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Test, test, test one, two.

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I am going to call the meeting to order and ask legislator to rigidly wait and to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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Please rise, everyone.

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Thank you very much.

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Mike, could you call the roll, please?

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Thank you, Presiding Officer. Roll call.

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Deputy Presiding Officer, Howard Coppell.

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Here.

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Thank you, alternate Deputy Presiding Officer, Denise Ford.

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Legislator C. Lafinoe.

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Legislator Carrier-Salage.

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Here.

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Thank you. Legislator Debra Muley. Legislator C. William Gaylord III. Legislator John Gervray.

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Here.

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Legislator Masi Palit.

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Here.

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Legislator Dillya Derigy-Witton. Legislator James Kennedy.

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Legislative Thomas McKevitt. Legislative Laura Schaefer. Legislative John Ferretti. Legislative

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Arnold Drucker. Legislative Rose Marie Walker. Legislative Joshua Lafazanne. Here. Thank

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you. Legislative Stephen Rhodes. Minority Leader Kavanaugh Abraham's. Uh, presiding

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officer Richard Nicolello. We have a quorum, sir.

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Okay, thank you very much. As is custom, our first order of business is going to be presentations

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to the top cops. If the public comment will follow the presentations to top cops, if you

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intend to make a comment, please submit a slip to the clerk's office at the table

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in the front and you'll be called when we do call the public comment portion to

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So to start things off with the top-cap presentations, I'd like to invite the PBA President Tom Shevill.

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Good

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afternoon everybody. Thank you for having us. I hope everybody's having a great day.

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On March 11, 2022, at approximately 3 p.m.,

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Police officer Ryan Patterson of the first precinct was driving off duty on Hicksville

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Road in Massapequa when he observed a two-car auto accident.

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One of the vehicles, a white Ford sedan, immediately ignited and within moments the

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front end was engulfed in fire.

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Officer Patterson stopped to render assistance.

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Upon approaching the burning vehicle, he observed that the driver was still inside.

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Officer Patterson, with complete disregard for his own personal safety and well-being,

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gained entry to the front driver's side door where the occupant was located.

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He then engaged the occupant, who was conscious but disoriented.

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It quickly became apparent that the driver was not able to get out of the vehicle on his own.

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At this time, the fire that had engulfed the front was now spreading to the cabin.

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Officer Patterson knew he had seconds to act before the fire consumed the interior of the vehicle with the driver inside.

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After multiple attempts, he was able to pull the driver from the vehicle and to safety.

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The driver was treated at the scene by Nassau County police medics and transported to NUMC for further medical treatment.

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For his courage, swift action and dedication to serving others, the PBA is proud to honor

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Ryan Patterson, legislative top cop for April 2022.

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Before Ryan speaks, I just wanted to point out the fact that this shows everybody that

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we are police officers 24-7.

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Ryan is off duty and pulls over to help another citizen, the community member. He risks his

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own life, even when he's not getting paid. That's what we're all about. We are police officers

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and we risk our lives every day on duty and off duty for all of you, our community and our

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neighbors. Thank you.

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My family and I would just like to thank you for this prestigious

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award for recognizing my actions as well as all my fellow brothers and sisters on

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the job. Thank you.

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Officer to Walker.

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Officer Patterson, I just want to thank you

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and congratulate you on doing this and saving one of our residents when like

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you said it was said that you were off-duty and you saw an emergency

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situation and that is just what's in your mind. You're a police officer 24

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hours a day and you know we want to say that that other residents might

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stop and help too might not be a police officer but for you this is just part of what you do

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day in and day out 365 days a year 24 hours a day so and I look at you and to me you're a young

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a very young officer and and I think to to have that that strength and to have that that

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knowledge of what you should do all the time it's there in your heart and that's what you're

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to do. So I thank you so much for saying you saved this man's life and you you know

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sometimes we put things we say oh no you know I was there I did this I could I

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could get him out but literally if you did not do that within minutes that car

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was totally engulfed and you know if if he was able to to still get out of that

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car the disaster that would have been to that to that man so thank you so

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much for doing this for saving this man's life and we have a citation

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here for you, signed by all of us on the legislature. And again, thank you to all our officers because

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I know that that's what you are. Officers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. God bless

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you all.

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I just wanted to mention that he is the proud son of our recently retired First Vice President

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of the PBA, Peter Patterson.

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I

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just wanted to add one thing. I think most of us are fearful of fire. And in

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in particular that situation where it's encroaching on you, coming towards you.

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And the fact that you had the courage to insert yourself and to continue to do what you had to do

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to get him out as the fire came closer and closer is truly astonishing.

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So, it's just a wonderful job.

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And Pete, you've got to be very proud of your son there.

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So congratulations guys.

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So what we'll do is we'll do the presentation for the DIA and SOA next

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and then we'll call you up for the citation.

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Thank you.

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All right, thanks.

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Superior Officers Association, President Rick Facetti.

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Good afternoon.

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I am Ricky Facetti, President of the National County Police

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Department and Superior Officers Association.

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Resorting Officer Nicolallo, legislators,

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thank you for taking the time to honor our top cops today.

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I have to say it's a real fitting day

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to follow the PBA and President Shevlin

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because our incident also involves an off-duty incident.

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So, as you realize, the SOA does not present every month as we are supervisors, and our

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job is to do just that supervise.

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But this month is extraordinary.

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We are here to honor Sergeant Jimmy Lee, a 28-year veteran of the NYPD and National

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County Police Department.

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On March 23rd, at approximately 2.30 in the afternoon, Sergeant Lee was off duty, walking

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on the boardwalk in Rockaway Beach, Queens.

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Sergeant Lee observed a subject firing a gun towards the beach.

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Sergeant Lee then immediately called 9-1-1, giving a detailed description of the subject

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and what the subject was wearing and his location, while continuing to follow the

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subject at a safe distance. And while all the while keeping 911 operator updated on the

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continuous location of the subject. The subject continued to fire numerous times toward the

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beach. Unfortunately, the police cars passed by and responded to the wrong location. At

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one point, the 911 operator tells Sergeant Lee that she's going to hang up. And Sergeant

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Sergeant Lee tells him orders are not to hang up and

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stay in the line with him.

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Sergeant Lee then directs the operator to have the police cars respond to specific locations

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past us so they could surround the subject and trap him in.

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At this point, Sergeant Lee now observes a pedestrian walking on the beach as well as

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one riding a bike on the boardwalk.

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and the Sergeant Lee then observes the subject firing again.

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It is then Sergeant Lee realizes that the civilians are in danger

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and makes the decision to put himself between the civilians and the subject.

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He then decides he has to take action to make sure these civilians are safe.

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Sergeant Lee, with his shield out and his gun drawn,

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yells, please don't move just as we are trained to do.

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The subject then comes towards Sergeant Lee in an aggressive manner.

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Sergeant Lee then, with one hand, takes the subject and puts him against the boardwalk railing, trying to control the subject.

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While all the while knowing that the subject has a gun,

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the subject at one point places his right hand in his pocket,

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and Sergeant Lee was certain that's where the gun was.

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The subject then pulls out the gun, and thank God decides to toss it away.

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The struggle continues, and the subject then breaks free, and a few moments later, the NYPD shows up.

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And after a brief foot pursuit, they place the subject in custody.

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And while that's happening, Sergeant Lee picks up the telephone that he was on

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and tells a normal one operator to make sure that the officers know that the gun was thrown

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away, that there could be no accidental shooting. To have the mindset to do that just is unbelievable.

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This whole incident lasted about seven minutes. One minute is an eternity. Seven minutes.

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I can't imagine what seven minutes is like when you're fighting with somebody struggling

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with someone that has a gun.

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I want to commend Sergeant Lee for his brave actions while off

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duty and his unbelievable restraint. When I spoke to Sergeant Lee numerous times, I asked

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him, how did he restrain from shooting? I've been a police officer a long time. There's

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no doubt in my mind, I probably would have fired my weapon. Unfortunately, in today's

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day and times, Sergeant Lee's comments to me, but he didn't want to be Monday morning

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quarterback or second guess, Sergeant Lee was in all the rights to shoot this subject

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when he pulled out that gun. And he didn't. And I still cannot believe that he was able

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to do that. One split second, and things could have turned out very different.

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A half

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of it, not even a tenth of a second, this subject could have shot Sergeant Lee,

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and

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It is unbelievable how he did this, and in my mind, it's mind boggling.

