Raymond J. Averna has been a Commissioner of the Massapequa Water District since 2013 and is Chairman of the Board of Commissioners. He is Past President of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association, an organization composed of locally elected water commissioners from 21 Nassau and Suffolk County Water Districts.
Mr. Averna has a record of commitment to promoting environmental excellence and maintaining the highest standards of water quality, supply and distribution on behalf of the residents of the Massapequa Water District. As Commissioner, Mr. Averna directed the implementation of several capital projects toward maintaining and improving the District’s infrastructure, including the design and construction of a state-of-the-art iron filtration system to provide the safest water possible, a fire hydrant replacement program in conjunction with the Massapequa Fire District, water main replacement projects working with the Town of Oyster Bay and the Inc. Village of Massapequa Park, and a water meter replacement program, using new radio meter technology to eliminate customer inconvenience and identify undetected leaks. Mr. Averna also implemented several cost-saving measures, including membership in a joint purchasing cooperative, the procurement of lower cost insurance policies, and obtaining government grants for infrastructure improvements. He has worked closely with elected officials and the New York DEC toward advocating for the proper cleanup and remediation of the Grumman/Navy groundwater plume.
As a corporate attorney, Mr. Averna has counseled senior corporate managers in multi-national, national and regional companies across diverse industries on supply and distribution relationships, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, licensing, federal and foreign regulatory compliance, government contracts, and general corporate and business matters. He is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New York and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mr. Averna is currently Oyster Bay Deputy Town Clerk, and was formerly Nassau County Deputy Comptroller and Oyster Bay Deputy Town Attorney.
Mr. Averna serves his community as an active member of various professional and civic organizations. He is Past President of the Kiwanis Club of Massapequa, the Historical Society of the Massapequas, and the Columbian Lawyers Association of Nassau County. He is a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 1066 Massapequa, Order Sons of Italy in America – Columbus Lodge 2143 Massapequa, Catholic Lawyers Guild of Nassau County, and the St. John’s University School of Law Alumni Association. Mr. Averna serves as General Counsel to the New York State Grand Lodge Foundation, Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America. He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Nassau County Bar Association.
Mr. Averna received a B.S. in Finance from St. John’s University and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. He also received his M.B.A. in Finance from New York University.
Mr. Averna and his wife, Maria, have one daughter and are 30 year residents of Massapequa.
