By:JOHN BORRELLI
Romano will try to bring in new businesses
The Village of East Rockaway elected a new trustee on March 20. Bruno Romano wants to see business development in the village. He says keeping businesses in East Rockaway is important to the community and will ultimately benefit taxpayers.
"I like to see activity," Romano said. There are a few vacant stores in the village, not many. I would like to see those stores open for business. It's good for the community."
Romano also hopes his constituents do business where they live. "If we can keep shoppers in the village, they'll save tax money."
One way to attract business is to make the business area more attractive. East Rockaway's waterfront property is some of its most prominent and generally most expensive. Romano said that improvements to the waterfront, already under way, will "attract more business and relieve the tax burden." Among the improvements scheduled is new bulkheading, which will be installed at the Talfor Boat Basin this summer.
Romano said that recent improvements in the village have made East Rockaway look better than ever. He mentioned specifically the library, which has been improved both inside and out. "A lot of money has been spent to renovate the library," he said. "And they have more computers now, so students can go there to do their homework. They also have a good collection of videos and CDs that can be borrowed."
The village received $40,000 through Nassau County's Operation Downtown that will help pay for new sidewalks, improved lighting and new benches from Rhame Ave. to the waterfront. An additional $60,000 will be used for commercial rehabilitation, which includes fixing building facades in the business area.
A resident of the village since 1965, Romano, 41, has worked in the import-export business for 21 years, since he graduated from Nassau Community College in 1982. He started his own company a few years ago, and holds the position of vice president of operations.
"We do a lot of business in Spain, Portugal and Italy," he said. They ship such products as shoes, fashion apparel and olive oil, a product that has seen a huge increase as an import, to the states.
Romano has a daughter, Amanda, 11, and is planning to remarry this month. The wedding is set for 3 p.m. on April 22 at St. Raymond's Church in East Rockaway.
Romano ran unopposed. He is the only new official to be elected in East Rockaway last month, receiving 401 of the 433 votes cast. Romano joins current village trustees Joe Carrigan, Richard Meagher and Ed Sieben. He replaces Elaine Boll, who retired.
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WHAT DO YOU THINK?
What concerns do you have about your community? Let Bruno Romano know. Send e-mail to villeditor@liherald.com. All messages will be forwarded to Bruno Romano.
