It is with great interest that we read that there will be another building up for landmark consideration. We have been very interested in the Town of Oyster Bay Landmarks Preservation Commission. Over the years we have attended the meetings and have seen it change.

Currently, although it must meet only four times a year, they have refined their calendar to meet six times a year, during the odd number months, and whenever they need to meet to answer a request from the public.

With a new chairperson to be appointed, we hope the commission will also take this "new beginning" to firm up its procedures again. It has been considering adopting federal landmark preservation standards for some time. Adopting those guidelines will take some of the guesswork out of the commission's work.

We would also like the Town of Oyster Bay to complete applying for Certified Local Government status from New York State. They applied for the designation several years ago. A letter from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation evaluated the town's landmark law and they have said the next step is for the town to write back and ask for the designation.

Having the designation of Certified Local Government entitles the town to get some funding from the state that would allow for training the members of the commission. It would also put the town in a better place for receiving landmark funds from the federal government.

This is a new beginning for the Landmarks Commission. We hope the town takes this giant step toward preserving the architectural history of the town. We are a new nation and need to have a commitment to preserve the past before it is all swept away as we develop this great island community.

-DFK