RSS 2.0 FeedThursday, December 28, 2011, Freeport-Baldwin Leader
2011 - Storms surround Freeport and Baldwin
A look back at The Leader's 2011.
2011 was a stormy year, marked by extreme weather conditions and a turbulent economy.
The year began with two snowstorms – one at New Year’s and then again on January 11 and 12 that dumped more than a foot of snow in Freeport and Baldwin.
The cold weather also brought us record cold temperatures and record prices for heating oil.
The summer weather was no better. In August, a summer storm dumped 11 inches of rain in a few short hours, leaving homes and businesses flooded. And just when people were finally able to clean up from this nor’easter, Tropical Storm Irene hit Long Island, downing trees and leaving thousands of residents without power for almost a week. Water was everywhere, turning Randall Park into a watery wonderland. Luckily FEMA assisted residents, like Dianne Christianson and her family who lives in South Freeport and suffered losses from the storm.
Speaking of water, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer called upon the federal government to redraw flood maps in Nassau County because some 25,00 new structures were placed into high-cost flood insurance areas. That determination is still pending.
The economy was a big topic of concern for everyone this year and all levels of government looked for ways to cut spending.
In Albany, school aid was cut. That move coupled with the passage of legislation that caps property taxes at 2% unless 60% of the voters agree to a higher tax levy, worried local school districts, including the Freeport School District, who wrote to The Leader in protest of the tax cap.
Although the property tax cap doesn’t take effect until 2012, Freeport still had to look at ways to cut its budget to keep the tax levy down this year. After learning of cuts in state aid, the district reduced its budget by $310,000 and cut 26 positions. The tax hike was 3.88%. The budget passed. Ron Ellerbe was re-elected to the school board; Vilma Lancaster was elected to the board position formerly held by Carmen Pineyro.
A similar tax levy hike was floated and passed in Baldwin.
In another smart move to maximize savings for the schools, the Freeport School District obtained an interest free loan of $5 million from New York State. In September the Freeport district proposed a capital improvement project costing $6.9 million to take care of infrastructure improvements and a synthetic turf field at Freeport High School. The public passed the referendum.
Sad news was the closing of the Baldwin Council Against Drug Abuse (BCADA) that lost its funding from the state and had to close its doors.
Nassau County had a host of money woes this year. In February, the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA) took over county finances, pointing to deficits. Although the county tried to sue NIFA, in the end it withdrew its lawsuit.
Troubles continued for the county when the MTA announced in March that it would cut 25% of its Long Island Bus routes, including several routes in Freeport and Baldwin. The MTA also wanted more money from the county. The county, in turn, quietly began to negotiate with Veolia, a private transportation provider, to take over the bus system. This month the county finally came to an agreement with Veolia, which will take over bus operations beginning January 1.
The county floated several proposals to help curb costs, including asking taxpayers to pay $400 million for a new Nassau Coliseum. But the public voted down the idea on August 1.
Despite the recent improvements to the sewage treatment facility at Cedar Creek the county is discussing the possibility of privatizing its sewage treatment plants in order to bring in about $900 million.
Another hot topic before the county Legislature this year was the redistricting debacle, which resulted after the 2010 United States Census showed changes in demographics. Locally, the Republican majority wanted to immediately move parts of Freeport out of Legislator David Denenberg’s district and have Mr. Denenberg face off against fellow Democrat Joseph Scanell of Baldwin, but the Democrats fought the plan. The courts finally ruled that the redistricting would not take place until 2013, to allow time to study the issue.
The Village of Freeport began the year with a lively debate at Village Hall over the 2011 village budget that finally resulted in a tax rate increase of 4.7%.
In February, a resolution for a $2.82 bond anticipation note was floated for the settlement of the Water Works Realty lawsuit, which drew much ire from residents.
On Tuesday, March 15, Freeporters went to the polls to elect two village trustees, and Bill White and Jorge Martinez were re-elected for four-year terms.
Mayor Hardwick repeatedly told residents that many of the village’s financial troubles were inherited. He pointed to a report issued by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli that said the “previous administration [of Mayor William Glacken] provided inadequate financial oversight and failed to properly safeguard village assets.” Some residents, including former Deputy Village Attorney Stephen Malone, disagreed and pointed to the “12 independent audits done under the Glacken administration,” he said.
