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Overcast Fire District elections on Tuesday
Hewlett Bay and Meadowmere have contested races
Five local fire districts will hold elections for commissioners — and in one district, for treasurer — on Tuesday.
Each district is governed by a board of five commissioners who are responsible for setting budgets and levying property taxes on homes and businesses in the district, based on their assessed values. Budgets are submitted to the town clerk’s office.
A commissioner serves for five years, a treasurer for three years. Terms are staggered so only one commissioner runs per year, unless a district needs to fill an unexpired term.
Hewlett Bay
Incumbent Commissioner Anthony Vacchio is running for another five-year term, and is opposed by Paul Gressin, a 47-year Woodmere resident who has previously served as commissioner and chief. Vacchio did not respond to requests for an interview.
Gressin has been a commissioner on and off for the past 30 years, and is in his 51st year of service for the Fire District. As a state-licensed EMT, he said he understands the medical needs of the community and can best provide them. “I’ve held every line office within the district,” Gressin said. “I’m running because the Fire Department is facing a decrease in membership rolls and more responsibility is being put on them for ambulance service, so vigorous leadership is needed.”
The treasurer’s position is also on the ballot in the Hewlett Bay district. Benjamin Moleno, a 91-year-old Hewlett resident and a past president of the New York State Association of Fire Commissioners, is the incumbent. “I’ve kept the tax rate at a reasonable price,” he said of his treasury accomplishments.
Joseph Breslin, the son of sitting Commissioner Paul Breslin, is challenging Moleno. The 23-year-old Hewlett resident was a mathematics and actuarial science major at Penn State, and graduated in 2010. “I’m very confident I can perform the duties asked of me,” Breslin said. “People should vote for me because I’m smart and I’m an extremely hard worker.”
Hewlett Bay’s budget for 2012 is $1.79 million, a slight increase from this year’s $1.78 million.
Voting will take place between 5 and 9 p.m. at the Hewlett firehouse, at 25 Franklin Ave.
Meadowmere
