Duty, Honor, Country might describe the theme of the first few minutes of Monday’s village board meeting, as Mayor Andrew Hardwick led the trustees and audience in remembering December 7, Pearl Harbor Day, followed by a swearing-in ceremony for a new police chief and Water Department superintendent. 

Mayor Hardwick entered the meeting room sporting his American Legion cap. Several other members of the Freeport American Legion Post also were in attendance of the commemoration for the December 7, 1941 attack by imperial Japan on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 

He described the ceremony as “a special tribute to our America in that day,” adding, “We have so much to be thankful for.” 

Following a moment of silence, the mayor swore in Assistant Chief Miguel Bermudez as the new chief. 

At least a dozen police officers and another dozen or so members of the Freeport Fire Department’s Hose Company No. 1, of which Chief Bermudez has also been a member for 25 years, turned out to show their support. 

The mayor noted that Mr. Bermudez is “the first Freeport resident to be sworn as police chief in over 25 years. He also praised the Police Department for the recent arrests of three major graffiti artists and a murder suspect, and other major cases they have solved. 

In completing the ceremony, Mayor Hardwick made a plea for unity among Freeporters. “Let’s work together to keep the village safe and honorable in every way we can,” he said. 

The mayor also gave the oath of office to Jerry Cardoso, a 25-year veteran of the Water Department, as its new superintendent. Mr. Cardoso also is a member of Hose Co. No. 1. 

In other business, trustees voted on several regular agenda items. There was no public comment session at the meeting. 

Trustees: 

• Amended a previously approved sidewalk repair resolution, dropping the amount form $10,483 to $9,885 because of measurement errors and an appeal sent by the Hudson Street property owner. The action received praise from resident Alan Jay. 

• Approved advertising in The Freeport-Baldwin Leader for video services for trustees meetings and other events for 2011. Mr. Jay also expressed his approval of this action. 

• Approved emergency servicing on a gas turbine by GE Aero Energy of Houston, for $9,677. 

• Approved a request by Village Attorney Howard Colton for the Nassau County Board of Elections to conduct the March 15 village election because of a problem with the voting machines. 

• Amended several amendments to the Vehicle and Traffic Regulations changing some legal wording, revised penalties for parking violations and penalties for failing to answer them.

There was no public comment, but trustees adjourned to executive session to address five personnel issues. 

The next regular meeting, with public comment, will be December 20.