Letters to the Rockville Centre Herald - June 16, 2011

Bossart and team have what it takes

To the Editor:

Four years ago I decided to seek the opportunity to help manage and lead the village I have lived in almost my entire life. Soon after a satisfying and successful campaign, the newly elected Mayor Mary Bossart, Trustee Dave Krasula and I were faced with many difficult challenges. Skyrocketing pension and health benefit costs paired with contractual salary increases granted during the previous administration made it nearly impossible to lead without making hard decisions. Like most governments, we faced the realities that the economy was soon to impose. We faced those challenges and made those decisions that were not, and are still not considered politically expedient.

I enjoyed working for my neighbors and am proud of our accomplishments. Unfortunately, I found myself with another difficult choice to make as I neared the end of my four years in office. I decided not to run for re-election, and leave with regret that I will not be part of the process started four years ago. I will be voting on June 21 for the Concerned Citizens team, as they have the education and experience to handle the financial uncertainties we continue to face. I urge all my fellow residents to support and re-elect Bossart and Krasula and to elect Michelle Sewell, whose financial background is an important asset in this economy.

Charles R. Joyce

Rockville Centre

Joyce is the village’s deputy mayor.

Supports Howard, Sepe and Murray

To the Editor:

  Last week I attended the forum to listen to the candidates for village office. During my tenure as a village trustee over an eight-year period, I served with 10 other residents on the village board. All of them should be thanked for their willingness to serve. But there is no question that some served the interests of the village better than others.  

I knew Nancy Howard from the Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts, for her work with the schools and for having hosted a get-together at her home when I ran for office. She is an extraordinary person. I hope that the residents give her a chance to serve us, as she has the combination of intelligence, experience and practicality that will serve us all well.

The person who surprised me the most was Mike Sepe. I had just met him a few weeks ago. I already knew that during his tenure in the district attorney’s office, he enjoyed a fine reputation. But hearing him speak publicly for the first time, he was passionate, bright and eloquent. If you didn’t hear him, you should; I hope that he gets the opportunity to serve this village along with Nancy Howard and Fran Murray.  

Wayne H. Lipton

Rockville Centre

Lipton is a former deputy mayor, village trustee and chairman of the planning board.

Don’t put politics before people

To the Editor:

I am the chairwoman of the Rockville Centre Planning Board, appointed to that position by former Mayor Eugene Murray.

For 18 months the planning board held public meetings specifically on the development of the new “McMansion” laws that were enacted earlier this year. Our recommendations went to the village board for consideration last November. After this, the Nassau County Planning Commission, as required, considered — and approved — the proposed laws. Two public hearings were held by the village board this year.

Fran Murray attended the planning board meetings on the development of the new laws as well as the village board hearings. He never spoke or raised an objection. If he thought there were problems, he had every opportunity to make them known.

When some architects expressed concerns after the new laws were enacted, the planning board met as quickly as possible after a public notice. Why? Because residents had building applications in process and we wanted to be responsive. Architects, developers and lawyers who attended our public meeting had the opportunity to speak, and many did. We made recommendations to the village board to modify the laws based on these concerns. Fran Murray attended, but remained silent. The village board then held two more public hearings and ultimately approved the recommended changes. Again, Fran Murray attended, but did not speak. Neither Michael Sepe nor Nancy Howard, both announced candidates at the time, spoke. Why not?

As a result of these new laws, McMansions are a thing of the past in Rockville Centre. Despite protestations to the contrary at the candidates forum and in campaign ads, Fran Murray knows this all too well.

I believe that residents always come first, but for RVC United, getting elected seems to be more important.

I became active in the village many years ago as president of the Southside Civic Association. I attended every meeting of the village board, zoning board and planning board. When I had a concern or disagreed with an issue, I spoke out. I was taught a valuable lesson by Mary Bossart and Eugene Murray: be more concerned for the residents than your political future. It’s a shame that RVC United’s candidates have not learned this lesson.

Mary Beth Kearns

Rockville Centre

Murray’s team is open, qualified

To the Editor:

On Tuesday, the residents of this village will be asked to elect a mayor, two trustees and a village justice. We write to wholeheartedly endorse and encourage our friends and neighbors to vote for Fran Murray for mayor, Nancy Howard for trustee, Michael Sepe for trustee and Bill Croutier for village justice.

