It was with great honor and pride that Glen Cove Mayor Ralph V. Souzzi, the Glen Cove City Council, and the public in attendance at the Feb. 12 city council meeting welcomed home from Iraq 1st Lt. Robert A. Germino, Jr., USMC. Robert, a Glen Cove High School graduate, spent the past year in harm's way and after his leave, will be stationed at Camp Lejuene, NC. Anyone who enters city hall and views the pictures of local deployed troops will also see a U.S. flag that Robert had asked to have flown over Camp Ripper Regimental Combat Team 2 in Al Asad, Iraq and then sent home to his mother to present to his city. Proud mother Mary Ann was with her son at the council meeting. There was no reason to ask how she felt; the look on her face as she watched her son said it all.

Business at the meeting included the approval of a resolution authorizing the issuance of $2,430,000 in serial bonds to finance the cost of finishing the dredging of Glen Cove Creek and disposal of the dredge spoils collected. The removal of the sediment can cost $9 per ton to cart, with a $25 per ton tipping charge at a landfill. Glen Cove has 60,000 tons to remove. Mayor Suozzi stated that the cost could be lower, but as the city continues to look for the most economical method of disposal, he felt it best to have money to cover the most expensive method. Joan Hawkins questioned whether the city had considered this cost while the dredging was in process and the mayor replied that while he knew it would have to be paid for, the city did not want to borrow the money before it was needed. Ms. Hawkins also questioned whether the State Auditor's office has approved the borrowing, as the office has been critical of the city's financial situation, warning Glen Cove not to accrue further debt. Mayor Suozzi said that he was going to send the information to the auditor's office, which only needs to be "informed" of city expenditures. When pressed by Ms. Hawkins, the mayor acknowledged that the State Auditor "would probably say it's not a good idea," but, the mayor said, it has to be done. City Councilman Tim Tenke suggested that, as this is a "huge problem," perhaps the city could get assistance from the federal government or the EPA.

Also on the topic of removing 60,000 tons of spoils from Glen Cove, Pat Tracy made a "formal request" of the city that the loaded trucks "not cross Albin Street." Excessive traffic on Albin and Prospects streets has been a contentious issue at numerous city council meetings.

The council passed a resolution authorizing a public hearing to be held on Feb. 26 to discuss the adoption of a local law amending the city charter "superseding ... the New York State Public Officer's Law relative to the requirement of residency of appointive city officers." Lindsey Anderson asked the mayor what had prompted the potential change as well as the number of people and positions involved. Mayor Suozzi stated that the city charter is silent on residency requirements. The state law was put into effect in the 1970s, he said, but recently more than 50 municipalities have "done away with" the regulation. He said that the city charter has been "out of conformance," and he decided it was time to change the language. The mayor listed a number of appointed positions, including deputy mayor, the head of DPW, city controller and head of the senior center. Mr. Anderson asked if the mayor had looked in Glen Cove for his appointees before going outside the community. Mayor Suozzi stated that new administrations always make new appointments and that the New York State law deals on a more "global level," ignoring local administrations.

Janet Blatt stated she has discussed the New York State Public Officials law with an attorney, and that "no mention of the position of deputy mayor" is included in the official law. However, she said, just because neither the law nor the charter addresses it, it is very clear to her that it is inappropriate to have anyone other than a Glen Cove resident filling the position of deputy mayor. The deputy mayor has the power to serve as mayor should the mayor be incapacitated or unavailable for any reason.

Ms. Blatt expressed her belief that the public hearing should not be set for Feb. 26, in order to give the council more time to think about the residency requirement. "The deputy mayor position is vastly different from the others. The reality [that adults realize] is that something could happen to the mayor," she said. She added that opening up the city to appointing a non-resident as deputy mayor would set a new precedent and "opens us up to Mineola to tell the mayor" he must appoint a deputy mayor from "God knows where."

Dante Nieri voiced his opinion on the appointment of a deputy mayor who is not a resident of Glen Cove, calling her salary of $69,500 per year "a lot of moolah" to pay someone in that position who is not a resident. "It's just common sense," he said.

Two resolutions were tabled, both regarding the amending of the zoning code of ordinances for the city to declare itself lead agency with respect to two properties soon to be developed, the Livingston property on Glen Cove Avenue across from the Housing Authority and Lee Gray Court. The mayor said they were tabled in order to make small adjustments to the language. Bob Benazzi questioned why the city would consider being the lead agency in the proposals, when lead agencies in such matters have always been the planning or zoning board. "That's what they are there for," said Mr. Benazzi.

Mr. Benazzi asked about the state of the Master Plan for Glen Cove and Mayor Suozzi said the goal is for the plan to be completed by the end of the summer. Mr. Benazzi inquired when the public will see plans for the development of properties now that the moratorium has been lifted on all but properties over 13 acres and the mayor said he, too, would like to see the plans of the properties.

Mr. Benazzi also questioned the mayor on the approval of RexCorp joining the waterfront development group, and asked what changes that would bring to the table. The mayor said the teams are looking to redesign the proposed development and are "still working out the details." Mr. Benazzi made the suggestion that the city council update the public on the proceedings every month.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers. The meeting will begin with the controversial public hearing on changes to the city charter as relates to residency requirements of appointed city officials.