Lawrence village meeting schedule not always followed

Twice already in its schedule of meetings set at the July organizational meeting, and once earlier this year, the Village of Lawrence changed meeting dates that had already been publicized.

The scheduled Nov. 10 was moved up to Nov. 1 to accommodate trustee C. Simon Felder, who was out of town on Nov. 10. The meeting slated for Dec. 8 was moved to Dec. 15, also to accommodate board members who will be out of town, according to Village of Administrator David Smollett. “We wanted everyone there. That’s why we made the accommodations,” Smollett said.

“It is a mistake to accommodate anyone,” said trustee Michael Fragin, who views the village meeting schedule as a “moving target,” due to the changes being made.

Lawrence typically schedules its meetings for the first Thursday of every month.

Geraldine Schneider, a resident whose opinion is shared by others who would not speak on the record, noted that one of the board meetings scheduled on May 12, which included discussion of the proposed plan to widen Williams Street, was well publicized, including a posting in her Central Avenue apartment building. A subsequent meeting date was changed and not as well publicized, she said.

“Evidently they had a meeting without letting us know and we had no opportunity to have our say,” Schneider said. “We were not part of the meeting; that is our concern.”

Village trustee Edward I. Klar said that although a schedule is set in July, there are business, family and other commitments that are unknown at that time. “We attempt wherever possible to have our regular meeting when scheduled, but also try to ensure, to the extent possible, that all trustees can be present,” Klar said. “In my seven-plus years as trustee, I know of no change of a meeting date to try to eliminate or reduce the public’s participation.”

In comparison, the Village of Cedarhurst has set the first Monday of every month as the day for their meetings. The village plans according to the calendar and makes accommodations for holidays such as Labor Day and moves its November meeting to the second Monday due to Election Day. “In my nine years here I don’t remember changing a meeting date,” said Sal Evola, Cedarhurst’s village administrator.

New York State law regarding villages doesn’t prescribe the frequency of village meetings. Village boards set the schedule and it is adopted by resolution at the organizational meeting.

But villages are legally required to post dates of their board meeting in public areas easily accessible to residents such as village halls, post office and libraries, and list it in the local official village newspaper.

“Trustees must post notice of a change within 72 hours,” said Peggy Caltabiano, president of the Long Island Village Clerks and Treasurers Association and village administrator for Massapequa Park. It isn’t often that her village changes meeting dates, she said.

The new day and dates for the past two Lawrence meetings were posted by Smollett within that time frame.

It is regrettable that meeting dates are changed to accommodate trustees, said Village Mayor Martin Oliner, but it’s not to avoid public scrutiny. “To the contrary, I am available all the time and no trustees are looking to avoid anything,” he said. “Our meetings are open forums.”