Attendees at the Glen Cove City Council meeting of Tuesday, April 22 came armed with questions and comments for Mayor Ralph V. Suozzi and council members. The initial discussion dealt with a proposed resolution to pass a local law making changes to the city charter in regard to residency requirements for city appointees, a contentious topic since Jan. 1, when Mayor Suozzi and the city council appointed Kelly Morris, former director of strategic initiatives and a resident of North Bellmore, to the position of deputy mayor.

Up until Tuesday, the city charter, adopted in the early 1980s, had been silent on such requirements, causing it to be subject to the New York State Public Officer's Law, which requires residency of all appointive public officers. The proposed changes would allow the city to supersede the law under home rule, a common practice in many small municipalities, said Mayor Suozzi. Appointive public officer positions in Glen Cove include, among others, the director of public works, city clerk, assessor, city attorney and deputy mayor. While the city has technically been out of compliance with the law by hiring persons not living in the city, the charter had not been questioned until the appointment of Ms. Morris. Following public criticism of her appointment, the council held two public hearings to address the issue, in February and March. On Tuesday night, with the resolution on the table, Mayor Suozzi said that he and the city council had "heard the people, discussed it among ourselves and decided to amend the charter," allowing the city to waive the residency requirement for all positions, with the exception of the position of deputy mayor. This would provide the city with the security of knowing that, should a mayor be unable to perform his or her duties, there would be a "continuity" in the city's ability to go forward.

The resolution was passed unanimously; Councilman Tim Tenke was absent. In appointments made later in the meeting, it was announced that Maureen Basdavanos had been appointed deputy mayor at a salary of $69,500, with Ms. Morris' title being changed to secretary to the mayor, with her salary to remain at $69,500. Ms. Morris is also serving as interim director of the IDA/CDA, at no increase to her salary.

Paul Meli, head of the Glen Cove Republican Party acknowledged that there had been two public hearings on the issue of residency, but was critical of the fact that the public never had the opportunity to view the specific changes, adding that it would be more proper to hold a public hearing when people know exactly what is being proposed. "You should make the decision, then hold the hearing," he said.

Mayor Suozzi remarked that the council was addressing a deficiency in the charter and providing a mechanism to help the city go forward, but Mr. Meli brought the subject back to his original concern. "My point is procedural," he said. "The agenda does not give a clue as to the proposed amendment." He added that he had called the mayor's office, spoken to Kerri Pearles, and asked to be notified when the language was finalized, but never heard back. Mr. Meli told the mayor he was "stonewalled by your office." Words continued to pass between the Mayor Suozzi and Mr. Meli until the mayor said, "Your job as the Republican head is to come here and badger me. You'll notice your predecessor does not come anymore." Mr. Suozzi then apologized for his use of the word "badger" before Mr. Meli sat down.

Also before he sat down, Mr. Meli turned to the topic of finances. He referenced a letter from the State Comptroller's office dated April 9 which spoke to, among other items, the city's plan to refinance a maturing BAN (Bond Anticipation Note) for tax certiorari claims. In the letter, the comptroller recommended that city officials "reconsider funding tax certiorari claims with debt proceeds," as "This practice saddles future taxpayers with the additional cost of debt issued to refund prior years' real property taxes."

Mayor Suozzi remarked that the state is "against borrowing anything" and said that the payments were court ordered, and as the order had come to the city after the current budget was passed, money was not included in the budget for the payments. He said he agreed that the certs should be paid from the operational fund, but "the city is in a deep hole and deficit financing is hard to get. We can't fix everything at once," he said. Since the new assessment policy has been in effect, said the mayor, tax certioraris have been decreasing. The mayor said that the "isolation of properties" allows for different assessments for similar homes on different properties, and when looked at on a local level, a Colonial home in Glen Cove has a different value than a Colonial home in another municipality.

Joan Hawkins brought up the number of employees currently working in the mayor's office, as well as the amounts of their salaries. Comparing the current administration to the administration of former Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp, Ms. Hawkins stated that if the current administration had similar numbers, the city would have the $470,000 to pay the tax certs.

During the prior administration, the mayor's office consisted of the mayor; the deputy mayor, who also served as city clerk; the director of community/public relations, and a secretary to the mayor. The salaries, respectively, were $100,000, approximately $70,000, approximately $43,000 and approximately $30,000. The current mayor's office includes the mayor ($100,000), the deputy mayor ($69,500), secretary to the mayor ($69,500), city clerk ($42,000), public relations officer ($40,000), clerk ($30,000), part-time intern ($10 per hour), a consultant ($54,000) and a public relations consultant ($34,000).

The mayor responded that the Holzkamp administration had Carolyn Willson holding two jobs (deputy mayor and city clerk), saying, "I won't comment on that," and had also paid Gilbert Gallego, the current public relations consultant, for the same work he is presently doing. "And," he said, "we have a much better-run city." His comment drew laughter and murmurs from some audience members, causing the mayor to remark that "The snickering is not welcome." He invited anyone who had something to say to come to the microphone. When no one did, the mayor justified his statement by commenting that when he took office, the city was in difficult times, including, he said, hidden deficits, which he tackled by "raising taxes honestly." He cited that his administration has introduced community policing, and has worked to improve the quality of life in the city that had been "ignored for years, or decades" including the removal of tree stumps, fixing of roads and replacement of stop signs. Mayor Suozzi said topics brought up at public meetings are often complaints or political issues, and while he said he applauded residents for attending meetings, he also encouraged them to "get involved if you care ... call me, email me, meet with me, send an anonymous note, or speak with me in Stop & Shop. I'm here to help the city every day."

Questions were raised about the legality of the parking of trucks on a plot of grass on Brewster Street between the Piano Exchange and the First Presbyterian Church. The trucks belong to the canine waste removal company Scoopy Doo and are parked overnight, replaced in the morning by cars owned by the truck drivers. The mayor was asked if a special use permit had been extended to the company, because, the resident said, the city code speaks to commercial storage and parking as being in an enclosed area. In addition to the "horrible" way the spot looks, she said, it was illegal, as well as serving as free advertising. Mayor Suozzi stated that the company owner, James Coniglione, is seeking a new location and the city has been trying to help. In the meantime, he said, he would look into the zoning code.

Resident Gail Waller thanked the city for the new plantings on Forest Avenue, making special mention of Linda Darby and Drew Lawrence of the city's tree commission. On Saturday, April 19, a large number of volunteers were involved in the Earth Day planting effort, and Ms. Waller said it gave her a feeling for "what Glen Cove used to be" to see a large group of neighbors working together for the good of the community.

Resident Bob Miller asked the mayor for an update on the waterfront revitalization project. Mayor Suozzi reiterated progress as of early 2007, when he approached Scott Rechler of RexCorp as to Mr. Rechler's interest in joining the project. Mr. Rechler has since joined with Glen Isle, the original developers, and meetings have been held, both in New York City and Glen Cove, on a regular basis. The mayor said he recently took architects from Beyer Blinder Belle on a tour of the city to view existing neighborhoods and "get a feel for the charming aspects of our city" for them to consider as new plans proceed. "We are trying to move forward in a good direction with respect for the character of the city," he said, while working within the parameters of the existing contract with the developers.

The mayor named July 15 as a target date to bring new plans before the IDA/CDA and the public.