Rockville Centre residents enjoy excellent schools, a strong, independent Police Department, low utility rates and superior recreational and community programs, to name a few. All of these combine to give our village a special character, which our elected officials and municipal employees must work hard to preserve.

Our village is also facing some serious problems — a weakening downtown business district, a continuing threat from outside criminal elements, a deteriorating infrastructure, including our roads and athletic fields, an ongoing parking problem, and union negotiations with the CSEA and members of the Police Department.

As former village trustees, we are familiar with these issues, and we also know that it takes a strong team to address them successfully. It is crucial to elect the RVC United team because they will all work together to preserve and enhance Rockville Centre and bring in many creative and talented individuals to help. We know each of them to be conscientious, well qualified, practical and above all, open-minded and approachable. The tone is set at the top, and we have no doubt that Fran, Nancy and Michael will immediately bring a new, more welcoming and sensible approach to Village Hall. They will be pro-business and pro-resident and foster a can-do environment.

On Election Day, we urge you to Vote Row “B” for the Best Team for Rockville Centre: Fran Murray for mayor, Nancy Howard for trustee and Michael Sepe for trustee.

Andrew P. Karamouzis

Suzanne M. Sullivan

Rockville Centre

Karamouzis and Sullivan are former village trustees.

Bossart serves RVC

To the Editor:

Although my professional life has been and remains in New York City, I have lived in Rockville Centre for more than 45 years and raised my family there. I love the village for a host of reasons and would not want to live anywhere else.

Over the years we have been blessed with many outstanding mayors who have served our village magnificently, but none better than our current mayor, Mary Bossart.

Our village is in serious financial circumstances, as are all governmental entities across the country, including our federal and state governments. In these difficult times, we need an experienced mayor who will make the tough decisions necessary to maintain fiscal discipline and at the same time ensure full value for every dollar expended. Mary Bossart has a proven track record in that regard.

But there is an additional reason why I support her re-election. Bossart is a person of unflinching and uncompromising integrity. Such public servants should be heralded at a time when public corruption is rampant.

James F. Gill

Rockville Centre

Murray has respect for village residents

To the Editor:

The phrase “fiscal responsibility” gets tossed about quite a bit these days. Fran Murray and RVC United started talking about alternate revenue streams, like grants, as part of their platform. Suddenly Mayor Mary Bossart and her administration are trying to jump on the grant bandwagon. I’d like to set the record straight.

  My husband and I moved to Rockville Centre from the city in the summer of 2006, drawn by good schools and an easy commute. It wasn’t long before we heard about the Beautification Committee, and figured it would be a great way to meet the locals, volunteer in the community and do something about the state of tree care in this village.

  One thing led to another and we found ourselves collaborating with the village Engineering Department and the Parks Department on a 52-page, $4.2 million grant proposal to improve the Mill River waterfront at Centennial Park and its sports fields, playground, pathways and overlooks. Former Mayor Eugene Murray wrote a letter of support, agreeing to the required matching funds.

$4.2 million may sound like a lot, but there’s an old expression, “Shoot for the moon and you’ll land among the stars.” Rockville Centre was awarded $325,000 by Nassau County.

  Being unfamiliar with local politics, I thought the hard part was over. What I didn’t know, and still don’t understand, is what happened next. Not only did Bossart and her board try to quash the grant, effectively sweeping it under the rug, but when I questioned them, I was scolded like a child and treated with irritation and contempt.

  After I initiated an online petition to support the grant and an article about their lack of support, Bossart called me personally to express her commitment to the project. So why did they turn down the money from Nassau County? That is the $325,000 question.

  You can’t achieve fiscal responsibility just by raising taxes, cutting services and writing parking tickets. When that well runs dry, you need to dig a new well.

  We need an administration that views grants as a necessary return on investment, rather than a political tactic, and treats residents with respect. That’s why I’m voting for Fran Murray and RVC United.

Leslie Price

Rockville Centre

Bossart & Co. will serve village well

To the Editor:

After listening to last week’s forum in the senior center, we were once again reminded of what makes Rockville Centre such a great place to live. It is the people who give so much of their time and talent to preserve and improve the services of our very special village. We would like to thank each of the candidates for having the courage, conviction, and energy to share their views on the issues. Each of you brings impressive credentials and sincere concern for the future of the village. For that we are truly grateful.   