In an effort to curtail expenses, the village board voted to refinance village debt that ended up saving $747,0000 for the village.
The village also cut the length of Freeport Nautical Festival held on the Nautical Mile in June. The two-day festival is now one day in order to save police and public works costs to the village.
The village has also gone green and installed solar panels on Freeport Fire Headquarters in an effort to save money and the planet at the same time.
Finally, the Village of Freeport will see as much as an additional $1 million in revenue, thanks to state Assemblywoman Earlene Hooper and her fight to get a more equal distribution of sales tax revenue to places like Freeport.
Assemblywoman Hooper also sponsored legislation to transfer the New York Armory on Babylon Turnpike to Freeport to be used for youth services by groups in Freeport and Roosevelt. But this plan was nixed by residents.
The village, in solidarity with its struggling residents, withdrew its municipal funds from J.P. Morgan Chase when it learned about the bank’s record of foreclosing on the homes of working-class and poor families.
In an effort to help those families, the village, along with the Long Island Community Development Corporation, bought five foreclosed homes in Freeport as part of the Reclaim Long Island Homes project which helped to renovate these homes and make them available to deserving families.
The mayor also sponsored a forum in September to talk about economic development projects in Freeport, including the opening of the Long Island Museum of Science and Natural History on the Woodcleft Canal in the spring of 2012 as well as the development of several pieces of commercial real estate in the village.
One piece of real estate that was in the news this year was the development of the Water Works property on North Brookside Avenue. When the project was first proposed early this year, residents were vexed by its size and design. It was later withdrawn and then resubmitted with minor alterations to its size.
Despite public outcry, the Landmarks Commission, the first agency to review the project, voted 4-3 in favor of the project, which is now before the planning commission.
Some residents were upset to learn that Mayor Hardwick was carrying a gun for protection because of alleged death threats. Meanwhile the mayor denied there was an increase in crime in Freeport after two homicides and a car accident occurred in June.
Additionally, residents have been attending Village Hall meetings to urge the mayor to address traffic issue on North Main Street. That matter is still pending.
Births, deaths and seasonal events marked the passing of the year in Freeport and Baldwin. Our First Baby of the Year was Nicholas Bracco, born on January 2. Kathleen Randall of Freeport was the Mother of the Year and Bill Sheehan of Freeport was the Father of the Year.
Other individuals of distinction this year included Freeporter Kathy Keating who was Miss New York Senior America. Elinor Smith, the Flying Flapper, was honored by the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Lieutenant General John W. Morgan of Freeport was honored by the University of Delaware’s Alumni Hall of Fame for his contributions. Former Baldwinite Fred Carpenter won best audience award for his film “Jessie” at the Long Island International Film Expo.
Kayla Cruz and Rachel Lalmansingh were Valedictorian and Salutatorian, Class of 2011 of Freeport High School; Michael Schroeder and Eric Zuckerman were Valedictorian and Salutatorian, Class of 2011 of Baldwin High School.
Bayman Cory Weyant died as did former Freeport school board member James Parola. Dolores Siegel and Emory Warren Wright, both longtime Freeporters, died. Baldwin firefighter Michael Esposito died as well.
New and old traditions flourished in Freeport and Baldwin.
For some newer traditions there was the Freeport Cares peace march, a collaboration between the Village of Freeport and the school district that promotes community unity took place on April 30. There was also the second annual Wounded Warrior Benefit on Buffalo Avenue.
There was the Winter Tain Show at the Recreation Center. “A Taste of Freeport” benefitted Freeport Pride in April.
There was the Memorial Day Parade and the Great Canoe Race. There were fishing tournaments and a long hot summer down at the Nautical Mile. In August there was National Night Out to help fight gang violence and the U.S. Naval Academy’s sailing squad made its visit to our harbor.
This fall saw the 10th anniversary of 9/11, with memorials all over town commemorating that day. There was the annual Halloween parade sponsored by the Freeport Chamber of Commerce and the Fire Expo. There was a tree-lighting ceremony and the holiday boat parade to end the year.
In Baldwin there was the Memorial Day Parade, the Rotary track meet the annual marigold planting, the Lions Club and Kiwanis continued their meetings and fund-rasing which supports so many community groups, including the high school’s Key Club.
As the year winds down, the staff at The Leader wish all of our neighbors a happy and healthy new year.
