Schools Facing Possible Cuts in State Aid
New York State Governor David Paterson unveiled a two-year, $5 billion deficit reduction plan that he believes would eliminate the state’s current-year budget gap without raising taxes, as well as institute major structural reforms. However, part of the plan includes a decrease in state aid that is filtered down to local school districts including those in Nassau County. Such a decrease in school aid could find school taxes, which are already the largest part of a property owner’s property tax bill, escalate ever higher.
According to a press release from the governor’s office, school aid for 2009-2010 was projected to total $21.9 billion, an increase of $415 million or 1.9 percent from the 2008-2009 school year. However, the deficit reduction plan calls for an increase of $271 million or 1.3 percent from 2008-2009.
Veterans Day in Floral Park
Third Track Task Force Chairman Speaks Out
(Editor’s Note: Floral Park Trustee Thomas Tweedy, chairman of the village’s Third Track Task Force, prepared this statement for the 2010-2014 MTA Capital Plan Public Hearing.)
“My name is Thomas Tweedy and I serve as deputy mayor and trustee of the Inc. Village of Floral Park. I also serve as chairman of the Third Track Task Force.
Welcome New FP Library Director
Tracey Simon Takes the Reigns
The Floral Park Public Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Tracey Simon was appointed library director effective Oct. 5. Previously, Simon was the assistant director at the Lynbrook Public Library. She has worked in the library field for more than 17 years.
In addition to her work as a librarian, Simon has experience in grant writing, public relations and library promotion.
Voters Bring About Power Shift In Nassau County Legislature
Supervisors Murray, Kaiman Hang On for Another Term
(Editor’s Note: The following are unofficial results as of press time, according to the Nassau County Board of Elections.)
The voters have spoken. Familiar faces will return to the Nassau County Legislature with the exception of Dave Mejias (14 L.D.) and Jeffrey Toback (7 L.D.).
Their losses shift the power back into the hands of Republicans by an 11-8 majority. Presiding Officer Diane Yatauro, though honored to be re-elected to another term as a county legislator, is disheartened by the loss of her party’s legislative majority.
New York Conference Of Mayors Calls For Amendments
‘The Devilish Details’ of New Law for Village Dissolution
The sponsors call it the Empowerment Act for short, but local governments are calling it the Disenfranchisement Act because the sweeping legislation passed this June, going into effect in March 2010, requires voters to vote to dissolve or consolidate local government before they know whether such actions would save money or not.
“There’s a lot of confusion about the act and it’s up to you to educate your residents so they’ll know that signing a petition for dissolution sets into motion a complicated, expensive process where the cart is before the horse,” said Wade Beltramo, special counsel for the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) to a roomful of mayors and village officials from Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties at a NYCOM meeting held at Mineola High School on Oct. 29. Beltramo spent the evening giving a quick course in the new act, which is summarized below.
New Brick Pathway Opens At Centennial Gardens
As part of the annual national “Make a Difference Day” celebrations on Saturday, Oct. 24, the entire community was invited to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the recently completed brick walkway surrounding Centennial Gardens and Bird Sanctuary in Floral Park.
The ceremony, which took place at 10 a.m., included the official unveiling of Centennial Gardens’ newest and largest addition to date at its main sign entrance and flagpole area near the corner of Floral Parkway and Raff Avenue. The Floral Park Conservation Society has annually participated in this national day of neighbors helping neighbors since its first ceremony dedicating the corner entrance and formal flag area.
Floral Park Employees Reach Milestones In Their Careers
At the Oct. 20 Floral Park village board meeting, Mayor Kevin Greene and the board of trustees congratulated the following employees for 25 years or more of service to the village:
John Daunt (25 years) began working for the village as summer help in the Department of Public Works. In July 1984, he was hired full time as a laborer and in 1986 he moved into his current position as parking meter supervisor. In this position, he collects the monies from all the parking meters in the village and ensures that they are continually in working order. A graduate of Floral Park Memorial High School, John has lived on Stewart Street for over 40 years with his parents, Mary and John Sr., a former village employee. John enjoys playing darts, collecting comic books and watching all types of sporting events. He also is an avid poker player and likes to visit Atlantic City. John’s many years of service to the village have made him a valued employee of the Public Works Department.
Access to Election Ballots Available For Those Who Are Disabled
For the upcoming Nov. 3 General Election the Board of Elections will once again be providing the ImageCast Ballot Marking Device (BMD) at each polling location throughout the county for voters with handicapping conditions.
Ballot marking devices allow persons with disabilities to vote independently. The machine is a scroll through touch screen device equipped with an audio component to be used with headphones. The device is also equipped with a sip and puff feature; multiple language capabilities; digital format to allow for speeding up or slowing the reading of instructions or races; and alerts for over or under votes.
Muscarella, Tumminello Vie for 8th Legislative District Seat
On Nov. 3, residents of the Nassau County’s 8th Legislative District will choose their representative in the Nassau County Legislature for the next two years. Incumbent Vincent Muscarella is being challenged by Gaspare Tumminello. The district encompasses Franklin Square, Stewart Manor, West Hempstead, Garden City and Garden City South as well as parts of Elmont and Floral Park.
