There was swift reaction this week to allegations leveled at two councilmen during the Ed Mangano-John Venditto corruption trial, as a call is made for them to step down.

Councilmen Joseph Muscarella and Anthony Macagnone are the two longest tenured members of the Oyster Bay Town Board. Harendra Singh says he significantly discounted the costs of wedding celebrations for Muscarella and Macagnone at the Woodlands facility at the Oyster Bay Town Golf Course.

Singh says the discounts were as much as 35-40 percent, and he testified that Muscarella still shorted him by about $10,000. Former Deputy Town Supervisor Len Genova testified that he even approached Muscarella about paying Singh the remaining balance. 

Many of the officials mentioned in the trial are no longer with the town, but Muscarella and Macagnone are still prominent members of the town board.  Frequent town critic Robert Ripp says that should change.

“I believe there should be an ongoing investigation,” says Ripp.

After hearing Singh’s testimony last month, Ripp filed an ethics complaint against Councilmen Muscarella and Macagnone.  He says they should explain themselves or step down.

“I understand that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but in this case, I believe these people either need to explain themselves to the public, or resign immediately,” says Ripp.

Councilman Muscarella calls the allegations "completely false and without merit." Councilman Macagnone says Singh and Genova's testimony represent "a false allegation made by criminals who will say and do anything to lessen their jail time."