September 2017
NCVOA September 2017 NEWSLETTER
published by the
Nassau County Village Officials Association
P O Box 484, New Hyde Park, NY 11040
516-437-1455 f516 437 1456
It’s here. Time to honor an official and past president who richly deserves your
gratitude and applause
2017-2018 Testimonial Dinner
Honoring Mayor Bernard Ryba
NCVOA Immediate Past President
and Mayor of the Village of
Old Brookville
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Westbury Manor, Westbury, NY
Cocktail Hour 6:30PM -7:30PM
Dinner Program -8:00PM
___________________
Guest Speakers
HONORABLE THOMAS SUOZZI
NY 3rd Congressional District
and
HONORABLE ELAINE PHILLIPS
NY State 7th Senate District
For more information on this event please contact
NCVOA co-Director Warren Tackenberg
at 516-437-1455 or exec@ncvoa.org
Thank you
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK:
Dear Colleagues:
It is hard to believe another Long Island summer is ending. One of the highlights of living in a waterfront community is summer. In the Village of Freeport, our residents look forward to spending quality time outdoors in nice weather. We were grateful for this season’s terrific weather and I hope you and your residents had a fantastic summer as well.
The end of summer also signals the beginning of election season. This year promises to be one of the most interesting in several years as Nassau County residents will decide on a new county executive and comptroller as well as three new members of the 19-seat legislature. As NCVOA president, one of my primary goals is to address the inequity of the current sales tax sharing legislation. For the first time in years, the current county budget allocated no money to villages from the sales tax revenue it collected. Villages generate millions in sales tax revenue annually. To intentionally deny villages a share of this revenue is insulting and inequitable. I believe we need to correct this inequity once and for all by having state legislation approved that will give villages equal sharing status with the towns and cities by mandating a percentage be distributed among villages.
As I mentioned in my previous message, in addition to the sales tax revenue injustice I would like to see the organization address Nassau County’s dysfunctional assessment system, spearhead the effort to install surge barriers to protect Nassau County from future catastrophic flooding, and continue our push to increase AIM funding and reduce unfunded state mandates.
The NCVOA is a formidable organization representing 64 incorporated villages with more than 450,000 residents. We know the adage “There is strength in numbers.” We need to unite our efforts to secure these important objectives for our villages. That is why your involvement is critical to our success. I will be reaching out to each village during my tenure to encourage active participation in the NCVOA. We can be successful if we work together in communicating our positions to our county and state colleagues.
Recognizing Over a Century of Service
This summer I was fortunate to attend a very special occasion as Roger Fay, former mayor of the Village of Williston Park, NCVOA past president and executive director emeritus, celebrated his 100th birthday. Roger has been a fixture in our organization since 1960 and his knowledge and insight has been invaluable.
I also learned long-time Lattingtown Mayor Clarence Michalis is retiring after 48 years in this role. This milestone makes Clarence the longest tenured mayor in the State of New York.
Roger and Clarence combine for more than 100 years of public service! We appreciate and salute these unselfish public servants who truly have made a difference in their communities and wish them continued good health in the years ahead.
Mayor Ryba to be Honored at Annual Dinner
The annual NCVOA Dinner and Testimonial is right around the corner. This year’s event honors NCVOA Immediate Past President Bernie Ryba for his service to the NCVOA in 2016-2017. Bernie was a dynamic leader and I was fortunate to work with him on the Executive Committee.
The date of this year’s dinner is Thursday, September 14th at the Westbury Manor. The cocktail reception begins at 6:30 pm, followed by the dinner/program at 8 pm. There is still time to secure tickets by contacting Warren Tackenberg at exec@ncvoa.org.
I look forward to recognizing Bernie and sharing the evening with you.
Sincerely,
Robert Kennedy
President
SAVE THE DATE
For
“Meet the Candidates Night”
Sponsored by the Nassau County Village Officials Association
Candidates for the Office of Nassau County Executive from both the Republican and Democratic parties will meet in a one hour debate to see who is the most qualified to govern the 1,300,000 residents of our County.
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
6:30PM to 8:30PM
LIU CW Post College
720 Northern Blvd.
Brookville, NY 115485
516-299-2000
More information on the candidates and their positions in our NCVOA October 2017 newsletter.
NCVOA Salutes Fay and Michalis for More than a Century of Public Service
“The quality, not the longevity of one’s life is what is important.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
When Dr. King penned those words, most likely he was thinking of people whose beliefs were similar to his – – individuals who devote their time, energy and passion to making the world a better place.
When we think of these special people, two long-time public servants instantly come to mind – former mayors Roger Fay and Clarence Michalis.
Throughout their entire lives, Roger and Clarence viewed the world from the eyes of their neighbors. They served their communities not for monetary compensation; rather, they recognized the importance of good government and becoming involved for the benefit of others.
Roger Fay was elected Mayor of the Village of Williston Park in 1960. In 1968, he was elected NCVOA President. Roger continued his involvement in the NCVOA, spending over 20 years as the NCVOA Executive Director. As Roger celebrates his 100th birthday, he still is active in our organization as NCVOA Director Emeritus. Roger continues to be a wealth of historical knowledge, helping guide the next generation of village mayors as they grow and develop.
On July 15, 2017, residents and officialswere present as the Village of Williston Park honored Roger Fay for his dedication and devotion to their village. Williston Park. Mayor Paul Ehrbar cited Roger on his long years of service and as a birthday present Roger was given a sign that stated that Roger’s home street of Broad Street would now be known as Roger Fay Street in the Village of Williston Park.
NCVOA officials were also on hand to celebrate the occasion. Our Association President Mayor Robert Kennedy spoke glowingly of Roger’s accomplishments and recognized him as an active member of the NCVOA Executive Board by dedicating a rose garden in Rogers name and a plaque honoring the occasion. Also in attendance from the NCVOA were Mayor Dave Tanner of East Williston, Trustee Hillary Becker of Lynbrook,NCVOA co-Executive Directors Warren Tackenberg, former mayor of New Hyde Park and Ralph Kreitzman former mayor of Great Neck.
Clarence Michalis’ story is a little different. After 48 years as Mayor of the Village of Lattingtown, Clarence decided to retire. This milestone earned him the distinction of being the longest sitting village mayor in New York State.
We salute these two outstanding public servants for over a century of public service. It is no wonder Long Island is a great place to live.
The Last Word:” What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
Henry S. Haskins
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