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Overcast Updates from Village Hall
No merger needed for Freeport Police Department
Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy provided The Leader with a brief statement concerning news in late June that Nassau County had hired Beau Dietl & Associates to write a feasibility study about the possibility of consolidating the Hempstead and Freeport Village Police Departments into the Nassau County Police force. Kennedy said “it is my understanding that Nassau County accidently included Freeport in the merger analysis report and no additional actions are required.
“Nassau County has a great police department,” Kennedy said. “However, the Freeport Police proficiency, expertise and response time of 1.5 minutes cannot be matched by any other police department and it would be irresponsible for anyone to consider a merger of these departments.”
Nassau County’s Minority Leader, Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) said in a statement that the consolidation “was a four paragraph analysis that under any fair reading is superficial at best.”
Armory bill sinks
New York State legislation to transfer ownership of the Freeport Armory to the non-profit Cedarmore Corporation to be used for youth programs was pulled from the state Assembly earlier this month. The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Earlene Hooper, has had a long and controversial history that pitted Hooper and supporters of the Cedarmore programs against the Village of Freeport, other Freeport residents as well as neighbors in Merrick.
Meanwhile, State Senator Michael Venditto has authored a bill in the state Senate for Village acquisition of the Armory that is awaiting approval.
“The ‘majority’ has spoken loudly and the Assembly, Senate, and Governor listened,” commented Mayor Kennedy. “This year, the failed attempt to move this bill thru the Assembly just proves that our representatives in Albany are reacting to the voices and needs of the Freeport residents. A special thanks to the Freeport Board of Trustees, Senator Michael Venditto, Assemblyman Brian Curran, the NCVOA, Freeport Fire Department, Freeport Police Department, and all the residents that supported this administration’s opposition to gifting the Armory to a non-profit organization,” he said.
“Post Superstorm Sandy, the Village of Freeport realizes that the Armory is a safe, secure, and economically feasible location to relocate the Department of Public Works. The sale of the existing waterfront Department of Public Works property and recurring property tax revenues would be a financial windfall for all Freeport residents for years to come.”
