By TIFFANY RAZZANO
DeClue, 56, began his career with the village as a building inspector in 1974. He was named senior building inspector in 1978, deputy superintendent in 1984, and department supervisor in 1985. Though no decision has been made about his replacement, DeClue said he assumes that current Deputy Superintendent Thomas Domanico will be promoted to superintendent.
"I've known Steve DeClue for the 32 years that he has worked here," said Mayor Eugene Murray. "He's been an excellent employee who worked his way from building inspector to become superintendent of buildings. ... He was dedicated to his job and to the Rockville Centre building department. The building superintendent is a very important and a very stressful job, due to the fact that you have to say no to people when they want to disregard building or zoning laws of the village." Murray added that DeClue was an excellent boss, standing behind all of his employees and their decisions. "We wish him well in the future, and we will miss him here in Rockville Centre," Murray said.
Before he came to work for the village, DeClue was a construction inspector for Nassau County from 1972 to 1974. He graduated from Baldwin High School in 1968, and went on to attend Dowling College. He originally wanted to become an airline pilot, but after working in construction during his summers in college, he decided to take the civil service test to become a building inspector. "Ultimately," he said, "it was a lucky thing to get into." Nonetheless, he graduated from Dowling in 1972 with a degree in liberal and professional studies.
DeClue, who lives in Bethpage, is very much looking forward to retirement, as he is engaged to be married in June. And he won't stop working altogether. He will serve as a consultant for Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Neck and Woodsburg. "I have many other projects in the offing," he said. "I [also] intend to stay active in local affairs and will comment if I see it is necessary."
Over the years, DeClue says, he has been able to work on many interesting cases and has seen many changes in the Rockville Centre landscape. His proudest achievement is the improvement of Sunrise Highway. "When I first started with the village, Sunrise, from Able Ford to where TGIF is now located, all the way down to basically Karp [Auto], that whole stretch was basically a lot of buildings that were in need of much repair or replacement," he said. "Over the years, they have all been upgraded to their current state."
Another case that stands out in DeClue's memory is Dusty Acres, a controversial development in the 1980s of a 30-house subdivision on a lot that was once an athletic field. "It was interesting having 30 houses built at once," DeClue said. "In a village the size of Rockville Centre, it was probably one of the first large, controversial projects of the modern era to happen."
One of his most recent controversial cases was an application to build a home on a vacant 60- x 100-foot lot on Arrandale Road. Though DeClue indicated that it was a legal lot to build on, he said he was admonished for the decision and the applicant was denied permission to build on the lot. The applicant took the village to the Nassau County Supreme Court, which agreed with DeClue that it was a legal lot.
"It was a difficult decision to make, all things considered," DeClue said, "but I always try to do what's in the best interest of the village. I hope I'm known for doing the right thing no matter how hard the decision is. If that's my legacy, then I'd be proud to have it as my legacy."
As buildings department superintendent, DeClue often found himself making tough decisions that weren't popular. "I think the zoning code over the years has been the subject of many changes," he said. "It takes a lot of interpretation to make a decision on some of the nonconforming properties. This is probably where the greatest experience is required, to make an intelligent decision in that area, and it has probably proved to be the most difficult and challenging part of the job."
Still, DeClue will remember his village career fondly. "I think Rockville Centre is a fantastic and unique place," he said. "I've been lucky enough to have been a part of it for the past 32 years, 21 as superintendent of buildings. Every decision I've been called upon to make - and there have been many - I have made in the best interest of the village and its residents. ... I'd like to thank Mayor Eugene Murray for all his support over the years; he is truly a quintessential mayor. Also, I wish my successor all the luck in the world, whoever he may be, and may he also be guided by the best interests of the village of Rockville Centre and its residents."
Comments? TRazzano@liherald.com
