Freeport Report 1997-01

              Administration Steps Up on Public Safety
12 New Police Officers Recruited to Freeport Ranks
Mayor Wissler
and Freeport
Police officials
welcomed 12
new police
recruits to the
department this month. After
grant money became avail-able
to the department last
year, Mayor Wissler and the
Board of Trustees authorized
15 more police positions to
the department in its efforts
to increase police presence on
Freeport streets. Mayor
Wissler swore in the officers
at a Village Hall ceremony in
front of an audience filled
with their family members
and their future co-workers.
The probationary officers
will spend the next seven
months in the Nassau County
Police Academy training in
the newest police techniques
before returning to the
Freeport Police Department
for on the job-training with
seasoned officers. Officials
report that at least three more
officers will be recruited this
June once candidates are
screened for appointment
through the Nassau County
Civil Service Commission.
According to police offi-cials,
this marks the second
largest police hiring in the
104 years of the Freeport
Police Department's history,
bringing the total member-ship
to 101 officers. Freeport
remains the second largest
Village Police Department in
New York State.
"As policewomen and
policemen you will be joining
a unique and special corps of
officers which is a special
privilege and opportunity for
advancement and personal
growth," Wissler said. "To
each one of you, we say wel-come
and best wishes for a
long, safe and successful
career with the Freeport
Police Department."
After swearing the officers
in and presenting them with
their badges, Wissler said,
"This is a needed boost to
police operations within the
photo by Jeff Jonap
Mayor Richard Wissler and Chief Edward Locke swear in
Freeport's newest officers: Cynthia Boots, Thomas Seaman,
Jason Zimmer, Lawrence Home, Chris Pandolfo, Juan
Adames, William Luikart, Thomas Williams, Patrick Tristram,
Steven Margiotta, Joseph Ippoliti, and Timothy Nolan.
Village. The stringent selec- pleted the tough selection
tion and interviewing process
required of candidates shows
that these officers will be
quality additions to our exem-plary
force."
Three of the probationary
officers previously were New
York City Police Officers.
"These recruits were among
those who successfully corn-process
to become a Freeport
Police officer," Chief Locke
stated.
Freeporters interested in
pursuing a law enforcement
career with the Freeport
Police Department should
contact Nassau County Civil
Service Commission for addi-tional
details.
FREEPORT'S NEWEST ADDITION OpENS..After two years of
construction, Meadowbrook Care Center officials held a
grand opening of the long-anticipated nursing home. Mayor
Richard Wissler officiated the ceremony with Center
Operator Joe Block (second left) and Developer Sidney Engel
(third right) and cut the ribbon on the state of the art facility.
Also joining Wissler is Nassau County Comptroller Fred
Parola and Nassau County Legislator Darlene Harris.
—Budget from page two
wide.
Addressing the media,
Wissler said, "It has been my
top priority to ensure that the
resources of the Village are
managed with the fiscal
restraint and prudence that
the economic times in which
we live demand. The people
of the Village of Freeport,
simply cannot tolerate any
increases in taxes. As elected
officials, we are stewards of
the public trust. That trust
demands that we manage the
resources of our respective
municipalities in the most
cost-effective and efficient
way possible for the benefit
of the people we serve."
The proposed budget also
includes the implementation
of the Freeport Fireman
Service Awards/Pension pro-gram
and an increase in the
police force through autho-rization
of positions for fif-teen
more officers.
"Even with such additions,
we have stayed within the
anticipated parameters of the
97-98 budget."
The proposed budget is
subject to public comment at
public hearing this month at
Village Hall. The budget
must be adopted by resolution
by February 1,1997.
* --:iii M
Volume 4 No. 1
January 1997
'Keeping More of \Vhat You Earn7
g Wissler Proposes Zero Tax Hike for Third Consecutive Year
§
1995
"... a budget that calls
for a no tax increase, a
feat virtually unheard
of in a municipality the
size of Freeport. The
Village budget incorpo-rated
twenty-nine of
Trustee Richard
Wissler's proposed
cuts."
1996
^r^^ «-*'
1997
16 meetings + 74 ho
Mayor's Pledge for
"It was a long haul. 11
involved lightening the fis-cal
belt, revisions, revisions,
and more revisions.-but we
did it," a Village Budget
(earn member exclaimed
January 22, after Mayor
Richard Wissler and the
Board of Trustees adopted a
zero percent tax increase for
the 1996/97 Village Bud-get—
the second time a no-tax-
hike budget was adopted
since 1965.
