The-Leader_2009-03-05

              i FREPORT r/lEMORiAt: 111
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i74th Year, No. 10 Freeport, N.Y. lti»2(t
The Community Newspaper
Thursday, March 5, 2009
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CANDIDATES MEET:
Kenneth Bagatelle, president of the Northwest Homeowners Civic Association, makes introductory com­ments, at the "Meet the Candidates Night" forum held at the Freeport Memorial Library.
photo by Jim Golding
Mayor; trustee caiididiitis air views
by Jim Golding
Candidates for the offices mayor, tmstees
and village justice faced off February 26 at the Freeport library in their first appearance together to discuss issues facing the com­munity.
Incumbent Mayor William F. Glacken and challenger Andrew Hardwick respond­ed to a dozen questions from about 150 audience members at the "Meet the Candidates" forum sponsored by the Northwest Homeowners Civic Association.
Issues ranged from increases in taxes, to village finances, law enforcement and crime, the status of North Main Street and home foreclosures.
In his opening statement, Mayor Glacken pointed to his "reform administration's" record of accomplishment over the past 12 years and pledged to continue the improve­ments to the village's infrastructure.
He noted that when he took office the vil­lage had a $10 niillion deficit but was able to avoid default through a special bond per­mitted by the state Legislature. He said the last installment of the bond was paid in 2005. - - - •
Mr. Glacken also said this adiiiinistration rebuilt the village's infrastructure, citing many street improvements, the new power plant,-Tour new water wells'and a refur­bished
Recreation Center. ....•'
The mayor ;also said that .diversity -was '
another hallmMofhisadihinistratipnV''^^
made government nibre closely' resemble the people it serves," he said.
Nlr. Hardwick, currently serving as deputy commissioner of parks and recre-. ation for Nassau County, also lists 10 years experience in various supervisory roles with the U.S. Army and 25 years service with, the Freeport Volunteer Fire Department.
Mr. Hardwick called for a more open government and for addressing the "blatant ongoing waste and abuse" he feels charac­terizes the current village government.
"The mayor and the Village Board don't tell all," he said. 'The government is not transparent."
Each candidate responded to the follow­ing topics:
On controlling tax increases?
Mr. Hardwick said he would cut down on legal expenses,-citing the high cost of legal fees paid to law firms in connection witha lawsuit against the village and the. more than $1 million fine paid to the Town of Hempstead for failing to pro­vide a sufficient volume of trash and recycling. He also said he would "tighten our belt
on-taxes" and remove wasteful spending theme of having a" "transparent, govern­ment" and keeping the public informed
about the cost of the bonding programs. He criticized the, millions of dollars spent in legal fees over' lawsuits and that' Freeport should make use of a $40 million share of the stimulus package approved by Congress that the village could receive.
Mr. Glacken responded that the bond­ing process "is open" and noted that Mr. Hardwick has attended "two board meet­ings in the last four years." He said the Board of Trustees holds about 35 meet­ings a year. "If you show up once iri a while you might know better what's going on."
Mr. Hairdwick said "one reason 1 don't go [to the board meetings] is they last 15 minutes and decisions are made in the back."
. froin the., budget.
,'Mayor Glacken said the rising cost-of--
living expenses such as contractual obliga­tion health insiirahce coverage cannot be controlled and the village must contribute more than $4'million a year to the employ­ees'pension fund.
An aggressive capital improvement carn-paign to improve the village infrastructure has also been necessary, in recent years.
Enforcement of village laws and qual­ity of life issues
Mayor Glacken disagreed with the notion that village ordinances are not enforced. He said there is "vigorous enforcement of the building code and traf­fic code" and there is a "vigorous prosecu­tion program." He said quality-of-life issues are "very important" and there is a major cleanup effort throughout Freeport.
Mr. Hardwick said he would maintain a "zero tolerance policy" toward crime. He' said Freeport has a "bad reputation" with regard to its crime rate and the general appearance of the village, especially in the area around the Long Island Rail Road station.
Openness on bonding process
Mr. Hardwick repeated his campaign
What to do about vacant buildings, trash, eliminating eyesores
The mayor discussed efforts to develop Plaza West that will include 25,000 square feet of retail and residential space. He added that sU^eets are swept regularly and that, if a property has trash, the owner will be notified. If the owner fails to clean up the site, the Village would hire a contractor to clean it. The cost would be passed along to the property owner. (coritinued on page 3)
Turn clocks j ahead by 2 a.m. Sunday -
The Stearns Park Civic Association Mrill sponsor a political forum on Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. at the Freeport Recreation Center. The forum will give all candidates an oppor­tunity to speak. It will be run by the League of Women Voters.
A Concert of Diversity at Freeport UIVIC
page 2
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