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I would just like to note that Sergeant Lee was injured during this struggle, but is back

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to work full duty, and Sergeant Lee is also a first responder that spent many days and

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hours at the ground's arrow.

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Thank you very much for taking the time.

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First, I'd like to say thank you.

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Thank you for this prestigious honor for myself and the President of my family.

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Thank you to the members of the legislature for presenting me with this honor.

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I also want to say thank you to God that things worked out the way they did.

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Thank you again to the SLA, the police commissioner, and thank you again.

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Okay.

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Legislative Ford, then Legislative Salash.

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Good afternoon, President Fosetti.

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You said it best.

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You know, it is a very sobering moment and thought about what you went through that.

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The fact that you were able to size up a situation with somebody with a gun and to be able to follow

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yourself through with a phone call to 911 to be able to get the police to come back all the

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while just keeping your eye on this person and then to make that split-second decision

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when you saw pedestrians or other, you know, private citizens coming your way and to make

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that choice, that you're going to put yourself in harm's way to protect them. And it just

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is really, there are no words to say. I mean, you truly, truly are a hero. Somebody who

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has lived by, I guess, this mantra that you knew as a police officer what your duty

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would be. So you are like basically that ultimate type of guy, I guess, that you

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really, you know, you just underscore the professionalism, the dedication, and just so many wonderful

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attributes and qualities that a police officer actually has. So I thank you very much for

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what you did and how you helped save people from, you know, maybe even themselves losing

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it. I can't even, I'm just so emotional because I could just only imagine. And you're

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Right, you know, I remember one time sitting in something and waiting 30 seconds for something

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to happen and, you know, you get so nervous, so I can't imagine what seven minutes had

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been like when you were like in this type of situation.

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You know, and the fact is that you yourself as well as Officer Pete Patterson did this

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on your day off, you know, so it is, it just goes to show you that our offices are

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always on.

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There is never a time when you, when you aren't.

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And, you know, presiding officer Nicolalo said it's something about to take a look at

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fire and, like, you approach a situation which your officer Patterson did, but for you then

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to know to see somebody with a gun, not knowing the mindset of that person, what they were

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going to do, how they would respond to you, really is just a testimony to the quality

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and the type of person that you are.

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And I thank you very much for all that you do.

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And yes, let us thank God, you know, that it all worked out well.

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and I'm sure that your family is very happy. I can only imagine Polly afterwards that Polly

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said to you, what were you, crazy? And I'm very, very happy that it all turned out well.

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And I thank you for your service, and I continue many, many good saviors for you. Thank you

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very much.

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The legislative salage is on remote.

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No, I just want to echo the status by a legislative forward. I thank them for their

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bravery. Thank you.

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I mean, one thing I just took note of is obviously the incredible courage that you showed, but

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to be able to manage that situation while on the phone with the NYPD, while keeping track

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of the suspects, while restraining yourself and making sure that the civilians weren't

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home, I mean, it's just extraordinary.

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It's truly a heroic act, so congratulations.

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We're all proud to honor you today.

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And

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Arnie Drucker, legislator Drucker.

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Yeah, thank you for that. I just want to say one thing.

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You know, what resonates with me, obviously the heroism is amazing,

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but what resonates with me is your instincts are different than ours.

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I like to think that we're all good persons and we value human life

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and we would do whatever we can to help people,

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but your instincts to run into danger, as if without a second thought,

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But it's what amazes me because I don't think I have that instinct or many of us have that

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instinct but you do and thank God you do because you keep us all safe.

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Every one of you has law enforcement and when you're trained you get these instincts that

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never leave you and that resonates with me and I'm so proud and so fortunate on behalf

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of all of us to have you protect us each and every day.

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Thank you so much.

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Thank you very much and we'll have you come up in a couple of moments to take

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a photo.

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Thank you.

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Thank you again.

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Thank you, sir. One last, the one other presentation we have is from the Detectives Association Inc.

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We have Mike Maloney from the D.A.R.

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Thank you, Presiding Officer Nicolello, Minority Leader Abraham,

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and the full legislative body for honoring Detective Lieutenant Brian Kohlmeyer,

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Detective Sean Burns, and Detective Christopher Smith.

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On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at 09.20 hours,

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Detective Burns and Smith were inside the 4th Squad monitoring the police radio while working on their cases.

227
00:50:08,150 --> 00:50:13,450
At that time, the Communications Bureau dispatched an assignment for an 80-case possible cardiac person

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00:50:13,450 --> 00:50:21,190
not breathing a grand park located at 1625 Broadway in Hewlett directly adjacent to the 4th Precent Station House.

229
00:50:21,830 --> 00:50:27,450
After hearing the notification of the assignment, Detective Lieutenant Cole Meyer, Burns and Smith

230
00:50:27,450 --> 00:50:32,550
quickly gathered medical PPE and a portable radio and the AED and proceeded

231
00:50:32,550 --> 00:50:38,090
to Grand Park on foot. Upon arrival at the scene, the AED, a 73-year-old male, was

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00:50:38,090 --> 00:50:42,330
lying on his back not breathing with no pulse. Detective Smith began CPR

233
00:50:42,330 --> 00:50:46,230
performing chest compressions on the AED. Detective Burns worked with arriving

234
00:50:46,230 --> 00:50:50,230
police officers to apply the AED to the AED. The AED was shot once on scene

235
00:50:50,230 --> 00:50:53,610
while detectives and officers were performing CPR. Detective Lieutenant

236
00:50:53,610 --> 00:50:58,290
a coalmire assisted by interviewing witnesses and gathering information on the circumstances

237
00:50:58,290 --> 00:51:03,310
of the aided prior to his collapse, including obtaining his pedigree and medical history.

238
00:51:04,370 --> 00:51:09,330
After the arrival of the police ambulance, detectives assisted patrol with securing the

239
00:51:09,330 --> 00:51:12,630
aided to the stretcher, lifting the stretcher into the ambulance. The aided was transported

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00:51:12,630 --> 00:51:16,750
to the South Nessau Hospital for further treatment. Upon arrival at the hospital

241
00:51:16,750 --> 00:51:20,630
with the turn of the aided, regained a normal heart rhythm and was able to

242
00:51:20,630 --> 00:51:24,610
breathe on his own. Due to their alertness and monitoring the patrol assignments over

243
00:51:24,610 --> 00:51:29,950
the police radio and immediate actions, including quickly rendering CPR to the ADD, Detective

244
00:51:29,950 --> 00:51:34,290
Burns, Detective Smith, Detective Lieutenant Coleman using their training to save a life,

245
00:51:34,450 --> 00:51:38,970
and the ADD is extremely grateful for their purpose, and I'm happy to say he is doing

246
00:51:38,970 --> 00:51:42,070
very well still today. Thank you.

247
00:51:48,840 --> 00:51:52,840
On behalf of myself and the two detectives with me, we'd like to thank you and we

248
00:51:52,840 --> 00:51:54,040
appreciate being honored today.

249
00:52:00,190 --> 00:52:02,410
I really appreciate this award. Thank you very much.

250
00:52:02,510 --> 00:52:06,330
It makes a lot to myself, my family, and I wish all the well to all the best to the

251
00:52:06,330 --> 00:52:08,130
individual and his family. Yes,

252
00:52:13,390 --> 00:52:14,770
it's great honor to be here. So thank you very

253
00:52:14,770 --> 00:52:18,470
much. And we have a great outcome and we are pleased to hear that the

254
00:52:18,470 --> 00:52:20,150
gentleman is doing just fine. Thank you.

255
00:52:24,480 --> 00:52:25,760
Legislative Galar. Thank you,

256
00:52:25,780 --> 00:52:31,260
Presiding Officer. Wow. There's a man who's alive today that wouldn't be

257
00:52:31,260 --> 00:52:36,820
alive without the heroic actions of three of our detectives is a family who

258
00:52:36,820 --> 00:52:39,300
who has a man who's alive is grateful.

259
00:52:39,940 --> 00:52:42,620
Because the community in Nassau County,

260
00:52:43,340 --> 00:52:49,680
grateful knowing that our police officers run to armsway,

261
00:52:49,960 --> 00:52:53,360
run to where they need to be to protect all of us.

262
00:52:53,800 --> 00:52:56,120
Situational awareness, outstanding, okay?

