February 2017

 

NCVOA FEBRUARY 2017 NEWSLETTER

Published by the Nassau County Village Officials Association

Post Office Box 484, New Hyde Park, NY 11040

  516-437-1455      ncvoa.org       fax 516-437-1455

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NCVOA FEBRUARY 2017

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16,  2017-6:30 PM

Note date change

 Westbury Manor

Westbury, NY

Guest Speakers

     U.S. Corp of Engineers

NASSAU COUNTY BACK BAYS COASTAL STORM RISK MANAGEMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY

After seeing the destruction and havoc caused by Hurricane Sandy, Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy decided to investigate what options were available to his community and Nassau County to prevent a reoccurrence. This storm was a     

“ once in a hundred year storm” and when is the next hurricane coming, we just don’t know. What we do know, is that it will cause damage costing hundreds of millions of dollars.

It was time to think outside the box and with the crisis still in his mind, the mayor talked to everyone and anyone who would listen to him and his prodding bore fruit. On November 19, 2016, he met with Senator Schumer and proposed to have a set of Ocean Barrier Gates installed at the Jones Beach and Debs Inlets. Gates like the ones being recommended by Mayor Kennedy are already in operation in New Bedford Mass., Stanford, Conn., and one in Rotterdam, Holland.

Obviously, an undertaking like this does not come cheap, as the installation at Stamford and New Bedford cost $33 million dollars, but these gates have proven to be a success.

The Mayor must have been persuasive, as Senator Schumer secured a grant for $3 million dollars for the purposes of a feasibility study. The funds allocated will be utilized by the Army Corp of Engineers ($1,5 million dollars, New York State ($1 million dollars) and Nassau County ($500,000 dollars.)

The Army Corp of Engineers has graciously agreed to appear before the NCVOA general membership and to lay out the project and to give us their best estimate of the reality and time frame for this project. Mayor Kennedy not only believes that this project will benefit the south shore of Nassau County but will in effect save all our taxpayers countless millions of dollars. “The time to fix your roof is when the sun is shining”, Anon. 

Please mark Thursday, February 16, 2017 on your calendars to join with us for dinner and hear how this plan may be in the best interest for your Village and all of  Nassau County.

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From the President’s Desk:

On January 10^th, I had the pleasure of attending Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address at SUNY Farmingdale. You can imagine my surprise when the Governor proposed a new statewide initiative which would link current levels of AIM funding and that  villages, towns and cities (with a population of less than one million) to State legislative approval for each county in the State to hold a referendum this November on a county designed municipal consolidation plan. As you know, AIM funding levels for these types of municipalities has been frozen since 2008 at $715 million. Yet, since 2012 these same municipalities have been fiscally squeezed as evidenced by a statewide tax cap compliance rate of about 90% for a State tax cap which was often less than 2%. At this time, our villages need an increase in state aid – not the threat of a possible decrease.

 

     The New York Conference of Mayors is vigorously opposed to this proposal and most recently, Peter Baynes – Executive Director, appeared before the Joint State Legislative Fiscal Committee’s hearing on the Executive Budget making the argument that villages need an increase in State aid and a decrease in State mandates to assist in moderating the increase in local property taxes. For a transcript of his remarks, please refer to the NYCOM website.

    

  Warren Tackenberg and I plan to attend NYCOM’s winter legislative meeting in Albany on February 12-14. We expect to learn more about the status of the Governor’s proposal and will update our membership at our February 16^th general meeting.

 

Cablevision Audit: I am pleased  to report that Gary Fishberg, our Attorney and  Joe Messina of Municipal Audit have reached settlements with Cablevision on behalf of 33 Nassau Villages regarding franchise fees payable on DVR revenue. 

Notifications regarding the applicable settlement have recently been sent to each village. For those villages that were not notified and feel that they should have been part of the settlement or for those who would like to learn more, please contact Joe Messina at 516-220-3112.

     The NCVOA was pleased to invite Nassau County Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter to address the membership on January 10^th. Since assuming these responsibilities during February, 2014 the Acting Commissioner has been involved in several significant police initiatives. His insightful presentation was well received by attendance.   

