Kaiman Mum on LIPA Chief Resignation

Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, reportedly on a short list of candidates for the chief executive position at the Long Island Power Authority, had little to say Wednesday regarding the recent resignation announcement of LIPA Chief Operating Officer Michael Hervey.

The "supervisor is not going to comment on the resignation at this point," said North Hempstead spokesman Sidhartha Nathan to Patch Wednesday. "The Town will also not be commenting on the possibility of Mr. Kaiman replacing Hervey at this point either."

Hervey's resignation is effective at the end of December, according to a statement issued by Long Island Power Authority Chairman Howard E. Steinberg on Tuesday.

The appointment of a new LIPA chief is expected to come from Albany in the coming weeks. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, like Kaiman and other elected officials, has criticized LIPA's supertsorm Sandy response.

LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric utility, provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Suffolk and Nassau counties, and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. 

LIPA officials did not return a request for comment Wednesday.

The company has come under heavy criticism for its response to Sandy which knocked power out to more than 900,000 Long Island customers. Thousands of residents were without power for nearly two weeks following the storm.

Hervey's responsibilities include oversight of LIPA’s Transmission and Distribution business. In addition, he oversees the organization of the corporate office and contractual outsource agreements.

Hervey stepped in as acting CEO in 2010 after former chief Kevin Law resigned the job to take over as chief executive of the Long Island Association.

Kaiman, a longtime resident of Great Neck, has served as supervisor in North Hempstead since 2004.