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Merrick Life • Bellmore Life • Freeport-Baldwin Leader • Wantagh-Seaford Citizen

Monday’s Newsday story about the state comptroller’s audit report on the village’s general fund budgets under the Glacken administration brought comments from several residents attending that night’s Board of Trustees meeting.
   
The report charged that the “previous administration provided inadequate financial oversight and failed to properly safeguard village assets.”
   
Stephen Malone, former deputy village attorney under the Glacken administration, asked why Mayor Andrew Hardwick “didn’t point out 12 independent audits” that had been done under the previous mayor.
   
Bill Nolan suggested appointing an oversight board for village finances in the future. He called the comptroller’s audit, as reported in Newsday, “vague.”
   
Sharon Payne said that, while she didn’t know if the deficit amount of $10.8 million reported in the newspaper was accurate, she commented that “It doesn’t look good…We need to investigate this. I feel personally offended.” She also appealed for the entire community “to work together on the issues.”
   
Several residents, including Eileen Weaver, Stephen Malone and Dewey Smalls, had high praise for Department of Public Works and Electric Utility employees for their quick response to correcting problems caused by Tropical Storm Irene.
   
Ms. Weaver said the crews were “extremely efficient and active” and responded quickly to remove a downed tree in her neighborhood on Lena Avenue.
   
Mr. Malone also praised DPW employees for restoring power quickly, but complained about the large number of reverse 911 calls and public service announcements he received from the village.
   
Mr. Smalls expressed concern that he had not noticed representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Freeport to deal with storm-related issues, but Mayor Hardwick confirmed that FEMA officials did come and that they would be present in the village for “six months to a year.”
   
Mark Rouvella asked that village officials help expedite flood damage insurance claims. Village Attorney Howard Colton explained that Nassau County has set up a claims center to expedite the process.
   
James Caracciolo expressed appreciation to the mayor “for the great job your team is doing.” He cited another article from Monday’s Newsday about a new museum and new retail shops planned for Freeport and the board’s recent actions on approving bonding for capital projects that would be eligible for partial or total reimbursement from grants. “This is why you’re here,” he said. “Our quality of life is improving.”
   
Anthony Miller raised the issue of bullying of young people and asked that the village promote an anti-bullying campaign “so we can teach young people greater tolerance and to encourage our youth to celebrate each other no matter what their differences are.” He urged that it not be done for political reasons or self- promotion, but “do it for the kids.”

Mayor Hardwick then announced that he had already been approached by an organization regarding the issue and that the village would begin an anti-bullying campaign on October 1 with a program at Zion Cathedral beginning at 10 a.m., to be followed at noon by an anti-bullying rally at Northeast Park. The events will feature speakers, including Freeport schools Superintendent Kishore Kuncham, and entertainment.
   
Jeremy Impellizeri thanked the mayor and Trustees William White Jr. and Carmen Pineyro for their efforts in addressing parking problems and other issues in Northeast Freeport. “People should know that Freeport is the best place to be,” he said.

Sharon Payne also commented on the improved police presence on the north side of the village.

A Merrick Road resident, Dana Camli, asked that the village take action to help control the stray cat population by setting up a committee. She told of her efforts to feed many of the strays in her neighborhood, some of which have been struck by motor vehicles. “The public should care about these cats,” she said. “They’re living beings, just like us.”

Mayor Hardwick said he liked the idea of creating a committee. He added that the village “has no control over animal control,” for which the Town of Hempstead has jurisdiction.

Under the regular agenda, trustees:

• Awarded a three-year towing contract for impounded vehicles to Broadway Auto and Towing Inc., of Freeport. The village would receive $160 per vehicle towed.
• Awarded a request for engineering services proposals to High Point Engineering of Jericho for $7,900 and a $155 hourly rate.
• Awarded a contract to rehabilitate water well no. 7 to Layne Christensen Co. of Holbrook for $314,400.
• Authorized the transfer of $10,000 in the Building Department salaries account to the non-employee salaries account.

By Jim Golding