....January 14, 12:50 PM
	Plum Lulus At Stake As Council Sets Up By Brian M. Rafferty Though the ink may have dried on the signed oaths of office that the new Council members from Queens took on Jan. 1, the pen is still in the inkwell with no official list yet made to name the chairmen and members of the various Council committees. The chairmen of the committees, which cover a range of aspects of City life from public safety to education and land use, receive a stipend for their work – often considered political payout for loyalty to the Speaker. With Speaker Christine Quinn swept back into her seat by a 48-1 vote last week, it is up to her to name the committee chairmanships. A spokesman said Wednesday that the names should be released in the next few days, but could not be more specific. Some Council members have already spilled the beans, leaking to various sources their own committees and others that they have heard. So far, it seems Queens has continued to keep a hold on some key slots, though one of the biggest plums – former Councilwoman David Weprin’s Finance Committee – seems to have gone to Brooklyn’s Domenic Recchia. If the buzz is correct, it appears Queens has held on to the Land Use Committee. Previously chaired by Melinda Katz (D-Forest Hills), the committee will now sit with Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans). Other expected Queens leadership roles are as follows: newcomer Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) gets the Zoning and Franchise subcommittee previously held by Tony Avella (D-Bayside); fellow newbie Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) gets the Immigration committee; Liz Crowley (D-Glendale) lands the Fire and Criminal Justice Services committee; Jim Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) keeps control of the Environment committee, Julissa Ferreras (D-Corona) will head up the Women’s Issues committee; and Peter Vallone Jr. retains his Public Safety committee chairmanship. Reach Editor Brian M. Rafferty at brafferty@queenstribune.com or (718) 357-740, Ext. 122.