263
00:52:56,700 --> 00:52:58,600
To hear the call come in through the precinct,

264
00:52:59,040 --> 00:53:02,900
to grab the gear, to run, and it's no short distance,

265
00:53:03,680 --> 00:53:05,640
it's gotta be a quarter mile, a half mile,

266
00:53:05,640 --> 00:53:10,700
whatever it is to run to the scene come upon a man who's for all intense

267
00:53:10,700 --> 00:53:17,280
purposes dead and bring him back to life that's heroic so the county owes you a

268
00:53:17,280 --> 00:53:23,120
debt of gratitude and we're grateful for your actions you definitely are as well

269
00:53:23,120 --> 00:53:28,480
as Officer Patterson and Sardly dedicated public servants who put your

270
00:53:28,480 --> 00:53:34,960
lives above at risk in order to protect all of ours so I thank you your

271
00:53:34,960 --> 00:53:38,920
of actions, save somebody, and we won't forget that.

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00:53:39,540 --> 00:53:41,220
You guys will truly hear us. Thank you again.

273
00:53:45,220 --> 00:53:52,010
All right, we would like to invite all the honorees to come up for a presentation.

274
01:00:11,810 --> 01:00:12,370
Please

275
01:01:29,260 --> 01:01:30,600
return now to the seats, please.

276
01:02:17,540 --> 01:02:19,280
We'll do things a little bit out of order now.

277
01:02:27,080 --> 01:02:28,940
We will have the public comment in a moment,

278
01:02:28,940 --> 01:02:33,860
but first, we are going to consider a motion to suspend the rules.

279
01:02:34,980 --> 01:02:41,260
Why are we suspending the rules? Several items were filed within 17 days of the legislature,

280
01:02:41,260 --> 01:02:46,820
so in order to consider those items today, we need to suspend the rules of the legislature.

281
01:02:46,820 --> 01:02:53,980
The three arms in particular are two appointments to Nassau Community College and a home rule

282
01:02:53,980 --> 01:03:00,780
message on behalf of the fire marshals. So, I'm going to ask for a motion to suspend the

283
01:03:00,780 --> 01:03:08,880
rules ruled by legislator Walker, seconded by legislator Gaylord. Any debate or discussion

284
01:03:08,880 --> 01:03:15,140
on suspending the rules? Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying aye.

285
01:03:16,820 --> 01:03:19,880
As opposed, carries unanimously.

286
01:03:20,640 --> 01:03:21,820
All right, the rules are suspended.

287
01:03:22,180 --> 01:03:23,360
Then we'll go back to public comment.

288
01:03:24,160 --> 01:03:27,020
First slip I have is from Pat Boyle,

289
01:03:27,520 --> 01:03:29,580
Coalition of Youth Service Agencies.

290
01:03:33,990 --> 01:03:34,790
Hi, everyone.

291
01:03:36,210 --> 01:03:39,230
I have to say it because I'm feeling it.

292
01:03:39,370 --> 01:03:41,910
I know you kind of see me coming back up here again

293
01:03:41,910 --> 01:03:43,410
and again, month after month,

294
01:03:43,790 --> 01:03:45,310
and you must be saying here he is

295
01:03:45,310 --> 01:03:46,750
to whine again about money.

296
01:03:47,550 --> 01:03:49,210
You know, the reason why I do it

297
01:03:49,210 --> 01:03:53,730
is because I kind of feel that the legislature is an important cog in the wheel of government

298
01:03:53,730 --> 01:03:59,770
in Nassau County. And I really want you to know what's going on. I'm going to try to

299
01:03:59,770 --> 01:04:04,310
get younger people to come here. I'm going to try to get other faces to pop up, but

300
01:04:04,310 --> 01:04:09,210
we'll worry about that down the road a little bit. Let me give you a little bit of a timeline

301
01:04:09,210 --> 01:04:15,590
about ARPA money. We were told in May of 2021 that ARPA money was going to be

302
01:04:15,590 --> 01:04:21,510
coming into the county and that it would be distributed amongst different persons.

303
01:04:22,310 --> 01:04:29,070
We were told, as far as youth service agencies were concerned, that we would receive a request

304
01:04:29,070 --> 01:04:37,130
for that funding and we did in June of 2021 and that decisions would be made.

305
01:04:37,570 --> 01:04:44,470
The request was at 20 percent of our contracts, which for some of us is a very substantial

306
01:04:44,470 --> 01:04:48,510
amount of money and we were very happy to be able to get that because our

307
01:04:48,510 --> 01:04:53,570
expenses had risen through COVID so high. I could just give you one example of

308
01:04:53,570 --> 01:04:59,030
what happened to us was that we went to a virtual homework assistance program

309
01:04:59,030 --> 01:05:03,390
that had other things going on with it, but we saw what was happening in the

310
01:05:03,390 --> 01:05:08,690
schools when they had classrooms of 20 kids and one teacher trying to teach

311
01:05:08,690 --> 01:05:13,410
the 20 kids. It was extremely difficult. They really couldn't do it. So

312
01:05:13,410 --> 01:05:18,750
So what we did was we did it individually or with two kids at a time, which meant hiring

313
01:05:18,750 --> 01:05:21,510
more workers to do it and there was an expense involved.

314
01:05:21,870 --> 01:05:26,970
So we were very happy to hear about this offer money that was coming down because it was perfect.

315
01:05:27,230 --> 01:05:28,290
It was COVID related.

316
01:05:28,530 --> 01:05:32,330
It was all there in the beginning of June.

317
01:05:32,510 --> 01:05:36,430
The requests were put in and this was supposed to be emergency money.

318
01:05:36,570 --> 01:05:38,850
It was supposed to move quickly, but you all know that.

319
01:05:40,970 --> 01:05:48,410
So we were supposed to then, after we got it, we were supposed to receive the money in September of 2021.

320
01:05:49,330 --> 01:05:52,430
We did not receive the money in September of 2021.

321
01:05:53,070 --> 01:05:57,690
And October went by, November went by, and December went by.

322
01:05:58,210 --> 01:06:01,230
We kind of knew that that was going to happen with the change of administration.

323
01:06:01,870 --> 01:06:09,450
Now we're in a new administration and the time is, you know, going still ticking and we still haven't seen any of that money.

324
01:06:10,030 --> 01:06:17,850
And now we were told last week by both the executive director of the youth services and also by people within county government

325
01:06:17,850 --> 01:06:27,450
that all of our agencies had to be, all of our youth service agencies had to be vetted first to find out whether or not they should get this money.

326
01:06:28,170 --> 01:06:32,750
Now, I know my agency has had a contract with the county for 40 years.

327
01:06:33,390 --> 01:06:35,950
I think we're doing what we're supposed to be doing.

328
01:06:36,190 --> 01:06:39,230
We've been, you know, people have come out to look at it and do that.

329
01:06:40,410 --> 01:06:45,530
And the ARPA money that we were going to receive was really kind of replacing any increase

330
01:06:45,530 --> 01:06:47,010
that would come out of the budget.

331
01:06:47,710 --> 01:06:49,050
I'm sorry about the time.

332
01:06:50,950 --> 01:06:57,850
I'll end with it in saying that we really need this money and it's not moving and the

333
01:06:57,850 --> 01:07:01,410
vetting process now to us is just kind of a waste of time.

334
01:07:02,090 --> 01:07:04,510
You know, I mean, we're doing what we're supposed to be doing.

335
01:07:04,750 --> 01:07:09,810
We've had people come to our agencies and look at our agencies and see that we're

336
01:07:09,810 --> 01:07:11,430
doing what we're supposed to be doing.

337
01:07:12,030 --> 01:07:18,090
So if there's anything that you can do to get this ARPA money moving, the controller's

338
01:07:18,090 --> 01:07:22,610
office said they'll send it out as soon as they get the opportunity to, but they're being

339
01:07:22,610 --> 01:07:27,950
told to hold it right now by the administration. We do have a meeting with the Deputy County

340
01:07:27,950 --> 01:07:33,770
Executive for Health and Human Services scheduled for May 3rd, so we're hoping that we can

341
01:07:33,770 --> 01:07:38,210
get some more clarity there, but I really do think that, you know, the legislature

342
01:07:38,210 --> 01:07:39,910
could push a little.

