Mineola, NY - Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) and fellow Democrats of the Government Services Committee, this week told County Clerk Karen Murphy to stop withholding access to vital public records from several County Departments that utilize the information to efficiently conduct business. In August the County Clerk made a decision to limit access to her computer records, such as court and land records, because she claimed she had security concerns.

Legislator Jeffrey Toback (D-Oceanside), chairman of the Government Services Committee, had called a special meeting of the committee this week to hear Murphy explain her reasoning in limiting access to the important County records. Chairman Toback, Presiding Officer Jacobs, along with Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick), and Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead), questioned Murphy and several other department heads about the information black-out.

In a letter sent to Murphy this week, Legislator Toback stated that the Department of Assessment has "been brought to its knees" by her refusal to provide it with the transfer of sales data since August 16.

"The backlog created by your decision to stop providing the Department of Assessment with this information has the potential to negatively effect taxpayers throughout the county in any number of ways. I implore you to provide this information immediately," the letter stated.

Other department heads testified before the committee stating that the block had immobilized the staff and was costing money.

"The hearing clearly established that the County Clerk has at her disposable a safe, secure, no-cost solution that will, at the very least, end the hindering of operations for various county departments," Jacobs said. "I see no logical reason that she would not work with the Information Technology people in this county to get these departments back on line."