  That said, on Tuesday we are going to the Recreation Center to decide who will lead us for the next four years. The team that wins will face the unenviable task of navigating through this sustained economic slowdown. It will require a team that will listen to the concerns of our community and then make tough decisions.  Inevitably there will be more things that we would like to do than we can afford to do.

While we understand that our fields may need some enhancements and we wish parking was easier, Rockville Centre remains a premier community on Long Island. It appears to us that while we may have a few more downtown vacancies than we did in more favorable economic times, we are faring as well or better than most of our neighboring towns. Most important to us is that over the past four years, the current administration has worked diligently to strengthen the financial practices of the village. That discipline and attention to detail will serve us well as we go forward.

  We ask you to join us in returning Mary Bossart, David Krasula and the Honorable William J. Croutier Jr. to office so that they will continue to lead our great village for the next four years.  They have proven themselves to be worthy of their positions and we are confident that Rockville Centre will be well served by the Concerned Citizens team. 

Carolyn and John Kirrane

Rockville Centre

Murray’s a proven business leader

To the Editor:

I’m sure by now everyone has heard the issues that candidates were debating for Tuesday’s village election, so there is no need to go deep into the details again.  Basically, this election is about the wonderful quality of life that generations of Rockville Centre residents have come to know and enjoy in our beautiful village. This election is about holding down taxes, fees and surcharges while identifying fair revenue sources to fund the village budget and maintain quality community services.

The bottom line is that village residents now have a great opportunity to elect a mayor who is a proven fiscal leader, an extremely successful professional who has guided and grown a local business for decades (through good and bad economic times) with great success, a local businessman who knows how to spend less than he earns while keeping his clients extremely satisfied with quality products and services.

I believe that Rockville Centre needs a mayor with a very strong business resume. And I am confident that Fran Murray is that individual.

At a time when rising taxes and unnecessary expenses are strangling hardworking residents; at a time when local businesses owners are struggling for economic stability; and at a time when necessary infrastructure repairs need to be addressed, maintained and resolved, Rockville Centre needs a business leader with a solid plan for our future.

On Tuesday, it is important to get out and vote. Please cast your ballot for Fran Murray for mayor, Nancy Howard and Mike Sepe for trustee and Bill Croutier Jr. for village justice.

My family and I have known Fran Murray and his family for many, many years. Fran Murray will be a great mayor for our village.

Jonathan Crist

Rockville Centre

Bossart and team are capable leaders

To the Editor:

Rockville Centre has been my home for 21 years. I’m proud of our village and the officials who work tirelessly to ensure a positive future for it and its residents. That is why on Tuesday, I’m casting my vote for the Concerned Citizens team — Mary Bossart for mayor, David Krasula and Michelle Sewell for trustee and William Croutier Jr. for village justice.

Mayor Bossart and her team have led the village through the worst economic recession since the Great Depression in a fiscally responsible manner. We all have to make sacrifices in these times. Bossart and Krasula have substantially eased the economic burden on taxpayers by properly investing in infrastructure, settling a $25 million lawsuit from the previous administration for only 5 cents on the dollar, and by establishing and maintaining a high credit

rating.

This is only a short list of the many accomplishments Bossart and Krasula have managed to keep our village thriving in these tough times. With her 20 years of experience on Wall Street, reviewing multi-million-dollar budgets, and her active involvement in the community, trustee candidate Michelle Sewell is the perfect addition to the Concerned Citizens team.

It’s all too easy to attack those currently in office. Fran Murray and the RVC United Party have run a campaign based on misinformation, false accusations and fear. I ask residents to step back, take a look at the big picture and look past the muddled story being promoted. Rockville Centre is not broken; it’s still a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Bossart, Krasula and Sewell have proven themselves responsible and capable leaders. Please join me in voting Row A, Concerned Citizens, on Election Day.

Matthew Geyer

Rockville Centre

Howard is fair

To the Editor:

I am writing to endorse Nancy Howard and the candidates of the RVC United Party.

I have lived in Rockville Centre for 15 years and have known Nancy Howard for most of those years. We have worked on many PTA committees together, raised funds for personal charities and were co-presidents of the Booster Club at South Side High School.   

Nancy is an extremely fair and open-minded person, devoting herself to each cause she becomes involved with. She is committed to bringing a sense of community back to Rockville Centre, and will work tirelessly with Fran Murray and Mike Sepe for the people of this village.

On Tuesday, vote for the RVC United Party’s candidates.

Lisa Gerrato

Rockville Centre