343
01:07:40,490 --> 01:07:44,690
We have been pushing, we have been pushing on this, and we have been following up,

344
01:07:44,690 --> 01:07:50,310
We're looking for the same answers that you're looking for, so May 3rd is next week, so we

345
01:07:50,310 --> 01:07:55,810
will be pushing on our end to get that funding released and get it into your hands as soon

346
01:07:55,810 --> 01:07:56,190
as possible.

347
01:07:56,370 --> 01:07:57,410
I appreciate that.

348
01:07:57,770 --> 01:08:03,690
And I'll let John Jafferri know what goes on with regard to the meeting with the Deputy

349
01:08:03,690 --> 01:08:06,310
County Executive so that he can pass it along to you.

350
01:08:06,530 --> 01:08:06,890
Okay.

351
01:08:07,270 --> 01:08:07,970
Thanks very much.

352
01:08:08,170 --> 01:08:08,210
Appreciate that.

353
01:08:08,290 --> 01:08:08,490
Thank you.

354
01:08:10,870 --> 01:08:12,930
Thomas Watson from Wanto.

355
01:08:20,060 --> 01:08:20,640
Hi, everybody.

356
01:08:21,520 --> 01:08:21,720
Yeah.

357
01:08:21,720 --> 01:08:29,180
I'm Tom Watson from Wantoor, and I'm here to voice my opposition to the Mount Sinai Medical Center

358
01:08:29,660 --> 01:08:35,880
coming to the Wantoor Avenue location. A lot of people in Wantoor don't think it's the right location

359
01:08:35,880 --> 01:08:41,860
for such a large medical center. I think to date I think there's about 700 people who have signed

360
01:08:41,860 --> 01:08:48,620
an online petition against it. I personally think a proper location would be something like

361
01:08:48,620 --> 01:08:55,160
The Sunrise Mall, which is closing, that would be the right location for something so large.

362
01:08:58,740 --> 01:09:06,560
I'm looking forward to seeing the Nassau County Planning Commission, I think, is supposed to write a report on this issue.

363
01:09:07,440 --> 01:09:09,420
And I think it'll be a very important report.

364
01:09:10,160 --> 01:09:17,520
Because such a report was very valuable, I'd say, about 10 years ago when Wanto was fighting a condo development.

365
01:09:18,540 --> 01:09:23,660
So this Nassau County Planning Commission report is going to be very important to us.

366
01:09:24,340 --> 01:09:27,300
So a lot of people in Toronto are really looking forward to seeing it.

367
01:09:27,740 --> 01:09:33,320
And I don't see how the town of Hempstead could be making any decisions on this until this report is available.

368
01:09:38,550 --> 01:09:43,850
I know that Lauren Curran is now on the Mount Sinai board.

369
01:09:45,690 --> 01:09:53,490
And I would think that somebody could reach out to her and tell her that a lot of people in Wanto are against this,

370
01:09:53,770 --> 01:09:58,190
and see if she could nix this from her position on the board.

371
01:09:59,030 --> 01:10:05,570
I know this issue of Mount Sinai coming to the Wanto Avenue location has been bubbling for about five years,

372
01:10:05,570 --> 01:10:10,970
So Laura Karin was on this board, you know, when, you know, this has been bubbling.

373
01:10:11,190 --> 01:10:13,690
So she obviously knows it from now to perspectives.

374
01:10:14,110 --> 01:10:17,910
She was on this board and now she's on the Mount Sinai board.

375
01:10:18,550 --> 01:10:23,450
So I know she knows Wanto, she's been to Wanto many times

376
01:10:23,450 --> 01:10:27,430
and I think she probably knows it's not the right location.

377
01:10:27,710 --> 01:10:32,330
So I hope she can use her influence on the board also to nix this.

378
01:10:32,330 --> 01:10:34,870
so I'm hoping somebody up here can give her a call.

379
01:10:40,940 --> 01:10:44,080
I just want to end that Wantoa is not,

380
01:10:45,300 --> 01:10:48,180
it's incorporated, so we don't have a mayor.

381
01:10:48,980 --> 01:10:54,280
So our basically mayors are you and the town of Hempstead.

382
01:10:54,700 --> 01:10:58,060
So we do really rely on the county government

383
01:10:58,700 --> 01:11:00,300
and on the town of Hempstead government

384
01:11:00,300 --> 01:11:02,180
to sort of do right by Wantoa

385
01:11:02,720 --> 01:11:03,980
and that's what I'm asking.

386
01:11:04,660 --> 01:11:06,600
So I really appreciate your attention.

387
01:11:13,820 --> 01:11:22,080
A lot of times we don't get the opportunity to hear about local zoning issues, certainly

388
01:11:22,080 --> 01:11:28,080
not ones of the importance of the Mount Sinai project, which has been bubbling since it

389
01:11:28,080 --> 01:11:30,320
was South Nassau at their predecessor.

390
01:11:31,180 --> 01:11:37,500
I share your concerns and I've voiced those concerns as well.

391
01:11:38,540 --> 01:11:44,080
It's a project that while we would love to see a medical facility and there certainly is a need for it,

392
01:11:44,540 --> 01:11:51,940
anytime you have development like this it has to be done with respect to and in conjunction with the community that surrounds it.

393
01:11:52,700 --> 01:11:55,000
It's not that it's a bad project.

394
01:11:55,540 --> 01:12:00,920
It's just not a good project at this particular location given the scope and size of it.

395
01:12:01,540 --> 01:12:05,780
And so I want to thank you for coming here, regardless of what side of the issue you were on,

396
01:12:06,000 --> 01:12:09,000
but I would still thank you for coming here and voicing those concerns, Tom,

397
01:12:09,160 --> 01:12:15,440
but the concerns of the community need to be given voice,

398
01:12:15,640 --> 01:12:18,500
and I appreciate you coming down here to make sure that that happens.

399
01:12:20,120 --> 01:12:34,980
Because legislator Rhodes, I think the more I talk to people about it and explain both sides, I think from a fair perspective, I think I'm a fair person, when people know the facts, then they're against it.

400
01:12:35,580 --> 01:12:40,700
When you just talk to somebody who doesn't know the facts, yeah, oh, a medical center, wouldn't that be great?

401
01:12:40,700 --> 01:12:47,840
But when you explain everything to them and they have all the facts again both sides they usually come out

402
01:12:47,840 --> 01:12:49,340
This is not the right thing

403
01:12:50,000 --> 01:12:52,400
Not not at this location location exactly

404
01:12:53,640 --> 01:12:56,120
Thank you. Thanks a lot. Thank you everyone. Thank you

405
01:12:58,970 --> 01:13:00,190
Let's Richard clollery

406
01:13:21,020 --> 01:13:24,360
To the members of the legislature first of all I would like to say thank you for all

407
01:13:24,360 --> 01:13:27,200
We did get on the nice bus mailing list because of this

408
01:13:27,200 --> 01:13:31,140
I was able to attend the TAC meeting online that they were hosting.

409
01:13:31,620 --> 01:13:35,360
For this I am grateful to the legislature, even though in the eyes of certain party members,

410
01:13:35,760 --> 01:13:39,220
it could be a pain in the rear because of the issues that they bring up every month.

411
01:13:40,300 --> 01:13:44,300
For when I live at the meeting, the state will theoretically

412
01:13:44,300 --> 01:13:48,600
will help nice with making current bus service to the state budget process

413
01:13:48,600 --> 01:13:51,840
to a certain extent, along with whatever you give to them tonight.

414
01:13:55,180 --> 01:13:59,580
They also talk about something called the nice many bus service, which to the app or

415
01:13:59,580 --> 01:14:05,400
a new one, a person can call for a small bus in areas that have had their bus lines cut

416
01:14:05,400 --> 01:14:07,920
and allow them to go to areas where there are bus service.

417
01:14:08,860 --> 01:14:13,700
However, right now it's going through an experimental phase, not unlike similar one

418
01:14:13,700 --> 01:14:18,740
under Lord Kern's other service that Lord Kern advertised one day.

419
01:14:26,300 --> 01:14:34,220
However, it's being used in an area that I don't live in, which to me is not fair.

420
01:14:35,320 --> 01:14:38,380
We as a community right now are dealing with high gas prices.

421
01:14:38,780 --> 01:14:41,400
We need to find a way to help increase funding for the buses

422
01:14:41,400 --> 01:14:44,920
so that other people can go to places where they need or want to be in.

