By Dana Williams
The two candidates are seeking to be elected to a one-year trustee seat on March 18.
The incumbent
O-Brien, 49, was appointed by Malverne Mayor Patricia McDonald to fill her vacated trustee seat last March after she was elected mayor. Since accepting the position, O-Brien said, he has worked diligently to foster a professional and friendly working relationship among village officials. O-Brien, a former chief of the Malverne Fire Department, currently serves as the village board-s liaison to the Malverne Library Board.
There was a rift between the library board and village board prior to me becoming the liaison, O-Brien explained. Now, both boards are very receptive to each other-s needs and wants ... and this is one accomplishment that I-m very proud of.
As the Board of Trustees- liaison to the Beautification Committee and Malverne-s Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, O-Brien also helped to advance refurbishments to a number of parks in Malverne including Rocco Carbone Park on Church Street. Last October, village officials held a re-opening ceremony for the toddler park, which features new playground equipment and woodchip surface as well as aesthetic improvements. Continuing his work to improve other parks in the village is another reason that inspired O-Brien to run in this year-s election.
We-re currently looking at grants and estimates for refurbishing Westwood Park because we want to put new lights in on its walkway and replace a wall in the front of the park that is crumbling, O-Brien said. We also need to keep our infrastructure up by continuing to repave our roads and just performing the needed maintenance to our buildings.
The challenger
If elected, Panzarella, 67, said he would continue his efforts to obtain grants to fund road, park and other needed improvements in the village. The effort, he said, is one way elected officials can keep taxes from increasing. During his two consecutive terms as mayor from 1999 to March of last year, Panzarella said, he made numerous attempts to lobby in Mineola, Albany and Washington, D.C. for grants. Last year, Panzarella also submitted a funding estimate to Sen. Dean Skelos for the refurbishment of Rocco Carbone Park.
I came up with literally millions of dollars in grants for the village as mayor, Panzarella said. All of these grants are very important because that-s less money in taxes that residents have to pay.
O-Brien noted, however, that the village board has been successful in lowering the tax burden on residents by working collectively to decrease the previously proposed village budget-s tax increasewhich was submitted by the Panzarella administration last yearfrom 12.5 percent to 4.5 percent. The village board was able to reduce this increase probably within the first 30 days of taking office last March, O-Brien said. There is no ÔI- with this board because we work together to try to control taxes and to serve the residents of this village.
Improving the village
Panzarella, who also served as a village trustee from 1996 to 1999, said he will also work to improve day-to-day operations throughout the village if he wins the upcoming election. For example, he said he will push for hiring an accountant to review the village-s budget on daily basis to prevent wasteful spending, an initiative he also took when he served as mayor.
As a trustee, I will continue to make sure that our government is efficient and that there is no waste, he said. I prefer checking on matters on a day-to-day basis, so when it comes to budget season, officials are not looking back and asking questions about what was spent.
As a village trustee, Panzarella, who is a former research director to the New York State Senate, said he will also enforce building codes and continue the fight against illegal housing. While serving as mayor, he explained, he proposed and was able to get the village board to pass a Presumptive Evidence Law, which required homeowners to prove that they are not operating illegal apartments. The effort, Panzarella said, made establishing an illegal apartment more difficult, saved taxpayers money and improved safety in the village.
If elected, O-Brien said, he will use his business experience, which includes 27 years as an auditor for financial institutions, to help make sure all of the departments in Malverne are held accountable for their expenditures and other business related transactions. O-Brien is also a Certified Financial Services Auditor.
Part of what I do all the time as an auditor is look at budgets in different departments, how these departments are spending their money and who is approving the money that is being spent, O-Brien explained. As a trustee, I will continue to make sure that our departments are being held accountable because the taxpayers pay their money and their hard-earned dollars should be spent properly.
Strengths
When asked why voters should choose him on Election Day, O-Brien said that he believes his education and financial business experience will continue to be an asset to the Village of Malverne.My ability to work with the other board members in a very harmonious way is another strength that I have, O-Brien said. Our board works very well together and I-m hoping that residents will allow me to continue to work as one of their trustees.
Panzarella gave a similar response by saying that his 38 years of experience in government is why voters should elect him as trustee. My experience in government and my knowledge about state, county and village government will help to reap many benefits for the residents of Malverne, he said.
Candidates- backgrounds
O-Brien, a resident of Malverne for 41 years, currently works as a vice president of the Bank of New York Mellon-s Internal Audit department. He holds a bachelor-s degree in accounting from St. John-s University and a master of business administration with a concentration in finance degree from Adelphi University. O-Brien is also active in the Long Island chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors and currently serves on its Board of Governors.
Panzarella, who has lived in Malverne for 29 years, studied English at St. John-s University before working as the Albany Bureau Chief and political editor for the Long Island Press. He also served as a research director to the New York State Senate and press secretary to the Senate-s majority leader. He is now an information specialist for the Nassau County Parks Department.
Comments about this story? DWilliams@
liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
