennett Pavilion was altered for the day. The once packed hall was now mostly empty, but it was clear a storm had just blown through. 

“We’re sick and tired of being sick and tired,” said Scianablo. “How can Ferretti and the town be trusted to run an entire town when they can’t even run a meeting legally?”