423
01:14:45,380 --> 01:14:48,640
We also need to find a way to increase the number of areas in a nice bus

424
01:14:48,640 --> 01:14:53,520
bus service can operate in special long routes that were cut including which

425
01:14:53,520 --> 01:14:58,520
includes the N-40 and N-50 corridor and the N-303 and N-74 corridor along

426
01:14:58,520 --> 01:14:59,600
Cootsman Avenue, yo.

427
01:15:07,140 --> 01:15:07,580
Okay,

428
01:15:09,900 --> 01:15:13,220
thank you, Richard. Any questions? No, we're good.

429
01:15:18,030 --> 01:15:20,070
I have two other slips, both of

430
01:15:20,070 --> 01:15:27,310
which relate to the LIPA settlement, so I'll, unless you, Richard, Sharon, and Jessica Cohen

431
01:15:27,310 --> 01:15:30,650
have to leave early, I'll wait to call these when we do the settlement. Is that all right

432
01:15:32,860 --> 01:15:33,420
Okay.

433
01:15:38,850 --> 01:15:41,310
We have, we'll do the Consent Calendar.

434
01:15:41,510 --> 01:15:43,590
We're going to call the nominations after the Consent Calendar.

435
01:15:43,770 --> 01:15:46,570
The Consent Calendar is the items that went through committees two weeks ago,

436
01:15:46,750 --> 01:15:53,370
and the minority and majority have agreed that no further debate or discussion is needed at this time on these items.

437
01:15:54,910 --> 01:16:01,090
Item 1, I'm sorry, Item 3, Ordnance 23, 4, Ordnance 24.

438
01:16:01,090 --> 01:16:03,910
Item 24, Item 5, Ordinance 25.

439
01:16:04,910 --> 01:16:06,630
Item 6, Ordinance 26.

440
01:16:07,050 --> 01:16:08,630
Item 7, Ordinance 27.

441
01:16:10,820 --> 01:16:13,120
Item 11, Resolution 55.

442
01:16:13,780 --> 01:16:15,620
12, Resolution 56.

443
01:16:15,980 --> 01:16:17,540
13, Resolution 57.

444
01:16:18,140 --> 01:16:19,640
14, Resolution 58.

445
01:16:20,280 --> 01:16:21,880
15, Resolution 59.

446
01:16:22,580 --> 01:16:24,240
16, Resolution 60.

447
01:16:24,620 --> 01:16:26,220
17, Resolution 61.

448
01:16:26,880 --> 01:16:28,380
18, Resolution 62.

449
01:16:28,900 --> 01:16:30,500
19, Resolution 63.

450
01:16:30,500 --> 01:16:42,250
Resolution 63, 20 Resolution 64, 21 Resolution 65, 22 Resolution 66, 23 Resolution 67,

451
01:16:46,410 --> 01:16:46,990
38

452
01:16:46,990 --> 01:16:58,450
Resolution 82, 39 Resolution 83, 40 Resolution 84, 41 Resolution 85, 42 Resolution 86, 43

453
01:16:58,790 --> 01:17:00,490
Resolution 87.

454
01:17:01,590 --> 01:17:06,790
Those items are moved by Minority Leader Abraham, is moved seconded by Legislator Ford.

455
01:17:07,010 --> 01:17:07,990
I need to debate a discussion.

456
01:17:09,130 --> 01:17:11,510
Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying aye.

457
01:17:11,850 --> 01:17:12,350
Aye.

458
01:17:12,650 --> 01:17:15,550
Those opposed, they all carry unanimously.

459
01:17:27,150 --> 01:17:30,970
We're going to the nominations portion of the meeting at this point.

460
01:17:32,350 --> 01:17:37,250
So we're going to call items 27, 28, 29, and 30 together.

461
01:17:38,750 --> 01:17:44,710
These are Resolutions to Confirm the County Executive's Appointment of Florestano Girardi

462
01:17:44,710 --> 01:17:49,390
to the Assessment Review Commission, Laura Manfilletto to the Assessment Review Commission,

463
01:17:49,590 --> 01:17:55,410
Mark Stone to the Assessment Review Commission, and Rocco Tortino to the Assessment Review Commission.

464
01:17:56,030 --> 01:18:00,870
They're moved by Legislator Jouffray, seconded by Legislator Gaylor.

465
01:18:00,870 --> 01:18:10,100
that puts those items before us so I would like to invite up Mr. Girardi, Ms.

466
01:18:12,400 --> 01:18:12,840
Monfiletto,

467
01:18:13,020 --> 01:18:14,360
Mr. Stone, and Mr. Totino.

468
01:18:24,340 --> 01:18:28,740
Hi, Crystal Moyn from the administration. Mr. Totino is running a few minutes behind

469
01:18:28,740 --> 01:18:31,840
so he's hoping to get here as soon as possible. So, sorry about that.

470
01:18:32,080 --> 01:18:35,660
Okay. We'll hold him. We'll take over later when he comes in.

471
01:18:35,660 --> 01:18:35,960
Thank you.

472
01:18:38,570 --> 01:18:43,870
Good afternoon to the county legislator. I would like to first thank Mr. Stone

473
01:18:47,390 --> 01:18:53,050
I would like to thank County Executive Blakeman and the Legislative for considering me for

474
01:18:53,050 --> 01:18:56,330
appointment for the Assessment Review Commission.

475
01:18:57,230 --> 01:19:04,070
I was born in Queens, raised in Oceanside, I have tried to keep it brief, I have to graduate

476
01:19:04,070 --> 01:19:08,810
in high school, Oceanside High School, I went to work with my father's dry cleaning plant,

477
01:19:09,050 --> 01:19:12,410
we had two plants at the time, one in Elmont, one in Queens and St. Altman's.

478
01:19:12,410 --> 01:19:15,750
From there in 1978, I opened a plant in Guantanamo.

479
01:19:16,470 --> 01:19:20,330
When my father retired back in 84, I took over the plant in Alamante.

480
01:19:20,870 --> 01:19:25,490
At my peak, I had a total of between part-time and full-time 60 employees.

481
01:19:26,390 --> 01:19:29,610
At that time, I started to divest into real estate.

482
01:19:30,310 --> 01:19:36,070
Over the years, I owned various commercial properties from multifamily,

483
01:19:36,230 --> 01:19:40,930
office, industrial, and retail establishments.

484
01:19:44,320 --> 01:19:52,160
Being a landlord, in the landlord business, the properties have various assessed value,

485
01:19:52,800 --> 01:20:00,180
various assessed rate of taxes, so I have a little background in property taxes.

486
01:20:01,780 --> 01:20:06,100
For the last six years I've been in the town of Hempstead, IDA.

487
01:20:06,440 --> 01:20:07,680
I've been a member there.

488
01:20:07,680 --> 01:20:13,380
I have been the chairman for the last three years and as we all know, you know, granting

489
01:20:13,380 --> 01:20:23,240
pilots, it gives me some experience in tax abatements between sales tax, property tax,

490
01:20:23,680 --> 01:20:27,500
to various pilots that we've granted.

491
01:20:29,540 --> 01:20:33,980
Other than that, you know, my wife, I've been married for 32 years, I have four children

492
01:20:34,600 --> 01:20:41,800
And if there's any questions, if anybody has a question that I can't answer, I'll be more than happy to bluff.

493
01:20:44,080 --> 01:20:46,040
Any questions for Mr. Terrade?

494
01:20:52,640 --> 01:20:53,340
Okay, thank you.

495
01:20:53,600 --> 01:20:54,060
Thank you.

496
01:20:56,280 --> 01:20:57,920
Next is Ms. Montfaletto.

497
01:20:59,620 --> 01:21:01,520
Good afternoon. I'm Laura Montfaletto.

498
01:21:01,820 --> 01:21:05,620
Thank you for the opportunity today to the legislature and the county executive, Blakeman.

499
01:21:06,580 --> 01:21:08,380
I grew up in Elmont, New York.

500
01:21:08,400 --> 01:21:12,040
I went to Salonika High School, where in my senior year,

501
01:21:12,320 --> 01:21:14,740
my mom who also worked in the guidance office

502
01:21:15,620 --> 01:21:17,560
got a phone call from an alumni

503
01:21:18,540 --> 01:21:21,680
and said, looking for a young student to come

504
01:21:22,340 --> 01:21:25,000
work for a title insurance company as a report typist.

505
01:21:25,400 --> 01:21:28,180
My mother said, I have just the person for you.

506
01:21:28,800 --> 01:21:31,820
And I started my senior year in high school

507
01:21:32,780 --> 01:21:35,000
typing title reports for a title insurance company.

