December 2018

NASSAU COUNTY VILLAGE OFFICIALS  ASSOCIATION

 

NCVOA DECEMBER 2018 NEWSLETTER

Published by the Nassau County Village Officials Association

Post Office Box 231239, Great Neck, NY 11023

Serving 64 villages with 450,000 village residents

NCVOA December 11, 2018

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Westbury Manor

Westbury, NY 

GALA HOLIDAY PARTY

 

CASH BAR-DINNER

                                                            6:30PM to 9:00PM        

Holiday Season Kicks Off December 11, 2018 at NCVOA Holiday Reception!

Special Invited Guest, the Honorable John Flanagan,NY State Senate

 FROM THE PRESIDENTS DESK:

Dear Colleagues:

Benjamin Franklin once said, “… but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Heading into Election Day 2018, you probably could have added Republican control of the New York State Senate as a third certainty. That’s because the GOP has been the Senate’s dominant party for the past five decades. However, on November 6, 2018 that unprecedented dominance came to a screeching halt.

Voters flocked to the polls this past Election Day to cast their votes, resulting in a surprising shift of power in the NYS Senate. Republicans saw their slim 32-31 voting edge disintegrate as Democrats ended the night with a 39-23 advantage. Long Island was significantly impacted as the GOP lost 4 seats: Monica Martinez defeated Dean Murray; James Gaughran defeated Carl Marcellino; Kevin Thomas defeated Kemp Hannon; and Anna Kaplan defeated Elaine Phillips. The ouster of Kemp Hannon, who has served since 1989 and Carl Marcellino, who was first elected in 1995, was particularly shocking. While Marcellino was in a dogfight with former Suffolk County Legislator and current Suffolk County Water Authority Chairman Gaughran, Hannon’s defeat by political neophyte Kevin Thomas was nothing short of stunning.

For our newly elected officials, I remind them of the often-quoted Chinese proverb, “Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.” With the Senate, Assembly, and Governor’s office controlled by Democrats, there are high expectations for change in New York State. All eyes will be on Long Island Senators Kaminsky, Brooks, Martinez, Gaughran, Kaplan and Thomas to see if they can mount substantial support and exert the influence necessary to protect Long Island interests. We look forward to sitting down with our new state legislators and providing them with insight as to the challenges facing village governments in their respective districts.

Peter Baynes and Michelle Schimel Address Members

We were fortunate to have NYCOM Executive Director Peter Baynes and former NYS Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel as our guest speakers at the November 13, 2018 General Membership Meeting.

Peter unveiled NYCOM’s new Regional Advocacy Initiative, designed to focus its advocacy efforts according to the different regions throughout the state.

Michelle is now Director of Community Outreach for the State of New York Mortgage Agency, also known as SONYMA. She explained a number of SONYMA programs, including how it partners with participating mortgage lenders to offer competitive fixed-rate mortgages with low down payment requirements for qualified first-time homebuyers across Long Island and New York State. A summary of those programs appears later in this newsletter.

We thank Peter and Michelle for taking time from their busy schedules to be with us and share important new information for our villages.

Senator Flanagan at December 11 Holiday Reception

The Tuesday, December 11, 2018 General Membership Meeting traditionally is our annual Holiday Reception, where we enjoy the opportunity to begin the holiday season on a positive note. This year we are especially fortunate to have NYS Senator John Flanagan join us. Senator Flanagan, the current majority leader, will relinquish his role as the Democrats take control of the Senate in January. The Senator was recently re-elected Senate Republican leader by his colleagues so it will be interesting to hear his perspective on the upcoming legislative session. Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 11, 6:30 pm, at The Westbury Manor in Westbury.

On behalf of the entire Executive Committee, I wish you and your family a very safe and happy holiday season and a New Year filled with good health and happiness.

Sincerely,

Mayor Ralph Ekstrand

 SONYMA Program:

The State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) offers mortgage programs to assist first-time homebuyers with the purchase of a home in New York State.

SONYMA programs feature competitive interest rates, low down payment requirements, flexible underwriting guidelines, no prepayment penalties and down payment assistance. Each of these features are designed to make the home purchase more affordable.

  • SONYMA offers 30-year, affordable, fixed-rate mortgages with long-term rate locks.
  • Down-payment assistance (DPAL) up to $15,000
  • Low 3% down payment options
  • A range of renovation loans to help purchase fixer-uppers as part of the mortgage.
  • Can be combined with other government and nonprofit grants, and employer homebuyer assistance benefits.
  • SONYMA mortgages are available to qualified buyers to purchase single-family homes, homes with two to four units, co-ops, and condominiums.
  • SONYMA offers 30-year, affordable, fixed-rate mortgages with long-term rate locks.
  • Down-payment assistance (DPAL) up to $15,000
  • Low 3% down payment options
  • A range of renovation loans to help purchase fixer-uppers as part of the mortgage.
  • Can be combined with other government and nonprofit grants, and employer homebuyer assistance benefits.
  • SONYMA mortgages are available to qualified buyers to purchase single-family homes, homes with two to four units, co-ops, and condominiums.

To learn more contact michelle.schimel@nyshcr.org or 212-872-0338 to set up a meeting or a presentation for your municipal employees or residents.

 November 2018 Meeting Attendees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friends of the NCVOA- Shawn Cullinane, NYCLASS Regional Director of Marketing, and Pat Mezeul, Flushing Bank Executive Vice President and Director of Government Banking

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Neck Plaza Mayor and NCVOA 1st Vice President Jean Celender, Former NYS Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, and Baxter Estates Mayor Nora Haagenson
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Neck Plaza Mayor and NCVOA 1st Vice President Jean Celender, Valley Stream Deputy Mayor Vincent Grasso, and Hempstead Mayor Don Ryan

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lynbrook Deputy Mayor Hilary Becker with former NYS Senator and Mineola Mayor Jack Martins
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mineola Trustee George Durham, OId Brookville Mayor and NCVOA Past President Bernie Ryba, and NCVOA Executive Director Emeritus Warren Tackenberg

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Hills Mayor and NCVOA Past President Marvin Natiss, Westbury Trustee Steve Corte, Westbury Mayor and NCVOA Past President Peter Cavallaro, and Baxter Estates Mayor Nora Haagenson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Neck Plaza Trustees Pam Marksheid and Jerry Schneiderman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newly elected Sea Cliff Mayor Ed Lieberman, Old Brookville Mayor and NCVOA President Bernie Ryba, and Upper Brookville Mayor Elliot Conway

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Hills Mayor and NCVOA Past President Marvin Natiss with former NYS Senator and Mineola Mayor Jack Martins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NYCOM Executive Director Peter Baynes, NCVOA Executive Director and Past President Ralph Kreitzman, and Plandome Manor Mayor and NCVOA Past President Barbara Donno
  The Last Word:

“True success is overcoming the fear

of being unsuccessful.”

                                  Paul Sweeney

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