Some Suffolk lawmakers are demanding to know why county Comptroller John Kennedy sent a tax form to some residents who replaced their aging septic systems.

Suffolk Legislator Bridget Fleming on Thursday blasted Kennedy at a Ways and Means Committee meeting. She's defending homeowners who took part in a grant program to replace old cesspools and now say they're being punished because of it.

Dorothy Minnick, of Flanders, is among those who received a 1099 tax form from Kennedy's office, tied to the grant money.

As News 12 has reported, Kennedy's office sent 1099 tax forms to the dozens of residents who took part in the program. Fleming, along with the county executive's office, argues that the tax forms should have went to the contractors who installed the systems and not to the homeowners.

MORE: Some homeowners with eco-friendly septic systems slapped with higher taxes

Fleming says Kennedy should rescind the 60 1099 forms that went out.

Kennedy didn't attend Thursday's meeting, but News 12 spoke with him just outside the building. He says he can't rescind the forms and that he was required to issue them. In some cases, Kennedy says the grant money went to both to the installer and the homeowner.

Kennedy, who is running for Suffolk County executive against Democratic incumbent Steve Bellone, says he tried and failed to get Bellone to seek an exemption from the IRS in this case. Kennedy says he's now making that request himself.