The-Leader_2010-12-02

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75th Year, No. 48 Freeport, N.Y. 11520
The Community Newspaper
Thursday, December 2, 2010
LI Champs!
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONSl
Freeport's football team won the LI. title with a 62-35 victory over William Royd on Sunday.
Two expelled from fractious village board meeting
' by Jim Gelding
. It was one of those meetings for the vil­lage Board of Trustees on November 22 as audience members aired various com­plaints, several aimed at Mayor Andrew Hardwick, that resulted in the expulsion of two women from the meeting room, with two school board officials and a former vil­lage trustee strongly criticizing him on his performance.
The board approved an amendment with Nassau County permitting the Community Development Agency to undertake projects under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, which would allow the CDA to act as an agent for the village: In July the state passed a law making community development agencies separate entities.
This brought several responses from audience members as to whether the CDA would be responsible for paying for servic­es from the village, which Village Attorney Howard Colton said is being discussed.
One resident, Dewey Smalls, a former mayoral candidate, expressed criticism about a recent CDA board meeting, charg­ing there was confusion because board members "couldn't, conduct the meeting"
according to Robert's Rules of Order, had "no clue as to what was going on" and members of the public were not permitted to raise questions on any agenda item.
Mr. Smalls also said he asked for infor­mation on fiinding sources and accounts but received no response.
But CDA Executive Director Norman G. Wells disputed Mr. Snialls' account of the meeting.
"He was very intolerant'at the meeting," said Mr. Wells. "Any questions were answered On the agenda.
"I don't knoxy what his intentions are tonight, but his criticism is directed at the CDA for more than one reason," he added. "We have nothing to hide. I don't know why he's here tonight."
Addressing Mr. Smalls directly, the CDA executive director told him to "continue to come to the meetings. Any infonmation you need, come to us. You don't have to grand­stand here."
Mayor Hardwick interjected, "This is totally unnecessary and insulting to other members of that [CDA] board. We're open, and we're available."
During public comment, the mayor field­ed several questions.
Pat Lewis asked when the Master
Planning Committee would start its work and begin holding meetings.
Mayor Hardwick said a date has not been set and was still in the process of selecting committee members. He estimated it might be "sometime in December."
Ms. Lewis also questioned why no pho­tos were posted on the village website from the recent Veterans Day celebration. The mayor indicated they would be on "soon."
James Butler criticized the need for the village's public access TV presentation of its meetings on Channel 18.
He summed it up as "a lot of grandstand­ing that would go away if we didn't have this TV." He recommended keeping the money used for the program in the general fund.
Mr. Butler also commented on the cam-. era shots and angles presented. "The cam­era crews zoom in on people unnecessari­ly." He charged that "games are being played herel The TV is makuig us look like laughing stocks."
Mark Rouvella, a Realtor, raised the issue of the Recreation Center's annual deficit that he said was about $3 million, and called for its privatization. He added that "sooner or later," the center would not sustain itself because of the debt.
"It needs to be privatized," he said. "Bring in a private vendor and have village employees hired.
But Deputy Mayor Robert Kennedy said the Rec Center's expenses have been "sub­stantially reduced" while the facility has increased its programs.
"They're doing tremendous jobs;" he said of the Rec Center's employees.
Mayor Hardwick added, "It's hard to contemplate going private. A lot of jobs are tied to the Rec Center. Much of quality of life is dependent on parks and recreation centers."
He declared, "They were never intended to pay for themselves. There's no way to get the public to be able to afford what it costs."
"Parks are for recreation, none are prof­itable," added audience member and former Deputy Village Attorney Stephen Malone.
Mr. Malone raised the issue of the status of Village Treasurer Ismaela Hemandez, who has been under two months' suspen­sion with pay in connection with a financial investigation.
"Has there been any action to replace her?" he asked. Mr. Malone recommended that the treasurer be removed or have her duties diminished.
(continued on page 3)
New Freeport library trustee
page 2
Robbery arrest, mugging in Baldwin
page 5
Sewer problems on the shore
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