2011-07-28

              Vote!
Coliseum referendum Monday, August 1, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
at the regular polling places - with one change:
Those regularly voting at the Exempt Fire Association, 9
North Long Beach Avenue, will vote at Caroline G.
»-
Atkinson School, 58 Seaman Avenue.
BEACH CLEAN UP: Operation SPLASH had some help last Friday, July 22 at its beach
clean-up at the Jones Beach Coast Guard Station. Approximately 100 exchange stu-dents
from Taiwan came down to the beach to lend a hand in the clean-up. "We are
teaching them 'hands-on' how we on Long Island protect the environment," explained
SPLASH President Rob Weltner, in an email. "Now they know what they can do back in
Taiwan to help do their part."
Freeport Village refinances its debt
by Mark Treske
The village board meeting of July 25
began with a consideration of issuing
refunding bonds to refinance village debt.
David Tanner of Liberty Capital explained
the bond would cover 2002 A and B series
bonds totalling $4.86 million and $8.875
million respectively. The process, Mr.
Tanner explained, is much like refinancing
a mortgage, and that the lower interest rates
would enable the village to save $747,000.
Before approval of the bonds, resident
Alan Jay congratulated the village on the
savings, and Stephen Malone questioned
what use the saving would be put to - a tax
reduction, or work to repair the village's
most problematic roads.
Mayor Andrew Hardwick- replied that
between the coming tax cap and other vil-lage
debt, the savings would be needed for
other infrastructure difficulties, saying "We
can't think we have a lot of money."
More than one person commented on the
roads, and the mayor noted that the village
has compiled a list of those in need of most
immediate repair.
Waterworks revisited
During public comment Mr. Malone
spoke about a meeting of the Landmarks
Preservation Commission scheduled for
Tuesday, July 26, at which time a hearing
regarding a new proposal regarding the
Brooklyn Waterworks property would be
scheduled.
Richard Brown from the building depart-ment
acknowledged that an application had
been received, and that it had been forward-ed
to the Landmarks Preservation
Commission according to the standard pro-cedure.
Sue Lyons questioned the procedure,
remembering having to pay fees and submit
environmental reviews. Mr. Brown assured
the public that before any application went
to the zoning or planning boards, fees
would have to be paid. "This is the start of
a very lengthy process," he asserted. The
mayor added, "If any procedures are not
being followed I won't tolerate it."
Later The Leader was informed that the
Landmarks Preservation Commission hear-ing
has been tentatively scheduled for
Thursday, September 8, subject to the
availability of the boardroom at Village
Hall.
Mr. Malone also reminded the mayor that
the village is required to have a deputy
mayor, and has not had one for some time.
Tempest over a patio
Several public comment speakers rose to
complain about quality of life issues at a
new business, the Patio Lounge at the
Freeport Inn on South Main Street.
Neighbors of the business spoke of loud
music played late at night for several hun-dred
people, making sleep impossible, and
told the board of public urination, prowling
and other anti-social behavior, allegedly on
the part of the patrons of the lounge, and
charged that the business had been unre-sponsive
to the neighbors' concerns.
Mayor Hardwick responded sympatheti-cally,
describing the business as "a bad fit for
Freeport," and adding that he felt he had been
"somewhat misled" about the nature of the
business during the premitting process.
Deputy Village Attorney J. Barrington
Jackson told the board that the business had
received multiple summonses for noise and
other violations, which would involve fines
and higher penalties if necessary. Mayor
Hardwick added that a cabaret permit had
been requested, but that he would not sign
off on it.
The mayor told the neighbors to notify
police of all issues regarding the lounge,
invoking, "If you see something, say some-thing,"
but cautioned residents not to act in
place of law enforcement. Vowing to be
vigilant, the mayor concluded, "It's not
something we want a part of our image."
Other business
In other matters, the board:
• Awarded bids for gate boxes and valves
to Joseph G. Pollard of New Hyde Park
($46,298), and bids for fire hydrants, Water
repair couplings and repair materials to T.
Mina Supply, Holtsville ($77,624,
$20,053.13 and $13, 948.30 respectively).
• Approved the hanging of a banner
promoting National Night Out, which
will be August 2 at Cow Meadow Park.
Resident Anthony Miller spoke about the
importance of this event, and the mayor
reminded the public of all the village's
efforts to keep the young people in the
community busy.
• Approved a request from Long Island
Caribbean to hold a Caribbean Festival on
September 3 (rain date September 10) in the
Church of the Transfiguration parking lot on
Pine Street, rescheduled from June 25.
• Approved a parade and public assembly
permit for a 9/11 memorial to be held from
7-9 p.m. on September 11 at the traffic cir-cle
at Bayview Avenue and Ray Street.
• Approved a parade and public assembly
permit for Word of Life Ministries to hold a
community event on August 14 from 4-8
p.m. at municipal lot 7.
• Approved four requests for block par-ties.
The next village Board of Trustees meet-ing
will be held on Monday, August 8, at
7:30 p.m. at Village Hall.
Arty Party coming U Denenberg forum U Redistricting may be
I on the Hub I on hold until 2013
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Freeport and
Baseball
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