June 2016

                                                               NCVOA JUNE 2016 NEWSLETTER
                                                                                                  Post Office Box 484, New yde Park, NY 11040
                                                                                                        516-437-1455                       (F)516-437-1456

                                                                                                                                  www.ncvoa.org

 

“Election and Installation of Officers”

                                                                     Thursday, June 30, 2016

Westbury Manor

Westbury, NY

Photo Op/Cash Bar 6:30PM

Dinner /Program 7:30PM

Installing Officer and Guest Speaker

Hon. Steve Israel

                                                

Congressman Steve Israel represents New York’s 3rd Congressional District, encompassing northeast Queens and the townships of North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Huntington and Smithtown.  Much of the area is famously known as the historic “Gold Coast.” He is the sixth ranking member of the House Democratic Leadership, serving as Chair of Policy & Communications, where he focuses on the issue of middle-class economic security and opportunity. While speaking to the House Democratic Caucus in 2013, former President Bill Clinton called Congressman Israel “one of the most thoughtful people in the House of Representatives.”

 2016 Nominating Committee Report:

 

On June 6, 2016, the Nominating Committee of the Nassau County Village Officials Association met by telephonic meeting to confer and determine a slate of officers for the 2016-17 year.

 

The members of the Nominating Committee, appointed by President Barbara Donno, are: Peter I. Cavallaro (Chairman); David Tanner; Gerard Tangredi; Jean Celender; Dennis Sgambati

 

After a discussion, the Nominating Committee selected the following persons to stand for election to the following offices:

 

Hon. Bernard Ryba, Mayor, Village of Old Brookville – President

 

       Hon. Robert Kennedy, Mayor, Village of Freeport – 1st Vice President

 

Hon. Elaine Phillips, Village of Flower Hill – 2nd Vice President

 

Hon. Ralph Ekstrand, Mayor, Village of Farmingdale – Treasurer

From the President’s Desk:

Dear Mayors and Trustees:

Alexander Graham Bell once said, “Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you.”

As I conclude my tenure as NCVOA President, I am amazed how fast the time went. During the past 12 months, I have been so fortunate to serve as your president and work with a great team of dedicated and talented professionals. Unfortunately, Warren will not allow me ample space in the newsletter to recognize everyone individually. I would, however, like to call out a few I have worked with closely during the past year and who mean so much to me:

  • Executive Committee – They devoted their time and energy to help create policies and strategies to guide our organization through these challenging times. I appreciate their support and look forward to continuing working with them in the years ahead.

    

  • Warren Tackenberg – Our NCVOA Executive Director is exactly as Past President Peter Cavallaro described him – the heart and soul of our organization. He works tirelessly to ensure our operation runs smoothly and efficiently and I appreciate all his efforts. I will not, however, miss his daily 8 am phone calls!
  • Gary Fishberg – As NCVOA counsel, Gary’s intimate knowledge of village government and laws have been invaluable to me and our entire organization.
  • Eric Ricioppo- For taking my thoughts and turning them into words!

I also would like to recognize John Kiernan, our Albany lobbyist, for his outstanding work in Albany on behalf of our organization, and Peter Baynes and the NYCOM staff for all their efforts in making village issues legislative priorities.

It has been my distinct honor to have served as president of this outstanding organization. I met many newly elected village officials. I also strengthened my relationships with some of our more tenured colleagues. To say we have endured many challenges together would be an understatement. This experience has magnified my appreciation for the resolve of our mayors and trustees. Your commitment to your communities is unequaled at any level of government. You are true public servants and I have been proud to stand with you as we continue to do what is best for our residents and communities.

Finally, I would like to publicly thank my husband, Rob. He is my rock and my partner. His support has allowed me the opportunity to serve my village and this fine organization.

I am confident that Bernie Ryba, our incoming president, and the new officers and Executive Committee will continue to take our organization to new heights. I will continue to work with the NCVOA doing what we do best- to inform, to educate and to advocate for all 64 Nassau County villages. If I leave you with anything it is to remember that we each bring something to the table, that there is always something we can learn and that we can always learn from each other. As mayors and trustees we are the guardians of our villages, that proverbial front line. And most important, we are strongest when we stand together.

Thank you, again, for a great experience.