Beginning in early Sep-tember,
Mayor Wissler and
the Budget team began the
The budget is as lean as
we could make it," Mayor
Wissler, who is also the
Budget Officer, said, "We
Comprehensi1
The Comprehensive Plan
Tfesk Force schedule has
planning sessions and 10 pub-
Tbd
muely 375 residents,
young and old. hive
the 120 public meetings.
Of the more than 3O
spouses, the Task Force
beard both verbally and
writings, the public
regarding quality of
social issues greatly
the need for new changes
most two to one. Some
It was a long haul. It
involved tightening the
belt, revisions, revisions,
and more revisions...but
we did it...the second time
a no tax-hike budget was
adopted since 1965."
mayor of
Freeport yesterday
released his 1997 bud-get
proposal, which if
passes as is, would
mark the Village's third
consecutive year with-out
a tax increase..."
continued on page 2
It's ^Your Money/,
Freeport Mayor Richard R.
Wissler made a New Year's
resolution for the Village of
Freeport in the form of an his-toric
third consecutive year
zero percent tax increase. In
a recent press conference,
Wissler announced his pro-posed
no tax hike budget for
the fiscal year commencing
March 1, 1997 to February
28, 1998.
"For the third straight year
in a row, and for the only
three years out of the last thir-ty
years, we have held the line
on taxes—Zero, Zip, Nada!"
Wissler said. "In these diffi-cult
fiscal times in
which we live, I can
assure you, this is
no small feat and
I am deeply proud
of it."
No other Long
Island village can
boast a three-peat zero per-cent
tax increase perfor-mance.
Surrounding Long
Island villages such as Valley
Stream, Rockville Centre,
Lynbrook and Hempstead
have all shown tax hikes in
the most recent budget
years—some increases as
high.as 9.5%.
As it has for the past three
years, the tax rate in the
Village remains the same—
just $19.98 per hundred dol-lars
of assessed valuation.
"Most significant about
this budget," Wissler claims is
that together with the support
of the Board of Trustees, the
administration will be able to
do for the third year in a row,
what it has been able to do
since Wissler has been in
office,—"to deliver a zero tax
increase without any decrease
whatsoever in the services
delivered to our residents—
Keeping more of what you
earn."
Wissler's proposed budget
totals $32,938,779, an
increase of about $2.7 million
dollars over the current bud-get.
However, that increase
will be met by increases in
revenues in the form of inter-nal
transfers from the
Village's wholly-owned water
utility—without any increase
in rates.
The Mayor explains the
road to zero percent by
increases in revenues, from
uncollected fines and penal-ties
due the Village, and from
the anticipated sale of Village
property which will be real-ized
during the coming
year.
The following high-lights
of the budget
made serious
impacts in Wissler's
proposal:
"The property from the
Meadowbrook Care Center,
Freeport's newest nursing
home, is back on the tax rolls.
"Formally bonded items
have now been added to the
Village operating budget.
0 The Village currently dis-tributes
police cars, which
have an average life of five
years, to other village depart-ments.
The Mayor proposes
selling these older police
vehicles at a higher price after
five years and purchasing
more efficient, less expensive
cars for code enforcement,
traffic and meter enforcers.
"Adding security officers
and completing the security
plans for Village Hall.
"Such new offices to be
created are the Office of
Tourism and the Long Island
Gas Consortium
"Wissler's proposals
include an annual $8.00
reduction in refuse collec-tion
fees, per unit, Village-cont'd
back page
Letters to Village HalV
EDUCATIONAL
^^
FREEPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
P. O. BOX BO. FRUPORT. NSWTORttU
EXCELLENCE
JOHN W. OODD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
(516)867- 5280
PRINCIPAL
JAMES BROWN
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
Sharon McCabe
Robert Micucci
November 4,1996
Mayor Richard Wissler : -
Incorporated Village of Freeport -
46 No. Ocean Avenue "' .
Freeport, NY 11520 :"
Dear Mayor Wissler . ,
Thank you once again for the prompt response to the problem that we recently brought'to your,
attention regarding suspicious activity and loitering taking place in the area surrounding the_ _••
school. This suspicious activity had been a matter of increasing concern in the municipal parking
lot, as well as the parking lot across the street, and on Guy Lombardo Avenue.
