Gorton Brands Public Library Film Distributor
The Farmingdale Public Library
budget hearing cm Tuesday
evening at the South Farming-dale
Branch Library began very-calmly,
but not for long.
Newly elected Board Trustee
Carl Gorton, a member of the
John Birch Society, leveled several
charges at fellow board
members and as the three hour
long session wore on, tempers
began to flare in the audience
that numbered about 60 taxpayers.
Gorton charged a film distributing
company, with which the
library had done business, was
named after a Tom Brandon, who
had been listed in 1934 as a member
of a Communist controlled
organization. He made a mot-tion
to cease business with the
film company. The library had
spent nearly $ 500 with the firm,
according to Gorton, Board President
Robert Callahan asked if
Gorton cared to view the films.
Gorton replied that it wasn't
necessary. The motion failed
to receive a second. Later,
during the public participation
period, it was pointed out that
the film supplying company had
a wide range of films including
one starring Ronald Regan and
one made of Barry Goldwater during
his campaign. Board President
Callahan said that one of
the films purchased was " The
Red Balloon", a Cannes Film
Festival winner, which he termed
excellent.
Gorton also made an issue
over the cleaning service payment.
He charged that the library
was paying two salaries,
including social security and pension,
when a husband and wife
team operate a cleaning firm ,
also handles other accounts and
should be handled as a contractual
firm without fringe benefits.
His motion to refer the matter
to the auditor was passed.
Gorton also made an issue over
the use of the library community
room. He charged that since the
library was on last year budget
because of the two recent budget
defeats, rather than on austerity
budget, community organizations
be allowed to use the
community room. He contended
that if the fee for use of the room
when the library was closed didnt
cover the costs, the fee should
be raised. It was pointed out
that not many organizations
wished to use the community
room during the summer. The
question was deferred until after
the library budget vote.
The Board referred a drafted
policy decision to the library
attorney on a trustees access
to library files. Gorton had
sought direct access to library
files and records. Library Director
Orrin B. Dow, outlined
that trustees would have access
to library files. However
access should be during library
hours, and files must be removed
and replaced by library personnel
who are in charge of the files
and records. A list would be
furnished. Gorton said that he
wanted direct physical access to
records, Dr. Albert Meyerstein
pointed out that the reason behind
the policy was that records
should not be gotten out of order.
Later Gorton said that he would
go to court to obtain a show
cause order, forcing the library
board to give him ' direct' access.
Edward Werner, of North
Massapequa, then, asked the
Board to explain why they rent
the building for the South Farmingdale
Branch, rather than purchase
it. Board President Callahan
said that the library paid
$ 20,000 rent for 12,5000 square
feet and $ 5,000 toward taxes
or a total of $ 25,000 a year.
The library has an option to buy
the building for $ 250,000. Callahan
said that he thought the present
building wasn't suitable for
purchase because of space limitations.
Board President Callahan went
over each item in the proposed
budget of $ 352,865, which is the
same budget that had been defeated
on May 3, but $ 5,000
more than the June 10 defeated
budget. The figure, up $ 30,000
over last year, represents an anticipated
tax rate of .374 in the
Oyster Bay sector of the school
district and .610 in the Town of
Babylon.
Gorton also made a motion,
which was passed, that all library
personnel who attend conventions
on seminars at taxpayers expense,
make a written report
to the Library Board.
Near the end of the public participation
period, several members
of the audience charged
Gorton with distributing sample
reprints of the article in the
Paris Review, which Gorton had
confiscated from the library on
the grounds that it was obscence.
Charges that the reprints had
fallen into hands of minors, were
leveled at Gorton.
Gorton is scheduled by trial
of petty larceny charges in First
District Court, Mineola, on
October 3. The court action
was institited by the library on
the removal from the library
of a copy of the Paris Review.
Ground will be broken in early
October for the first phase of
the John F. Kennedy Educational,
Cultural andCivicCenter, a$ 10.4
million coliseum, on the site of a
former Air Force base at Mitchel
Field in Garden City.
The multi- purpose 14,000- seat
Seek " Assessment Freeze7 On Home
Improvements To Substandard Homes
A new tax relief plan to encourage
home owners to spruce
up their property was advanced
by Nassau County Executive Eugene
Nickerson.
He disclosed he will seek state
enabling legislation to allow the
County Board of Assessors to
give owners of substandard
single- family homes a ten year
" assessment freeze" on the
value of repairs and improvements.
At present, Nickerson
believes, owners of such dwellings
are reluctant to make improvements
since their taxes will
be increased in proportion to the
money spent.
The proposal would apply to
over 14,000 dwellings, about 3.9
per cent of the Nassau total,
termed by the 1960 Census as
dilapidated or deteriorating.
" If we emphasize the positive
approach to home repairs, not
the punitive approach, run- down
housing, long a source of blight
and concern, could be dramatically
improved," Nickerson
commented.
At present the law provides for
such tax relief for multiple unit
dwellings in cities. The proposed
shift would amend the law
to include counties, not just
cities, and one- family dwellings,
not only multiple dwellings. Any
single- family residence declared
substandard by the Nassau County
Planning Commission would be
eligible for the tax incentive under
the plan.
According to Horace Z.
Kramer, vice chairman of the
County Board of Assessors, 14,
163 housing units would be eligible
under the proposal.
capacity coliseum, the first of
seven major structures, will
house sports events > circuses,
conventions, exhibitions, and
home and trade shows.
The complex, designed after
the fashion of Greek temples but
utilizing slender, ultra- modern
pillars, will include a concert
hall, library, social center,
forum theatre, fine arts gallery,
and museum of science, industry,
and transportation.
The coliseum's arena will contain
10,000 fixed seats, 4,000
moveable seats, and will be able
to accommodate professional ice
hockey and basketball events.
Efforts are underway to obtain
a professional ice hockey franchise.
85,000 square feet of floor
space will be available for trade
shows on the main level inside
the coliseum, with an additional
30,000 square feet available at
the concourse level for a total
of 115,000 square feet of exhibit
space.
The Coliseum is expected to
be opened to the public in late
1969.
r
Infant Drowns In Family Pool
Backyard Swimming
Eighteen month old Lori Potash,
of 377 Rose Street, Massapequa
Park, drowned on Tuesday
after apparently tailing into the
family backyard swimming pool.
Seventh Precinct police said
that the youngster was found
floating in the pool by the mother
at 7: 05 p. m. and was taken to
Mid Island Hospital by the South
Farmingdale Rescue Squad.
The above ground pool was described
by police to be four feet
deep.
FARMINGDALE JEWISH CENTER
OPEN HOUSE
SUNDAY AUG. 20, 1967 7- 10 P. M.
• DISPLAYS - EXHIBITS - ENTERTAINMENT - REFRESHMENTS
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL REGISTRATION
NURSERY PRIMARY HEBREW HIGH SCHOOL
SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL CONFIRMATION
TICKETS FOR HIGH HOLY DAYS
INQUIRE ABOUT OUR VARIED PROGRAM
OF SOCIAL - CULTURAL - EDUCATIONAL
SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES .
TOUR OUR NEW FACILITIES
PROSPECT ST. & COBB PL. JUST NORTH OF ROUTE 109
CALL CH 9- 9762 MORNINGS CH 9- 7573 EVENINGS
PAUL TEICHER HERBERT HARRIS AARON SCHAEFFER
RABBI CANTOR PRESIDENT
OBSERVER Thursday, August 10, 1967 Page 3
•
