The-Leader_2010-10-21

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75th Year, No. 42 Freeport, N.Y. 11520
The Community Newspaper
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Bayview learns stop, drop & roll
In honor of National Fire Safety Weei<, elementary students at the Bayview School of Arts and Sciences were visited by their local fire department.
Members of the Freeport Fire Department treated students to a simulated smoke house escape, and provided some very important tips for fire safety. Students were urged to not only help their parents check smoke detectors, but rehearsed emergency exit strategies and discussed potential fire hazards with the professionals.
The children also received an in-depth tour of two different trucks - an engine truck and a fire truck -and learned what each type was used for. To rein­force the importance of fire safety, each child received a plastic firefighter hat as a reminder to share their experience with parents.
The visit was part of the school's "Hooked on Firefighters" program, which serves to not only build a relationship between students and communi­ty, but also to promote home, school and communi­ty fire safety procedures.
THIRD-GRADE iSTUDENTS at Bayview iSchool pose in front of a Freeport firetruck.
This Sunday:
Halloween Parade and Fall Festival
Join ghosts and goblins and other fantastic crea­tures for a spooky good time at the Halloween Parade on the Nautical Mile this Sunday, October 24.
The event is sponsored by the Freeport Chamber of Commerce and also includes an all-day chowder con­test and clam-shucking contest. The Freeport Fire Department will also be on hand for its annual safety expo.
Line up for the Halloween Parade for kids (and pets) on Richmond Street by the pier at 11:30 a.m. The parade will begin at noon, followed by crafts, pumpkin-painting, music and bouncers for the kids.
Meanwhile, adults can sample chowders up and down the Nautical Mile. Restaurateurs are competing to see who makes the best chowder, so don't forget to cast your vote and try plenty of this hearty fare!
At 3 p.m., the clam-shucking contest begins. "Put up your best shucker against the pros," says the chamber's flyer. You get to keep your clams. See if you are as good as any of the Baymen. If so, you just might win a prize.There is an entry fee.
Freeport village board fields many questions
by Jim Golding
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.
(continued on page 7)
Controversy erupts over "toilet tax"
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Baldwinite arrested for assault
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Freeport High School college fair coming
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