508
01:21:35,000 --> 01:21:42,020
At that point, I didn't know what title insurance was and I worked through my two years at NASA

509
01:21:42,020 --> 01:21:48,520
Community College and wound up working there for another four years.

510
01:21:49,320 --> 01:21:57,040
The vice president of the company then decided to open his own company and asked me to go with him.

511
01:21:57,660 --> 01:22:02,320
I've been there since, so I have 31 years experience in title insurance.

512
01:22:03,280 --> 01:22:12,960
I've learned every aspect of the business. Starting off as a typist, I learned how to read titles, policies, closings,

513
01:22:15,080 --> 01:22:15,940
some estate work.

514
01:22:16,800 --> 01:22:22,460
So I'm very familiar with taxes, which is a big portion of the title insurance.

515
01:22:24,280 --> 01:22:34,320
I have two children, one son that goes to Kelleberg, he's a freshman, and my daughter is a junior in Oceanside High School.

516
01:22:35,160 --> 01:22:41,380
I live in Oceanside High School, I live in Oceanside, and that's about it.

517
01:22:41,560 --> 01:22:44,420
Thank you for the opportunity today, I really appreciate it.

518
01:22:45,260 --> 01:22:46,380
If you have any questions.

519
01:22:47,000 --> 01:22:47,640
Any questions?

520
01:22:49,670 --> 01:22:50,210
Good, thank you.

521
01:22:50,470 --> 01:22:51,270
Thank you very much.

522
01:22:52,910 --> 01:22:56,520
Good afternoon, how are you everybody?

523
01:22:57,600 --> 01:23:01,580
My background, I live now in Merrick, I grew up in Valley Stream.

524
01:23:02,580 --> 01:23:09,460
My background is I owned a mortgage banking company for over 20 years out on Long Island.

525
01:23:09,740 --> 01:23:16,480
I grew it to have over 200 employees through numerous states, 18 states throughout the country.

526
01:23:16,480 --> 01:23:22,660
I'm very, very familiar with the appraisal system dealing with Fannie Mae and Freddie

527
01:23:22,660 --> 01:23:29,900
Mac and also selling loans to the FHA and other governments and other banks such as Chase

528
01:23:29,900 --> 01:23:30,480
and Citi.

529
01:23:30,700 --> 01:23:37,300
So the most important thing, besides the person qualifying, clearly is the collateral

530
01:23:37,300 --> 01:23:44,060
that we take in, especially with FHA loans where we give, you know, borrow puts down

531
01:23:44,060 --> 01:23:50,240
with little as three and a half percent. So we are very, very critical of appraisals to make sure

532
01:23:50,240 --> 01:23:59,800
they're not overblown, overvalued. I think it's very important to recognize that the appraisal

533
01:23:59,800 --> 01:24:07,530
process right now, and I'm still in the mortgage banking business, you could have a house in my

534
01:24:07,530 --> 01:24:14,510
situation house to my right was sold for $700,000 the house to the left was sold

535
01:24:14,510 --> 01:24:24,850
for $975,000 the $700,000 had no work done the other one was new but yet the

536
01:24:24,850 --> 01:24:30,290
one to the right was paying over $8,000 more in taxes than the one that was

537
01:24:30,290 --> 01:24:39,110
this built out. So the appraisal issue, the value issue, that's the experience I

538
01:24:39,110 --> 01:24:43,830
could bring as well as I was president of the Empire State Mortgage Bankers

539
01:24:43,830 --> 01:24:49,910
Association and dealt with many of the centers up in Albany as well as this

540
01:24:49,910 --> 01:24:54,590
Roll the Rickets from the New York Department of Financial Services. So

541
01:24:54,590 --> 01:25:03,410
So I just think it's time to look into this and see if we can correct what I believe is

542
01:25:03,410 --> 01:25:04,110
unfairness.

543
01:25:04,670 --> 01:25:05,490
Any questions?

544
01:25:09,760 --> 01:25:10,240
Okay.

545
01:25:10,440 --> 01:25:11,060
Thank you, Mr. Stone.

546
01:25:12,060 --> 01:25:12,480
Thank you.

547
01:25:12,760 --> 01:25:13,100
Thank you.

548
01:25:14,020 --> 01:25:19,460
I'll take a motion to table the resolution nominating Mr. Totino at this time.

549
01:25:19,580 --> 01:25:19,980
Please don't move.

550
01:25:20,160 --> 01:25:21,380
Move by legislative Ferretti.

551
01:25:21,460 --> 01:25:22,680
Second by legislative Schaefer.

552
01:25:23,360 --> 01:25:26,220
All in favor of tabling that nomination signified by saying aye.

553
01:25:26,420 --> 01:25:26,640
Aye.

554
01:25:26,640 --> 01:25:35,280
I suppose. Okay, that's that's tabled. I need debate or discussion on the three nominees that are before us.

555
01:25:48,860 --> 01:25:52,420
If I could. Oh, thank you. Thank you.

556
01:25:53,120 --> 01:26:00,660
First, I want to I want to thank all three of you for for willing to participate in the process and be here today.

557
01:26:02,060 --> 01:26:06,920
I think, you know, obviously, whenever we have a time of when individuals like yourselves

558
01:26:06,920 --> 01:26:11,540
that want, I'm sorry, I'm talking, I know it's a little crazy when we're in a mask, but

559
01:26:11,540 --> 01:26:15,360
whenever we have individuals like yourselves that want to participate in the process, that's

560
01:26:15,360 --> 01:26:15,980
always welcoming.

561
01:26:18,200 --> 01:26:22,360
Unfortunately, our side is not going to be able to affirm your confirmation today.

562
01:26:23,100 --> 01:26:24,920
It has nothing to do with you in particular.

563
01:26:25,400 --> 01:26:28,460
It has everything to do with the county executive not presenting to us a reassessment

564
01:26:28,460 --> 01:26:28,800
plan.

565
01:26:28,800 --> 01:26:34,660
In a utopia, a perfect world, or even close to one, we would like to see a reassessment

566
01:26:34,660 --> 01:26:42,080
plan and hear your philosophical beliefs on reassessment and be able to make a better

567
01:26:42,080 --> 01:26:42,500
decision.

568
01:26:43,100 --> 01:26:45,740
The county executive has not presented us a reassessment plan to date.

569
01:26:46,900 --> 01:26:51,040
Also in the assessor side of things, not where you are when the Assessment Review Commission,

570
01:26:52,440 --> 01:26:58,320
Robert Laban, who is the term as acting assessor, expired on April 11th.

571
01:26:58,380 --> 01:27:10,880
So it then feeds into the perception, unfortunately, the reality that this administration either

572
01:27:10,880 --> 01:27:14,400
has a plan and is not being forthright with it because it was presented to the legislature

573
01:27:14,400 --> 01:27:16,840
or doesn't have a plan at all.

574
01:27:16,840 --> 01:27:23,580
And I would think that it would be more prudent to be able to have a plan, review the plan,

575
01:27:24,120 --> 01:27:31,800
hear from distinguished individuals like yourselves, and then be able to see how we want to vote on your particular appointment.

576
01:27:32,580 --> 01:27:35,420
To this date, the County Executive has not presented any plan.

577
01:27:36,140 --> 01:27:42,000
And the fact, as I said before, Ms. Laidman's term as County Executive, County Assessor, which is on another side,

578
01:27:42,100 --> 01:27:45,100
but addresses the issue of assessment, has expired.

579
01:27:45,100 --> 01:27:51,500
So we're concerned about the direction of transparency and how this particular administration wants to move forward.

580
01:27:52,060 --> 01:27:55,900
And from that standpoint, we're not going to be able to support your confirmation.

581
01:27:56,600 --> 01:28:06,240
If the county executive was to present the plan to us and we had a chance to review it and sit back and look into your resumes a little bit in greater detail

582
01:28:06,240 --> 01:28:13,680
and understand your philosophical beliefs on how you would execute your duties as assessment review commissioners, that's the more important way to do it.

583
01:28:13,680 --> 01:28:17,980
So I don't want you to think that our no vote is input and I'm sorry

584
01:28:17,980 --> 01:28:24,920
I'll vote 90 your confirmation is indicative of your of you personally. It's more addressing the county executives

585
01:28:25,960 --> 01:28:31,880
Lack of issue to address the reassessment plan holistically for the county, but thank you

586
01:28:33,510 --> 01:28:34,870
Okay, any other debate of discussion?

