BY JUDY RATTNER
A crowd of over 50 residents watched and listened last Wednesday, as Bossart narrated a "retrospective" featuring old-time village photographs that provided a historical perspective on Rockville Centre's development and growth. Follwing the slide presentation, Bossart moderated the first of what she said would be continuing discussions on issues of concern in the village, raised by the attendees.
She prefaced the forum, held in the American Legion Hall on Maple Ave., by saying her goal for the evening would be to try to get citizens involved and working together, rather than merely acting as "consumers of municipal planning."
"We all do consume," she said, "but we need to establish a cooperative situation in which we work together for the common good, and we need to set priorities." She said that Rockville Centre residents "need to change the conversation, it has gotten too loud." Residents voiced concern over topics that included the removal of the mailbox on the north side of Merrick Road, opposite the post office; the ticket and parking situation downtown and how it affects local businesses and residents trying to shop and dine in Rockville Centre; the recent increase in violent crime in the village; staffing levels at the police department; enforcement of underage drinking codes; what is perceived as an increase in speeding and running stop signs in the village; and Molloy College's plans to expand and the potential impact on parking and traffic.
Bossart also said that she believes the tone of the dialogue in Rockville Centre needs to change because while the village's leaders are not actually yelling, they are having problems coversing and hearing each other. "There needs to be greater cooperation and balance," she said. "Tone and spirit in the village mean alot," she said, "not just the buildings."