The Freeport Police Department has been very visible in the problem areas each day after school,
and the questionable activity has subsided. Many of the faculty and staff of Dodd have
commented to me on the police presence in the area in the afternoon. They have expressed that
not only do they feel safer, but that their concern for our students being subjected to drug activity
has eased.
The Freeport Public School system and the Freeport Police Department have always maintained
an excellent working relationship. Again, let me express my appreciation for the excellent way
in which this matter is being handled. The Freeport community is fortunate to have such a fine
Mayor and police force.
You have handled all matters that we, the school community, have brought to your attention
during your tenure as Mayor in a timely manner. The fact that you have availed yourself to meet
with me and other representatives of the Dodd community on several occasions to help solve our
problems is an indication of your concern for our young people. We appreciate all you do for us,
as well as for the Incorporated Village of Freeport.
On a personal note, as Principal of John W. Dodd Junior High School, it is gratifying (o know
that Freeport has a Mayor who cares so much about our young people. I truly hope that the
citizens of Freeport realize your dedication.
As always, please feel free to call on me if I may be of assistance to you in the future.
Souath S'teeet!/ Seapoirt MuiseMm Sigm Lease With Village
At a December 15,1996 ceremony, Mayor Wissler and South Street Seaport Museum President Peter Neill signed a lease on former
Maresca Boatyard property which will house a South Street Seaport Museum annex, the Long Island Marine Education Center
Centra Biblico school singers visited Village Hall last month and
serenaded employees with holiday songs. The goodwill gesture has
become an annual tradition between Village government and the
school.
n stride with Freeport Mayor Richard Wissler's plans to
boost Freeport's tourism and improve the aesthetics of the
Nautical Mile, South Street Seaport Museum President
Peter Neill and the Mayor, signed a lease on 96,000 square
feet of Nautical Mile property for the Museum's newest ven-ture,
the Long Island Marine Education Center.
"Freeport's claim as the 'Boating and Fishing Capital of
the East' depends largely on the uses and activities occurring
in the Woodcleft canal area," Mayor Wissler said. "This part-nership
is one major step towards preserving and promoting
our waterfront with the help of this world renown maritime
institution."
Scheduled to open this spring, the "Seaport at Freeport"
will house permanent exhibits on marine ecology, promote
regional maritime traditions such as commercial fishing,
waterfront entertainment and boat-building.
Famous boats such as Guy Lombardo's racing boat Tempo
and locally built vessels such as Al Grover's record setting
Trans-Atlantic boat will be displayed among hundreds of
photographs, videos and objects of nostalgia once the muse-um
is in full operation. An internship program with Freeport
High School and several of Long Island's private and public
colleges is also planned for the center.
"This is truly an historic day for the South Street Seaport
Museum," Peter Neill stated. "Freeport is an ideal site for our
program as it is a community diverse and dynamic and home
to one of the last fishing fleets on the island."
The property also boasts 200 running foot (65ft) of bulk-head
property on the canal side and 82,000 square feet of
land with a 5,400 square foot building. Mayor Wissler's
administration moved to acquire the property for a bargain
$300,000 in June, 1996. The program will operate under the
auspices of New York City's South Street Seaport and will be
financially self-sustaining.
In addition to solidifying this long anticipated project,
Mayor Wissler-released a 55-page waterfront revitalization
report summing up the current condition of the Nautical Mile
and recommendations for significant changes to its infrastruc-ture.
Urban planning firm Buckhurst, Fish and Jaquemart pre-pared
the study and used the Village's aims to increase public
access to the waterfront, improve aesthetics to promenades
and landscaping, and introduce new water-dependent or
water-related uses for vacancies within Freeport's waterfront
areas.
The report also suggests increases in parking spaces, his-torical
markers, a reduction in traffic activity, and a clearly
defined gateway to the Nautical Mile consistent with a nauti-cal
design theme.
"This report is in tune with our aspirations of redesigning
the Nautical Mile. With the construction of a pier, a board-walk,
a pedestrian promenade, and antique lighting and pave-ment,
coming this spring, Freeport is going to get a major
facelift," Wissler said.
