RSS 2.0 FeedOctober 21, 2010, Freeport-Baldwin Leader
Freeport village board fields many questions
Speakers raise issues of debt, hiring practices and other complaints.
Several speakers at Monday’s village board meeting during public comment raised many of the same ongoing issues discussed every month – the amount of village debt, hiring practices, reimbursement of expenses stemming from trips to China and Germany by the mayor as part of a state trade mission, and other complaints.
Other speakers praised the work of the oftentimes beleagured mayor and board.
Sue Lyons complained about the apparent “lack of enforcement of residency requirements” by the village in filling various positions, such as the recent appointment of Rabbi Lawrence Colton as a community liaison (he is a contract worker, not a full-time employee), special prosecutors and other jobs where nonresidents were hired.
Peter Rennke, representing the Civil Service Employees Association, raised complaints stemming from last year’s negotiations and the near-layoffs of several employees that were averted before Christmas and the denial of a six-year contract to the CSEA, while negotiating for one with another bargaining group.
“The union asked for a six-year contract and was told it was impossible,” he said.
“We settled for zero (pay increase) the first year and we believed we were bargaining in good faith. That was a mistake.”
Mr. Rennke also charged that the village hired 120 new employees despite a hiring freeze. “We’re told repeatedly the village is in debt, but the hiring spree continues,” Mr. Rennke declared.
Resident Ellen Frey also complained about hiring practices, especially at the Recreation Center.
Near the end of the meeting, Mayor Andrew Hardwick countered by asking several department heads to enumerate the number of employees they hired this year.
The Recreation and Public Works departments hired seasonal workers during the summer and the Human Resources Department executive director said about 15-20 full-time employees were hired.
The mayor said there will be a “full accounting” from all departments on the number of personnel hired by the village for presentation at the board’s next meeting.
The mayor announced a unique approach to making street repairs. “Because of money being limited; we will have drawing for roads that will be redone,” he said. “There isn’t not enough money for all the roads.”
He said a board will be posted in the meeting room with streets qualifying for repairs being listed according to amount of damage. Anyone who attends the next meeting will be able to pick out the particular street they want repaired.
The street names will be placed in a bin and members of the public will draw the names of those streets which will qualify for the amount of money available.
Resident Kelly Martinez asked for a clarification of the amount of village debt, stating that the mayor announced a figure of $199 million at a Chamber of Commerce meeting.
Mayor Hardwick replied that the total is about $142 million, and that the $199 million figure represents how much it would cost to pay off the debt immediately with daily interest.
Replying to a follow-up question on the village’s budget situation, the mayor replied that “right now, we are on budget.”
Pat Rowan complained that she has not received responses to numerous Freedom of Information Act requests she has filed over a period of many months, and asked whether the mayor would repay the funds used for the trade mission trips to China and Germany.
The mayor said the cost was paid through a discretionary fund and served to promote Freeport investment opportunities to those countries as part of the New York trade mission.
Annette Dennis expressed dismay at complaints by speakers at the board’s September 27 meeting criticizing a noise generated by a 9-11 memorial prayer service held by the Freeport Bible Center, declaring that they “besmirched the church.”
The services, which drew several thousand participants, ended at 7 p.m.
She noted there have been incidents of drunkenness and stabbings at past Nautical Mile festivals. “We deal with the Nautical Mile Festival,” she continued. “It’s a fun event and part of Freeport’s culture, and the Freeport Bible Center is part of our culture too with its ethnic, cultural and religious diversity.”
Ms. Dennis praised Pastor Evelyn Vargas of the Bible center “for introducing thousands to Freeport.”
Resident Alan Jay asked the trustees to reconsider the three-minute public comment rule to allow him, as one of the oldest “gadflies” in the village, five minutes to speak.
Coming events
Marnie Katzman, executive director of the Long Island Arts Council at Freeport, announced the council’s “Arty Party” set for Monday, November 1, at Westbury Manor.
The Freeport Fire Department will hold a Fire Prevention Expo on the Nautical Mile on Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Jane Dugan noted that the event will include a car exhibit and many activities for children.
Trustee Carmen Pinyero announced that the annual Hispanic Heritage celebration will take place Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at the Recreation Center.
Michael Aviles thanked the board for its support of the Freeport Little League program and its work to maintain the parks.
James Caracciolo thanked the mayor “for the great job you were elected to do” and praised his “integrity and professionalism, holding the line on taxes and improving the quality of life” in Freeport.
Under the regular agenda, trustees voted to advertise for bids for several equipment items for the Electric Utility, including a solar photovoltaic system for the installation of a solar panel roof at Freeport Fire Department headquarters. The new roof will save taxpayers about 20 percent on the department’s electric bill.
The board also approved payments for sidewalk repairs totaling $3,933, renamed Forest Avenue between Main Street and Charlick Place as Rev. Dr. Harry J. White II Way, and approved a grant application under the Justice Assistance Program for Village Court Judge Stephen Drummond.
