Navy duty calls Lindenhurst trustee

• Reprints

Patrick Dunham

Updated: April 15, 2012 1:45AM

A new policy allowing for remote attendance at Village Board meetings will allow Lindenhurst Trustee Patrick Dunham to retain his seat while on active duty with the Navy in Norfolk, Va.

Dunham leaves next week to start a year with Fleet Forces Command. His job for the next 12 months will be to mobilize active and reserve Navy personnel and match them to specific duties, both overseas and in the U.S.

“It’s a bit of a surprise since I haven’t been mobilized for active duty in six years,” said Dunham, 45, a master chief petty officer, the highest enlisted rank in the Navy Reserves. He’s served for 24 years, eight in active duty and 16 in the reserves. He is a veteran of Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He was last overseas in Kuwait and Iraq in 2004 and 2005.

“I do not want to resign from my position on the Village Board because this is a temporary job. My family will stay here and I will keep my home here,” he said. Dunham has lived in Lindenhurst since 1994. He is married to Fran and they have two children.

He has been a village trustee for almost nine years, from 1997 to 2001, and was re-elected in 2007. He is a computer consultant with his own business, a job he will put on hold while on active duty.

“I want to stay on the Village Board because we have accomplished a lot over the past five years, and I want to continue to be part of that,” said Dunham, who will attend future Village Board and committee meetings by phone.

Village Administrator Matt Formica said although village officials have previously considered — but rejected — the policy it was primarily due to inadequate technology. A new phone system will accommodate a wireless conference phone in the board room and the policy to allow remote meeting attendance will be available to members of all village committees and commissions.

Because of Dunham’s unique circumstances, he will be allowed to retain his seat and attend meetings remotely for a year, otherwise the policy allows for up to two remotely attended meetings annually per board, commission or committee member. Extending attendance beyond two meetings is subject to Village Board approval.

“There is no more noble reason to approve this policy than for what Trustee Dunham is going to be doing,” said Trustee Timothy Wayne. “As long as we have mechanisms in place in the policy to avoid abuse, I think it’s an acceptable solution to this situation.”