South Street Seaport Museum Signs Lease With Village
W CfcV»\^llrlC - .— —- «r":8s;.A.:.>^;»?s3&i
SOUTH
Af a December 15,1996 ceremony, Mayor Wissler and South Street Seaport Museum President Peter Neill signed a lease on former
Maresca Boatyard property which will house a South Street Seaport Museum annex, the Long Island Marine Education Center
In stride with Freeport Mayor Richard Wissler'sjpjans to
boost Freeport's tourism and improve the aesthetics of the
Nautical Mile, South Street Seaport Museum President'
Peter Neill and the Mayor, signed a lease on 96,000 square
feet of Nautical Mile property for the Museum's newest ven-ture,
the Long Island-Marine Education Cenierr~~~"p~sr~~~" ~
"Freeport's claim as the 'Boating arid Fishing Capital of
the East' depends largely on the uses and activities occurring
in the Woodcleft "canal area," Mayor Wissler said. "This parfc-'-
nership is one major "step towards preserving and promoting •'_*
our waterfront .with the help of this worldi renown^ maritime.^
institution."'"'1 ''-"' ~ 's*\^'-^-'- '^^^-t^f^ v^^-rlS^'
Scheduled to open this spring, the "Seaport at Freeport"
will house permanent exhibits on marine ecology, promote .
regional maritime traditions such as commercial fishing, I: :•
waterfront^nter^riment:
^amousjboate suchi as GuyJ^mbardpJf racing boat Te
and focaily-built vessels such as Al Graver's recordiretting7;^
Trans:Atlahtic boat wilj[be displayed among hundreds bf^*2~
photographs; videos and objects of nostalgia once the"muse-.~:
urn'is in full "operation. An internship pro'grarri'with Freeport
High School and several of Long Island's private and public
colleges"is also planned for the centerr"" -'-.'--'— - --'-'"'-----
"This is truly an historic day for the South Street Seaport
Museum," Peter Neill stated. "Freeport is an ideal site for our
program as it is a community diverse and dynamic and home
to one of the last fishing fleets on the island."
The property also boasts 200 running foot (65ft) of bulk-" . i .... .:-• • _-. - • . -vl-j. '•-• T=iii .. - ... Pacaa.-jj:-\-«y««/<3ae- .;. . ..j_-Ji..: head property on the canal sideband 82,(^JDIsquar|lfeet'bf>s.">"v":
land with a 5,400 square foot building. ^Miyo'rVWssier's;^^
administration moved to acquire the property for a bargains K??~
$300,000 in June, 1996. The proiram'will operlte imder . •-•.-• ' _• .2 :?^r- -^.^ • •r--- -sis.'.^,. •. , .• -. :i'-_.4_.
auspices of New York CityJ^SouthJStreet Seaport and/will
fiimnaanncriiaaililvy ' ' '
.;->-••! ;;• -"I/n» •a dj dj i.ti-on' .
Mayor Wissiir-reeased a 55^g1e7waterfrohtT«vitalization%
report summirmliplhe^c^r^S^nlditiori^^tn^ Nautical^Miielf
v •;«"j.^.'h.*-'.-!-v 'fr.^r- v:i_s:-'5-*:-^S^^-«*^^;4;-i.»S&^rtvsV-v.^g^5£Sf5-v- Ua?, and recommendations for significantchanges to its infrastruc-^*
i-~- *•-" ~ ~toi*iS£—w.^i-';v- ~=SV- TB'it''j -JnTT--''-^T-VijgiT'V^'i--^"'^^-q£'tVTjTT'->rtftiB^i'•-I±£&3K-F£s*: >.-r™J^.-« ff;£^Urban planning firm^^^hu^^F^h^a^^J^uemart pre-.^
pared the study and useH the \lllage'f?airnTto'7increasiB public"" ^... :~ , - ,,,._., - ^ ^ * _' . ,._••,_',««. -~^ Lt-^;51^-iT^-*u^ . "'iVi-'^VJj.-i^l'iJ.T^tl^.-v;', _ -<- -^L--_^r.. .-: * _ / .-•..•
access to the
areas.- * ™ * ~ ~ ~ pr^^^^ ' ' " '
'-^- The fe'port also suggests?increaises in parkihg spaces; his-f^-
torical markers, a reductipiTin traffic actiyif^^d'a clearly-:=.
defined gateway to the Nautical Mile consisfenXwith a nauti^
cal design themeP^-- £•'-^-^^' - ^^V^' ' :. _f-;\;
"This'report is'in tune with our'aspirations of .redesigning^
the Nautical Mile. With the construction of a pier, a board-:
walk, a pedestrian promenade, and antique lighting and pave-ment,
coming this spring, Freeport is going to get a major"
facelift," Wissler said. .
