Mass. Park Trustee Position To Be Filled

Written by Ronald Scaglia, rscaglia@antonnews.com Friday, 07 December 2012 00:00

Dan Pearl selected to

replace Harry Jacobson

Massapequa Park resident Dan Pearl, 40, has been selected to fill the vacancy on the Massapequa Park Village Board that was created with the passing of longtime trustee Harry Jacobson. Mayor James Altadonna has previously stated that the position was not immediately filled in order to pay respect to Jacobs and to honor his many contributions to the village. After waiting what the mayor believes is an appropriate amount of time, Pearl has been picked to be the fifth member of the village board.

“I’m very excited,” said Pearl when speaking about his appointment to the board. “I want to help the residents of the community and make the community better.”

Pearl and his wife, Alison, are the parents of three sons. Pearl has lived in Massapequa Park for 13 years. Previously, he lived in Massapequa, where he grew up. He is a graduate of Massapequa High School and Farmingdale State College. Currently, Pearl is the deputy commissioner for the Department of Environmental Resources with the Town of Oyster Bay. He has been in that position for four years and has worked for the town for 18 years. He believes that experience will help him with his new role as a trustee.

“I’ve worked with thousands of residents as it [Oyster Bay’s Department of Environmental Resources] is a very community oriented department,” he remarked. “I’ll be able to bring my government experience [to the position], and bring another point of view.”

In addition to his work with the town, Pearl has also been a volunteer firefighter with the Massapequa Fire Department and is a coach with Massapequa Little League. Additionally, he is a member of the Sons of Italy and the Knights of Pythias, and he is part of an organization called Jets For America, an organization that raises money for families facing medical or financial hardships. That group does a lot of work with Winthrop Hospital.

In assuming the role, Pearl takes the position held by Jacobson, who was quite popular. Pearl said he hopes to serve in the same manner as the late trustee.

“Harry was a well-respected trustee,” commented Pearl. “He was an avid fighter and just an all around nice man. It’s really big shoes to fill. I got to know him and he always had the best interests of the residents at heart and I want to continue that legacy.”

Pearl said that he supports Mayor Altadonna’s plan to build an emergency care center in the village. As a firefighter, he said he shares the mayor’s concern that there isn’t a facility that’s close enough to treat village residents in the event of a life or death situation.

“I think it’s a good thing,” said Pearl about building such a facility. “There’s really not much around here within close distance, other than St. Joseph’s. I think it’s a great idea to look into that.”

As for the other issues, Pearl said he would like to assume his duties before commenting. He said that he hopes to learn from other board members, and continue the work they have been doing.

“Keep things going,” he said, about what he hopes to accomplish. The village has been going in a great direction. I want to learn and be a part of that.”

It is expected that Pearl will be sworn in at the Massapequa Park Village Board Meeting to be held on December 10.