587
01:28:36,170 --> 01:28:41,090
You're not in all in favor signify by saying hi. Hi those opposed

588
01:28:43,760 --> 01:28:46,520
Passes by a vote of 11 to 7

589
01:28:47,140 --> 01:28:49,440
So, congratulations to all three of you.

590
01:28:49,700 --> 01:28:51,740
I look forward to your service and assessment review.

591
01:28:52,180 --> 01:28:52,980
Thank you.

592
01:28:58,750 --> 01:29:02,670
Legislator Kennedy was here before, and then he's not no longer participating.

593
01:29:03,530 --> 01:29:04,070
Yes?

594
01:29:18,780 --> 01:29:19,760
I think that's a pretty good bet.

595
01:29:21,920 --> 01:29:22,920
Okay, thank you.

596
01:29:23,580 --> 01:29:27,040
Next items are NASA Community College.

597
01:29:27,920 --> 01:29:34,000
These are items 24 and 25 and 33 and 34,

598
01:29:34,000 --> 01:29:37,780
which are actually two separate resolutions for each of these nominees,

599
01:29:38,700 --> 01:29:41,860
appointing them to the NASA Community College Board of Trustees.

600
01:29:42,080 --> 01:29:46,040
But they are 24 as a resolution, 24 and

601
01:29:55,930 --> 01:29:59,970
34 are resolutions confirming the

602
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:05,160
The appointment of Ronald Rosenberg as a member of the Nessau County College Board of Trustees,

603
01:30:05,400 --> 01:30:11,540
25 and 33 are resolutions confirming the appointment of William Striss as a member of the Nessau

604
01:30:11,540 --> 01:30:18,120
County College Board of Trustees, motion by legislator McKenzie, seconded by legislator

605
01:30:22,120 --> 01:30:28,140
I'm dating myself, a legislator McCavitt, seconded by a legislator Pillar.

606
01:30:29,000 --> 01:30:34,680
So those nominations are now before us and Mr. Rosenberg was distressed when he joined

607
01:30:34,680 --> 01:30:35,840
us at the podium.

608
01:30:42,920 --> 01:30:45,020
All right, first of all, you have to tell us what happened.

609
01:30:46,080 --> 01:30:47,420
You should see me as a guy.

610
01:30:49,080 --> 01:30:52,900
I apologize for the way I look, I just got out of the hospital, I had a bad fall,

611
01:30:52,900 --> 01:30:59,960
but I'm okay. That's good news to some bad news to others. I'm a lifelong

612
01:30:59,960 --> 01:31:06,340
resident of Nassau County. I love Nassau County. I was born here in South Nassau

613
01:31:06,340 --> 01:31:10,760
Communities Hospital. I grew up on the North Shore. I've had the practice of

614
01:31:10,760 --> 01:31:16,420
law for the past 43 years. I brought up three children and I have five

615
01:31:16,420 --> 01:31:19,520
grandchildren. I can tell you if I knew the grandchildren were this good I

616
01:31:22,660 --> 01:31:30,800
I paid for three college educations, two law school educations, and I'm very involved

617
01:31:30,800 --> 01:31:36,440
in community affairs in Nassau County in particular, and I'm honored that the county

618
01:31:36,440 --> 01:31:42,280
executive has bestowed this appointment nomination on me, and I hope to have your approval.

619
01:31:45,110 --> 01:31:46,650
Any questions for Mr. Rosamund?

620
01:31:48,920 --> 01:31:49,710
Let's say, Drucker.

621
01:31:50,570 --> 01:31:55,170
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Mr. Rosenberg, thank you for coming down today. You know,

622
01:31:55,650 --> 01:32:02,490
your reputation as an attorney precedes you, and I'm very impressed. But as a former trustee

623
01:32:02,490 --> 01:32:07,410
on the Board of Trustees of NASA Community College, that institution holds a special

624
01:32:07,410 --> 01:32:14,610
place for me. I have real concerns about its current state of affairs and what's going

625
01:32:14,610 --> 01:32:19,570
going on there, and just in fact, over the past three or four days I've received a couple

626
01:32:19,570 --> 01:32:27,750
of phone calls, more than a couple, from board members, from administrators, from union

627
01:32:27,750 --> 01:32:38,750
people, all decrying a movement there that is a foot to dismantle the entire board

628
01:32:38,750 --> 01:32:44,710
and replace them entirely with one that is more politically aligned.

629
01:32:45,290 --> 01:32:50,410
And that concerns me a great deal because I've been in touch with the college now for a while,

630
01:32:51,110 --> 01:32:55,010
trying to come up with initiatives to address the declining enrollment,

631
01:32:55,870 --> 01:32:58,930
the problems they have in retention, their economic difficulties.

632
01:32:59,690 --> 01:33:03,550
So I feel like the college might be sliding backwards now.

633
01:33:03,750 --> 01:33:08,150
We have a person in charge, no president right now.

634
01:33:08,150 --> 01:33:18,270
Now, it's in a state of flux, and I'm concerned that members, new members of the board, are

635
01:33:18,270 --> 01:33:25,390
going to present themselves with an apolitical agenda that's only bent on improving and

636
01:33:25,390 --> 01:33:33,630
trying to get this college to survive the obstacles that it's facing right now.

637
01:33:33,810 --> 01:33:35,490
And that really concerns me.

638
01:33:35,490 --> 01:33:39,130
When I was on the board, we were on probation with middle states.

639
01:33:39,470 --> 01:33:41,870
We were in jeopardy of losing our accreditation.

640
01:33:42,610 --> 01:33:48,310
And one of the foremost criticisms that middle states had of NASA Community College in those days

641
01:33:48,310 --> 01:33:50,070
was political intrusion.

642
01:33:51,270 --> 01:33:55,950
Political intrusion was something that disturbed SUNY, it disturbed middle states,

643
01:33:56,450 --> 01:33:59,350
and it seems to be permeating the school again.

644
01:33:59,810 --> 01:34:01,510
And that concerns me a great deal.

645
01:34:02,130 --> 01:34:18,210
So number one, I'd like to be assured, Mr. Rosenberg, that you are going in there with the expectation and skill set that is going to allow you to serve in that capacity in an apolitical fashion.

646
01:34:18,390 --> 01:34:19,770
Can you assure us of that?

647
01:34:19,770 --> 01:34:25,490
I can assure you, when I did leave out of my presentation, I represent Five Towns College

648
01:34:25,490 --> 01:34:31,230
who had a similar situation with the leadership of Five Towns College in the middle states evaluation.

649
01:34:32,090 --> 01:34:38,790
I successfully represented them through that evaluation, and they got nothing but high approval since then.

650
01:34:39,290 --> 01:34:45,210
So I've been through it once before, I've been through it successfully, and I see no reason why I can't do it again.

651
01:34:45,210 --> 01:34:52,730
whatever I will do will do to the best of my ability without partisanship are you

652
01:34:52,730 --> 01:34:58,050
are you aware mr. Rosenberg that the strategic plan at the college expired

653
01:34:58,050 --> 01:35:04,350
on the 1231 21 I did not I was not aware of that no so the strategic plan that

654
01:35:04,350 --> 01:35:09,390
they had expired so right now the college is without a strategic plan I'd

655
01:35:09,390 --> 01:35:14,210
like to know what you plan how would you how would you advance a strategic

656
01:35:14,210 --> 01:35:19,430
a huge plan with the college concerning the problems they have in retention and recruitment,

657
01:35:20,630 --> 01:35:25,070
diversity and inclusion. Can you talk about that a little bit?

658
01:35:25,170 --> 01:35:30,670
Sure. Obviously, I'm not prepared to discuss something I have not been briefed on.

659
01:35:30,890 --> 01:35:34,170
I have not been appointed. I am not familiar with it.

660
01:35:34,330 --> 01:35:40,090
But it's like any other case that I handle, any other matter that I litigate or transaction that I handle,

661
01:35:40,090 --> 01:35:52,970
I will get all the relevant information together, get all the right people assembled, and I will address the problem like I did, as I mentioned before, at Five Towns College, and I have no doubt that I will be successful in that endeavor.

662
01:35:53,190 --> 01:35:59,550
Do you have any ideas right now on how you want to improve retention and recruitment and diversity?

