Mayor Angry At Cuts
Written by Ronald Scaglia, rscaglia@antonnews.com Friday, 08 February 2013 00:00
Mayor James Altadonna expressed frustration at the cuts in state aid given to the Massapequa school district in Gov. Cuomo’s proposed 2013/14 executive budget. At a recent village board meeting, the mayor lashed out at the proposal, saying that the governor has not taken into account how badly damaged the Massapequa area was by Superstorm Sandy.
“This community is hurting,” Altadonna said. “We need to have a number of years where we can rebuild. We still have people not in their houses. We need to recover.”
Altadonna said that the village board has reached out to the Massapequa school district to see how it could assist in getting more state aid for the schools. He also said the board has contacted the governor’s office to ask the governor to reconsider the cut in state education aid to Massapequa.
The mayor also questioned the management of the New York State pension system. Pension costs are tied to the performance of stock markets, which is why pension costs increased significantly during the recession. However, with the Dow having just surpassed 14,000, the mayor questioned why pension costs are continuing to rise.
“The state comptroller holds us accountable,” Altadonna said. “Who holds the pensions accountable? Who holds the state comptroller accountable?”
The mayor also asked where the incentive is for pension fund managers, as they get their commissions regardless of performance. He further questions this considering that simply placing pension funds in an index fund would likely have yielded a much better return.
In other news, the new pavilion being built at Brady Park will be named in honor of late Massapequa Park trustee Harry Jacobson. A dedication is being planned for later this year.
In a harbinger of spring, the board also granted permission to the Massapequa International Little League to conduct the Annual Opening Day Parade. The event is planed for Saturday, April 13.
The board also passed a resolution supporting a New York State Assembly bill making it mandatory for lending institutions to provide contact information of responsible parties regarding vacant structures. It is primarily aimed at foreclosures to help prevent homes foreclosed on from going into a dilapidated state.
News
Wednesday, 15 May 2013 00:00
Declining enrollment and
reserve funds are key factors
As voters in the Massapequa Union Free School District approach the Tuesday, May 21, budget vote, the proposed spending plan retains popular educational programs while keeping the rise in spending to 1.49 percent.
Despite what district officials call unprecedented increases in state-mandated employer pension contributions, as well as rising health insurance costs, the overall budget is up just over $2.7 million.
Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00
After Massapequa resident Sol Goldstein and several friends helped finish building a house for a family 20 years ago for Habitat for Humanity, they had a question: “What do we do now?” They were all retired, had enjoyed working together and accomplishing something for a family in need, and wanted to do more.
“I was looking for something [to do] hands-on,” said Joe Botkin, of Williston Park, a retired principal, who had worked with Goldstein in building the home.
Sports
Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00
Vinny Zanfardino started his coaching career in 1997 when he stepped up to coach his daughter’s Little League team.
What started as a hobby turned into a full-blown obsession for Zanfardino, 48. Coaching became an outlet to do some good for children while staying close to the game he loves: baseball.
Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00
On Saturday, May 18, the Town of Oyster Bay will conduct a ceremony to officially re-name its golf course in honor of Joseph Colby, a resident of Massapequa Park who served as the Town of Oyster Bay’s 56th supervisor. The Honorable Joseph Colby was appointed supervisor in 1977 and was elected to that office five times in the following ten years. He was then elected as a New York State Supreme Court Justice in 1988, a post he held through his retirement from public service in 1992. The unveiling will take place at the main entrance of the course off South Woods Road in Woodbury.
“When the sign for Honorable Joseph Colby Town of Oyster Bay Golf Course is unveiled, it will celebrate an outstanding career in public service,” Supervisor John Venditto said. “Joseph Colby has always had the needs of the public as his top priority and has been widely respected for his innovation and responsiveness. This golf course will now forever bear his name as a tribute to his outstanding legacy.”
Calendar
Line Dancing
Friday, May 17
Library's Board of Trustees Meeting
Wednesday, May 22
America’s Boating Course
Tuesday, May 28
Columns
Building Better Legislators
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
Quietly Vindicated
Written by Mike Barry, MFBarry@optonline.net
Health Insurance Crisis Still Here
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