Sincerely and with great appreciation,

Barbara Donno

 NCVOA Supports Mainline Mayors on Third Track:

The NCVOA recently sent Governor Cuomo the following letter in response to a request from the mainline village mayors whose communities are directly impacted by the proposed LIRR third track.

June 3, 2016

Hon. Andrew Cuomo

Governor, State of New York

Executive Chamber, The State Capitol

Albany, N.Y. 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo:

The Nassau County Village Officials Association (NCVOA) represents Nassau County’s 64 incorporated villages with more that than 450,000 residents.

Recently, eight mayors of villages in close proximity to the Long Island Rail Road mainline corridor expressed their concerns regarding your proposed third track project. Their initial concerns and suggestions are described in the attached letter received by NCVOA from the Mainline Mayors, dated May 16, 2016. In essence, the Mainline Mayors and communities would (i) like to have a clear understanding on the justification for the third track project, as well as complete project details prior to making a commitment on the project; (ii) urge that the seven-point service improvement plan advocated by LIRR President Nowakowski be pursued prior to the project; and (iii) want to see the vital and universally desired grade crossing elimination project pursued in lieu of the third track project.

Also, as you know, the original third track project from almost a decade ago was met with longstanding community opposition. Your version has mitigated many of the major concerns; however, an undertaking of this magnitude warrants sufficient community input. The initial 60-day scoping period falls short of providing adequate time for such vital input, and we support the Mainline Mayors’ call for extending the scoping period for the third track project.

Accordingly, the NCVOA supports the mainline villages’ request for complete and timely disclosure of the full third track plan, as well as their request to extend the scoping period beyond its scheduled June 13, 2016 end date. This will provide additional opportunity for residents and businesses to contribute to the process.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Barbara Donno, President

Nassau County Village Officials Association

cc: Mayor Schreiber, Village Bellerose; Mayor Tweedy, Village of Floral Park;             Mayor Episcopia, Village of Garden City; Mayor Strauss, Village of Mineola;           Mayor Lofaro, Village of New Hyde Park; Mayor Prime, Village of South Floral Park; Mayor Tangredi, Village of Stewart Manor; Mayor Cavallaro, VillageWestbury.

                                                            May 2016 Meeting Attendees

NYCOM Deputy Director Barbara VanEpps (c) with NCVOA officers Bob Kennedy, 2nd vice president; Elaine Phillips, treasurer; Barbara Donno, president; and Bernie Ryba, 1st vice president

NYCOM Deputy Director Barbara VanEpps addresses the NCVOA membershipNYCOM Deputy Director Barbara VanEpps addresses the NCVOA membership

NCVOA President Barbara Donno with Great Neck Plaza Trustee Pam Marksheid

East Hills Special Assistant to the Mayor Spencer Kanis, NCVOA 1st Vice President and Old Brookville Mayor Bernie Ryba, and NCVOA Treasurer and Flower Hill Mayor Elaine Phillips

Farmingdale Deputy Mayor Pat Christiansen and Trustee Cheryl Parisi with Bellerose Trustee John Tweedy

Hempstead Trustee Don Ryan and Flower Hill Treasurer Kathy Wade

NCVOA Past President and East Williston Mayor David Tanner with Freeport Deputy Mayor Jorge Martinez

 

North Hills Trustee Elliott Arnold, Clerk Marianne Lobaccaro, and Deputy Mayor Dennis Sgambati

Plandome Heights Mayor Ken Riscica (l) and Trustee Al Solomon with Baxter Estates Mayor Nora Haagenson

Sea Cliff Deputy Mayor Ed Lieberman, NCVOA 1st Vice President Bernie Ryba, and Mineola Trustee George Durham

 

Thomaston Mayor James Sharkey and Rockville Centre Mayor Fran Murray

.

Town of Hempstead’s Bert Patterson with Cedarhurst Mayor Ben Weinstock

 

NCVOA President Barbara Donno with Garden City Trustee Robert Bolebruch

Mineola Administrator Joe Scalero, NCVOA 2nd Vice President and Freeport Mayor Bob Kennedy, and Garden City Mayor Nick Episcopia

NCVOA Banner
The Last Word:

 

“You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try-”           Beverly Sills

 

 

.

.

The Last Word:

Copyright © 2023 | Nassau County Village Officials Association