October 2017

NCVOA OCTOBER 2017 NEWSLETTER

Published by the Nassau County Village Officials Association

Post Office Box 484, New Hyde Park, NY 11040

NCVOA October 2017 General Membership Meeting

“Nassau County Village Officials to Host Meet the

Candidates for Nassau County Executive Debate “

Tuesday, October 17, 2017 -6:45PM

Sponsored by the Nassau County Village Officials Association

Hillwood Commons Lecture Hall

LIU-CW Post University,

720 Northern Blvd., Brookville, NY11548

The Nassau County Village Officials Association (NCVOA) will host a debate between Nassau County Executive candidates Republican Jack Martins, former state senator, and Democrat Laura Curran, county legislator. The NCVOA represents Nassau County’s 64 incorporated villages with more than 450,000 residents – approximately one-third the county population.

The NCVOA Meet the Candidates for Nassau County Executive debate will be held Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at LIU –Post University’s Hillwood Commons Lecture Hall, 720 Northern Blvd. in Brookville, beginning at 6:45 pm.

“Nassau County is at a critical juncture,” said Ralph J. Kreitzman, NCVOA executive director. “We are pleased to provide a forum for the candidates to articulate their visions and plans so residents can make informed decisions on election day. We look forward to a spirited discussion of the issues and challenges and encourage the public to attend.”

Admission is free of charge. Seating is limited and is first come, first served.

Jack Martins is the Republican, Conservative and Reform Party nominee for Nassau County Executive. Jack is a former three-term New York State Senator, the former Mayor of Mineola, and lives in Nassau with his wife and four daughters. Jack Martins is focused on making Nassau County a better place to live, work and raise a family. As Nassau County Executive, Jack is committed to ending the corruption that has compromised the public’s trust in government, protecting local property taxpayers and creating an economic renaissance to provide a brighter future for the middle class. The election is November 7, 2017.

As Mayor of Mineola, Martins developed balanced, fiscally responsible budgets and debt management plans that substantially reduced Mineola’s debt and returned the village to a sound financial footing. He also led the effort to create Mineola’s award-winning master redevelopment plan that expanded the village’s economic base through smart growth principles.

As a State Senator, Martins enacted an historic series of balanced, on-time state budgets while cutting state taxes on middle-class families to the lowest level in 50 years and delivering record state funding for Nassau County schools.

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Lauren Curran, 49, of Baldwin, is serving her second term in the Nassau County Legislature and is the Democratic nominee for Nassau County Executive. Curran moved to Baldwin in 1997 with her husband, where they now live with their three daughters. She received her bachelor’s degree in humanities from Sarah Lawrence College and did some graduate work in American studies at the CUNY Graduate School. She is a former reporter for the New York Daily News and New York Post. She later worked part-time in the press office of former Democratic Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, now a congressman in the Third District. Curran was elected to the Baldwin school board in 2010 and served one term before joining the Legislature. As a Legislator, Curran spearheaded efforts to waive rebuilding fees for Sandy victims, help veteran-owned businesses win County contracts, and establish a Land Bank to rid our communities of blighted ‘Zombie Homes.’ She’s running for County Executive because, as a Legislator, she’s had a front row seat to the corruption, the dysfunction, and the mismanagement in County government and she’s got a plan to fix it. Curran’s already rolled out real reforms to end the culture of corruption and give Nassau County the fresh start it deserves. She’s also got the vision to help Nassau grow for the future by attracting new residents and businesses to expand our tax base.

FROM THE PRESIDENTS DESK:

Dear Colleagues:

Our new year began on a positive note as our first event after the summer break was the 92nd Annual NCVOA Dinner and Testimonial. More than 200 elected officials, friends, and guests gathered September 14 at the Westbury Manor to honor NCVOA Immediate Past President Bernie Ryba for his service to our organization in 2016-2017. I found it encouraging to have 45 of the 64 member villages represented at the event. I know Bernie and his family enjoyed this much-deserved tribute. I especially would like to thank Congressman Tom Suozzi and NYS Senator Elaine Phillips for taking time from their busy schedules to deliver the keynote addresses and join us in saluting Mayor Ryba.

County Executive Candidates Debate Set for October 17

Once again, the NCVOA will host a debate with the county executive candidates. This year’s forum will be held Tuesday, October 17, 2017 in the Hillwood Commons Lecture Hall at LIU-CW Post University, 275 Northern Blvd. in Brookville, beginning at 6:45 pm. It features Republican Jack Martins and Democrat Laura Curran.

This is a critical election for Nassau County, particularly village residents. The candidates will be articulating their positions and responding to questions on several issues important to villages, foremost being sales tax revenue sharing. After receiving no sales tax revenue from the county this year, we will be looking for commitments from both candidates to support state legislation mandating villages receive the same sales tax sharing as the towns and cities. We also will be seeking support for the NCVOA’s initiative to install storm surge barrier gates on two south shore inlets to prevent future flooding resulting from catastrophic hurricanes and storms as well as a change in the county’s dysfunctional assessment system.

The debate will be held in lieu of our regular October meeting so I encourage all villages to invite their staffs and residents to attend. It is vital to our organization that the candidates understand villages represent a third of the county’s population and we are united on these issues. NCVOA co-Executive Director Ralph Kreitzman already distributed a PDF flyer to all villages. Please print and distribute this flyer to your residents and throughout your villages. We also will be contacting each village to obtain a commitment to attend.

I first became active in the NCVOA after being elected village trustee in 2009 and have been a member of the Executive Committee since becoming mayor in 2013. Several issues will be on the NCVOA agenda and take priority for this year, including;

• Fair distribution of sales tax to Nassau County Villages

• Installation of “Surge Barrier Gates” at Jones Inlet and Reynolds Inlet

• Secure additional AIM Funding

American journalist Mark Shields once said: “There is always strength in numbers. The more individuals or organizations that you can rally to your cause, the better.” Never has his words resonated more loudly for the NCVOA.We know we can wield tremendous influence with our state and county legislators. This will only materialize if they feel pressure from their village officials and their residents. I urge you and your village to help us keep the NCVOA a formidable force by being active and participating in our activities and efforts.

I look forward to seeing you at the October 17, 2017 debate.

Sincerely,

Mayor Robert T. Kennedy

President

Robert T. Kennedy

Mayor

Incorporated Village of Freeport

Mayor Ryba Honored at Annual Dinner:

The Honorable Bernard Ryba, mayor of the Village of Old Brookville and NCVOA immediate past president, was honored at the 92nd NCVOA Annual Dinner Gala and Testimonial.

More than 200 guests attended the September 14th event, held at the Westbury Manor in Westbury. Congressman Tom Suozzi and NYS Senator Elaine Phillips delivered the keynote addresses and joined other elected officials and guests in recognizing Mayor Ryba’s contributions as NCVOA President from 2016-2017.

2017 Annual Dinner/ Testimonial Meeting Attendees

The Last Word: “Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” Vince Lombardi