By Jonann Brady
About 30 residents attended the forum last Wednesday at the Coral House, where three candidates -- incumbent Dennis Meekins and challengers Linda Degen and Ralph Rose -- laid out their positions on issues from reducing taxes to cleaning sidewalks to expanding recycling programs.
In opening statements, Rose, a Town of Hempstead sanitation worker for 33 years, said, "Vote for me and I'll work for free." Rose said sanitation commissioners, like school board trustees or fire commissioners, should not be paid a $7,500 yearly salary or receive benefits. He also said that he would look for ways to cut corners in the district's $7.5 million budget.
Degen, in her second run for commissioner, said her focus in last year's race was rooting out patronage in the district, and though improvements have been made, there is "much left to be done." She pointed to her experience with civil service and contract negotiations, and said she would work to reduce taxes and lobby for a county ordinance to require store owners to be responsible for cleaning from door to curb in front of their businesses.
Meekins said that as the longest-serving commissioner, he was proud of progress that has been made by the current board, including the Big Sweep, the Classy Cans project with the Chamber of Commerce and the implementation of alternate-side-of-the-street parking. He acknowledged that there was still room for improvement and said the board was looking into new projects, including making store owners responsible by law for cleaning in front of their storefronts.
Regarding improvements the candidates would like to see in the district, Rose said the board has to work to eliminate wasteful spending by looking for duplicated services. Degen said the district needs to use more workers to clean major roads like Grand Avenue by hand. Meekins said he would work to get community organizations and young people involved in maintaining a clean environment.
To reduce expenses, Degen said that as people retire, positions need to be reviewed to see if they can be eliminated. She added that she would be extremely thorough in looking at products the district buys, from "toilet paper to trucks." Rose reiterated that, if elected, he could save the district $50,000 or more by eliminating commissioners' salaries and benefit packages.
Meekins said that there is a "very fine line ... [people] want service and progress." But he explained that the district has had trouble making progress in recycling because the market for recyclables has dried up recently. On the topic of recycling, Rose said he would like to see the state's Bottle Bill expanded to include non-carbonated drinks like water and iced tea.
All three candidates said that shop owners must be held responsible for the front of their stores through a combination of education, code enforcement and increasing fines. Meekins said the current board has stepped up fines and has spotlighted "businesses of the month" that keep their neighborhoods clean.
All three also said that they would represent the entire district -- Baldwin, South Hempstead and Roosevelt -- though none said that the bylaws of the district should be changed to require at least one seat for each town. Degen said that if elected, she would appoint herself the representative for South Hempstead and Roosevelt.
In summing up her personal qualities for the commissioner's position, Degen joked, "I have a big mouth. Everybody knows that." But she went on to say she was thorough, detail-oriented, a hard worker with good ideas and not beholden to anyone for favors.
Meekins highlighted his nearly 15 years of experience on the board, saying he knows "the ins and outs" of the district. He added that the existing board has "gelled."
Rose again pointed to his 33 years with the Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department and his extensive "hands-on" experience. "I'm a believer in being a public servant," he said.
Voting for Sanitary District No. 2 commissioner will take place on Thursday, July 31 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the following locations: Sanitary District No. 2 office, 2080 Grand Ave., Baldwin; Covert School, Long Beach Road, South Hempstead; Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, 196 Centennial Ave., Roosevelt.
