By Anne Marie Allocca
On April 4, Mayor Edward Cahill presided over the village's annual Reorganization Meeting at Village Hall. When it came time to announce the appointments for the zoning board, Cahill re-appointed longtime board member Jon Brandt to another five- year term, and appointed alternate Gerard Frusci to a four-year term, leaving board member Tom Hauck without a position after eleven years.
Speculation by attendees at a recent BZA meetings had Hauck, who had been up for reappointment since last year, on the way out. Even Hauck himself admits he saw the writing on the wall.
"I was kind of like a lame duck since last April," Hauck said. "It didn't surprise me. I kind of got wind that it was probably going to happen. Ken Bond (the chairman of the BZA) called me and said, 'Tom I've got some bad news.' They had a meeting and I was not appointed. It bothers me a little only in the sense that as far as I'm concerned I had no political allegiance to anybody. I approached the zoning board with a very open mind. My only real goal was to make Valley Stream better."
Hauck speculated that his stand on a certain issue might have played a hand in the decision. "I got a sneaking suspicion over the last few months because I started digging in my heels on the mother/daughter issue. Deep down I just wonder whether that was an issue. I always asked Mike McKenna (the Village attorney) why won't they change the law. What was a good law back in the 50s and 60s, absolutely is being completely abused right now. You get houses with 15 people in it. To say they meet the parking requirement, there is more to it than just that."
Hauck, a Valley Streamer since 1982, felt his architectural background was a very valuable asset during his tenure on the BZA. "At the end of the day, I really felt what I brought to the board - I had some expertise in at least some of the things that were going on," he said. "I've got to be honest. I think we had a really good board. I think the board was very fair in a lot of their decisions. There was never anything personal against anybody. I live here. Why wouldn't I want to make it better for the village? I took a lot of heat on the King Kullen and I still think King Kullen is great."
Ken Bond, board chairman, respects the decision, but will miss Hauck on the board. "Tom did a spectacular job I thought," Bond said. "He brought a lot to the board. He was here almost as long as I have been. He was definitely an asset to the board. He brought a lot of expertise to the board, but Gerry Frusci is very capable, too. And I wish Gerry well."
This change is the first for the mayor regarding the BZA. He explains what went into the decision.
"It's not a permanent job," Cahill said. "You have to change the job and get a different outlook and a different view, give somebody else a chance to work and bring their views into the zoning board. Tom has done a great job. I'm very pleased with him and we thank him. Gerry is a retired fireman with fire laws and inspection experience."
Cahill added, "[Frusci] is into construction and architecture so he brings those views into looking at every aspect of zoning decision whether it's fire or fire laws or construction or architect."
Regarding his decision to renew longtime board member Jon Brandt for another term, Cahill said, "Jon has been a member of the board for many years. He brings a streetwise experience to the board. I'm pleased with the work that he does. I don't come to a lot of meetings because I don't want them to think I'm a watchdog...[but] I review everything. I read everything that they are voting on."
The mayor added that he plans to review other boards and make future changes.
Frusci has been attending BZA meetings for several months now as an alternate. He has been living in Valley Stream since 1969 and raised three children, who also live in the area.
"I'm very proud that this community supported their growth," said Frusci, who owns a construction company, but is semi-retired. "They love living here, too. They, like myself, want to serve their community. Basically I've been involved in building for 40 years. I have a degree in fire science so I've been interested in that aspect. I would like to see what I can do to help my community."
Several years ago the mayor asked if Frusci wanted to be an alternate on the BZA.
"I thought it would be interesting so I did it," Frusci said. "I enjoy getting the mail and reviewing it. I would come every other week and review the plans. It's very interesting the things that arise and the people you meet."
Hauck spends his days as a principal of the architectural firm Highland Associates in Manhattan and admits he'll miss the BZA meetings. "I'm going to miss the Greens and people like that," he said. "They want good for the village, but life goes on. I offered Ken if he ever needed any help to by all means give me a call. I wish them the best of luck."
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