Hempstead Town officials broke state transparency laws when John Ferretti was appointed town supervisor on Aug. 5, a state Supreme Court judge ruled Wednesday.

Democratic town supervisor candidate Joseph Scianablo had sued the town and several town officials alleging they knew in advance — but did not notify the public as required — that Supervisor Donald X. Clavin Jr. would resign at the Aug. 5 town board meeting and Ferretti, a Republican, would be appointed to that position.

Judge Gary Carlton ruled in Scianablo's favor following an unusual hearing in Mineola Wednesday at which the defendants were no-shows despite being subpoenaed to testify.

"Defendants violated Public Officers Law ... by failing to provide at least 24-hours notice of their intention that a resolution would be p

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