Yours in Good Government

Bernie Ryba,

President NCVOA

Mayor of Old Brookville

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Acting Nassau Police Commissioner Talks Tough on Crime

Acting Nassau Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter was the guest speaker at the January 10, 2017 NCVOA General Membership Meeting. Sounding like a proud parent, Commissioner Krumpter began his remarks by stating, “Crime in Nassau County is down and we enjoy a level of safety no other communities enjoy. We are maximizing our return on our investment in resources.”

According to the Commissioner, Nassau County policing practices have become model resources for police departments around the world. “We are constantly evolving, becoming more sophisticated,” the Commissioner stated.

While commenting about the overall reduction in crime in Nassau County, the Commissioner

was quick to point out that a common denominator of most criminal activity occurring in Nassau County is heroin.

“Heroin use is at epidemic levels in our county. Our department uses a four-prong approach to combat it – education, awareness, enforcement, and intervention.”

Commissioner Krumpter discussed in details some of the department’s new initiatives implemented to combat and deter heroin-related crimes:

1. A Burglary Task Force was created to combat the increase in burglaries being fueled by widespread heroin use. Four detectives closed 42 burglary cases arresting those responsible for hundreds of burglaries.

2. Nassau County became the first police department in the country to administer Narcan to individuals suffering heroin overdose. In 2016, 460 people were saved from death by the timely administration of Narcan.

3. The Long Island Joint Heroin Task Force was created with representatives from Nassau and Suffolk police and the New York State Police. Ten detectives accounted for 190 felony arrests.

4. The department produced an anti-drug video entitled IMPACT, which captured five international film awards.

In addition to crime fighting activities, Commissioner Krumpter also discussed other changes made during the past year to improve department efficiencies:

1. Implementation of the single largest reorganization of top administration in department history with numerous promotions from within the ranks;

2. Major upgrade to the 800 MHz radio system;

3. Purchase of two, new Bell 4 helicopters equipped with sophisticated video system that allows video feeds to patrol cars in real time;

4. Purchase of a Rook tactical armored vehicle as part of its efforts to enhance Homeland Security;

5. In November 2015 the POP and COPE units were re-established with over 30 officers dedicated to local policing.

Following his remarks, Commissioner Krumpter fielded questions from the audience.

As always, the Commissioner’s presentation was extremely informative. We appreciate his taking time from his schedule to update us on the Nassau County Police Department’s operations and activities.

 

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 January 2017 Meeting Attendees:

Acting Nassau Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, NCVOA 1st Vice President and Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, and NCVOA Immediate Past President and Plandome Manor Mayor Barbara Donno	Acting Nassau Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, NCVOA President Bernie Ryba, and Centre Island Mayor Larry Schmidlapp
Garden City Trustee Robert Bolebruch, NCVOA Executive Director Warren Tackenberg, and Stewart Manor Mayor Jerry Tangredi	Manorhaven Mayor Jim Arena and Village Clerk Sharon Abramski with Baxter Estates Deputy Mayor Charles Comer
NCVOA President and Old Brookville Mayor Bernie Ryba with Stewart Manor Mayor Jerry Tangredi	NCVOA Past Presidents Ralph Kreitzman, former Great Neck Mayor, and Peter Cavallaro, Westbury Mayor
Newly appointed Sea Cliff Mayor Ed Lieberman with NCVOA Executive Director Warren Tackenberg	Peter MacKinnon, village attorney for Cove Neck, Upper Brookville and Roslyn Harbor, and NCVOA Past President and North Hills Mayor Marvin Natiss
Sands Point Village Clerk Liz Gaynor, Old Westbury Trustee Cory Baker and Chief of Police Robert Glaser	NCVOA President and Old Brookville Mayor Bernie Ryba with Stewart Manor Mayor Jerry Tangredi
Thomaston Mayor Steven Weinberg, Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender, and Garden City Mayor Nick Episcopia	NCVOA Banner
The Last Word: “Snowflakes are one of natures most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together.”      Vista M Kelly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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