South Street Seaport Museum Signs Lease With Village
The property also boasts 200 mnhing.foot: (65ft);of bulk---
head property on the canal side and 82,00(f squire feet of: -
land with a 5,400 square foot building. Mayor Wissler'sf '• .
administration moved to acquire the property for a bargain >.-
$300,000 in June, 1996. The program will operate under the':o
auspices of New York City's S^uth Street Seaport and will be-financiallyself-
sustaining^}i£^?H"?r? '-"'W^,
;:i;.Irf addition to'solidifying this long anticipated project,V
Mayor Wissler-released a 55:page waterfront revitalization^f-report
summing up the current condition of the Nautical Mile?
.? ^vs-s*^ >.;?&. s •*.'!•-"."•'-- -^^-"rjs?^.,.' i - & f - K : . - - . ' , - . - "i&yy*-"- -"
At a December 15,1996 ceremony, Mayor Wissler and South Street Seaport Museum President Peter Neill signed a lease on former
Maresca Boatyard property which will house a South Street Seaport Museum annex, the Long Island Marine Education Center
In stride with Freeport Mayor Richard Wissler's plans to
boost Freepbrt's tourism and improve the aesthetics of the
Nautical Mile, South Street Seaport Museum President
Peter Neill and the Mayor, signed a lease on 96,000 square
feet of Nautical Mile property for the Museum's newest ven-ture,
the Long Island Marine Education Cente;T7'~7"*?-7!'Trr."*"
"Freeport's claim as the 'Boating and Fishing Capital of
the East' depends largely on the uses'and activities occurring , .
in the Woodcleft cahaJLarea," Mayor Wissler said. "This part--
nership is one major'step towards preserving and pTromotmgYji"
our waterfront with the help 'of this world1 renown"marifimjff;^
institution." '. ' '" ::A-*"-'"t"- "-'• ^^^^.^"i'^y*-^-
Scheduled to open this spring, the "Seaport ait Freeport"^
will house permanent exhibits on marine ecology,, promote"!"
regional maritime traditions such as commercial fishing^ 1. r
waterfront entertainment and boaNbjiilding^^*"^
Farnous^bpats such as Guy LombardqV racing bj^
and^ locally jjuiit vesscils such'.as Al^ bfover'slrecordTettmg^
Trans-Atlantic boat wiU be displayejd^among^hundredVof^^
photographs, videos and objects of nostalgia once the'muselr
um is in full operation. An internship program with Freeport
High School and several of Long Island's private and public
colleges is also planned for the center?"'"''' : *; ---:_::- .
"This is truly an historic day for the South Street Seaport
Museum," Peter Neill stated. "Freeport is an ideal site for our
program as itjs a community diverse and dynamic and home
to one of the last fishing fleets on the island."
•^~.Urban planning firm BucWiurst,_FisJ^and1 Jaquemart pre-pared
the study and used the \^liag^rs^aims^' in^reais¥ public
-« - -- - - »^m- - 1-- -v - - *-tUsc1*.-". - • r.'&zZi'i-^t,^ •^~-t5\.~?iu~':i:i "iLTiir^r r i_^r ^. *•••»»•*•». •• - * —••_ . access tor the waterrrpnt, imprgve_aesthetics; to promenades _"
and I a n d s l s a u n g i r o d c d e e 1
^-- Trie report also suggests_increases in parkinjg spaces, his^^
torical markers, a reductidin'irrtraffic activityrand a clearly ::
r
defined gateway to the Nautical Mile consistent with a nauti-"
cal design theme/:^= **¥$:•*&*..•-. . ^ v v -.^
"This report is in tune with our aspirations of redesigning H
the Nautical Mile. With the construction of a pier, a board- -'
walk, a pedestrian promenade, and antique lighting and pave-ment,
coming this spring, Freeport is going to get a major
facelift," Wissler said. -" -