663
01:35:59,550 --> 01:36:04,690
I do not have any biases going into it. I have to first get all the facts.

664
01:36:05,270 --> 01:36:09,750
I don't act both in my practice of law and myself personally.

665
01:36:09,910 --> 01:36:13,270
I don't act on half knowledge or incomplete knowledge.

666
01:36:13,430 --> 01:36:18,910
I first must get a grasp of all the facts and knowledge of the entire situation

667
01:36:18,910 --> 01:36:22,570
before I can start to make an assessment of how I think it should be addressed

668
01:36:22,570 --> 01:36:25,450
and the attempt to do so now would be pure guesswork.

669
01:36:25,830 --> 01:36:28,370
And I would not do that as a matter of course.

670
01:36:29,190 --> 01:36:35,430
So do you believe that politics has no position on the Board of Trustees?

671
01:36:36,190 --> 01:36:36,510
Correct.

672
01:36:37,170 --> 01:36:43,290
So you would not be vulnerable to any political pressures that might be placed upon you?

673
01:36:43,550 --> 01:36:49,150
Never have in the 43 years of practicing law have I allowed politics to affect my judgment.

674
01:36:49,350 --> 01:36:53,270
I do the best of my clients and this time my client will be the college

675
01:36:53,270 --> 01:36:58,910
and I'll do my best for the college without any partisanship or any influence from outside forces.

676
01:36:59,710 --> 01:37:05,110
I like that answer. What do you believe is the most important duty of a trustee?

677
01:37:05,590 --> 01:37:10,390
To do his best job, to promote the college, to improve the college,

678
01:37:10,730 --> 01:37:15,470
and to get the best education that college can afford to our students.

679
01:37:18,890 --> 01:37:21,870
Okay, that's all I have. Thank you very much, Mr. Rosenberg.

680
01:37:22,010 --> 01:37:23,370
My pleasure. Anyone else?

681
01:37:23,370 --> 01:37:24,570
Any other questions?

682
01:37:25,230 --> 01:37:25,850
Mr. Rosenberg.

683
01:37:26,410 --> 01:37:26,970
Okay, thank you.

684
01:37:26,970 --> 01:37:28,170
Thank you again for this honor.

685
01:37:28,970 --> 01:37:30,190
Mr. Striss.

686
01:37:30,670 --> 01:37:31,230
My

687
01:37:34,300 --> 01:37:35,280
name is Bill Striss.

688
01:37:35,560 --> 01:37:38,460
I spent my public career in teaching.

689
01:37:39,820 --> 01:37:41,500
My wife is also a teacher.

690
01:37:41,840 --> 01:37:42,580
We're retired.

691
01:37:43,180 --> 01:37:44,300
I live in Valley Stream.

692
01:37:44,980 --> 01:37:47,440
I have been a board member for 30 years.

693
01:37:50,640 --> 01:37:57,100
It's an honor to be a long trustee.

694
01:37:57,100 --> 01:38:02,860
I have the honor of being shaping the Nassau Community College.

695
01:38:03,160 --> 01:38:04,480
I thank you for this.

696
01:38:06,060 --> 01:38:07,020
Any questions?

697
01:38:07,420 --> 01:38:08,160
Thank you, Mr. Smith.

698
01:38:08,300 --> 01:38:08,740
Any questions?

699
01:38:11,540 --> 01:38:12,820
Good afternoon and welcome.

700
01:38:13,400 --> 01:38:13,560
All right.

701
01:38:13,740 --> 01:38:17,180
And thank you very much for wanting to take on this position.

702
01:38:17,360 --> 01:38:18,920
And Mr. Rosenberg, you as well.

703
01:38:19,120 --> 01:38:25,800
And just stay sitting because I hope you feel better because very brave to come from that to here.

704
01:38:25,800 --> 01:38:33,340
So, I too, I do love NASA Community College and I had the opportunity, along with the

705
01:38:33,340 --> 01:38:38,940
presiding officer and some of our other fellow legislators, to take a tour of the, you know,

706
01:38:39,040 --> 01:38:42,860
one element of the school, which is the theater and live production and all that.

707
01:38:43,080 --> 01:38:49,460
And I have to say that the college is very blessed with a very vibrant and engaged faculty.

708
01:38:50,300 --> 01:38:54,880
They understand their needs and they're willing to fight for it, they're willing to advocate

709
01:38:54,880 --> 01:39:00,560
for it. And they have found partners with many of us here on the Legislature. So I look

710
01:39:00,560 --> 01:39:06,280
forward to working with both of you and looking to see what we can do to help Nassar County

711
01:39:06,840 --> 01:39:12,860
continue to stay in existence and even to thrive. We know that enrollment is down,

712
01:39:13,940 --> 01:39:18,580
so I'm sure that if we all put our collective minds together, we may come up with some

713
01:39:18,580 --> 01:39:22,900
pretty good ideas on maybe changing some things, the way that maybe some of the

714
01:39:22,900 --> 01:39:30,120
courses are given, but I just want to make sure that this fine institution continues to

715
01:39:30,120 --> 01:39:36,780
be able to provide good quality education. My daughter and my son both had the opportunity

716
01:39:36,780 --> 01:39:43,560
to attend. My son decided to spend four years there only because he needed college credit.

717
01:39:43,780 --> 01:39:50,080
He knew he was going into civil service, but he found that the environment and the

718
01:39:50,080 --> 01:39:55,660
classes, just everything about NASA Community College satisfied him. He was very happy there.

719
01:39:56,160 --> 01:40:02,320
My daughter spent a year preparing to go away to a private school. So it is a great place

720
01:40:02,320 --> 01:40:08,960
and I look forward to working with you and to making sure that NASA Community College

721
01:40:09,360 --> 01:40:12,340
will be the premier college throughout the United States. Thank you.

722
01:40:12,340 --> 01:40:13,020
Thank you.

723
01:40:13,240 --> 01:40:16,480
I just want to echo what Lucida Ford just said.

724
01:40:16,540 --> 01:40:21,720
We did have a tour about ten days ago and obviously the college is something that we

725
01:40:21,720 --> 01:40:23,820
in the county have been very proud of for many, many years.

726
01:40:24,000 --> 01:40:30,640
It just offers an education, a phenomenal education to so many students who might not

727
01:40:30,640 --> 01:40:35,860
get that education otherwise and it is a great competition to these four-year schools

728
01:40:35,860 --> 01:40:36,860
if someone is interested.

729
01:40:36,860 --> 01:40:44,460
But what it was was eye-opening in terms of some of the facilities and some of the programmatic needs

730
01:40:44,460 --> 01:40:47,860
and the faculty needs that exist at the college.

731
01:40:48,220 --> 01:40:53,960
So we're looking to have some new ideas, some energy, some fresh blood in there

732
01:40:53,960 --> 01:40:57,160
to hopefully shake things up a little bit and get us moving in the right direction.

733
01:40:58,700 --> 01:41:03,580
My understanding is that recently there was a no-confidence vote

734
01:41:03,580 --> 01:41:11,580
by the entire academic session Senate in a couple of the board members so I mean

735
01:41:11,580 --> 01:41:15,040
when you have a unanimous vote then there's something wrong there so we need to

736
01:41:15,040 --> 01:41:19,960
really go in and preserve the school it's been said in that in that presentation

737
01:41:19,960 --> 01:41:24,900
that we had many times it really is a gem in there so as we had to preserve it

738
01:41:36,280 --> 01:41:39,840
I'll do my best to participate as part of that tour as well.

739
01:41:40,240 --> 01:41:45,380
And I've got to tell you that the passion among the students and the passion among the faculty

740
01:41:45,380 --> 01:41:50,160
for that institution is outstanding and I found it interesting that as part of that

741
01:41:50,160 --> 01:41:56,800
tour it was the faculty and it was the students, it was not a single member of the administration

742
01:41:56,800 --> 01:42:01,020
actually came out to meet our delegation from the legislature.

743
01:42:01,700 --> 01:42:04,880
And I found that to be very strange.

744
01:42:05,580 --> 01:42:09,960
You know, we just heard today that it's an institution without a president,

745
01:42:10,360 --> 01:42:13,100
that it's an institution without a strategic plan,

746
01:42:13,760 --> 01:42:15,880
it's an institution with declining enrollment,

747
01:42:16,560 --> 01:42:20,620
it's an institution with concerns about its, as voiced by the faculty,

748
01:42:20,860 --> 01:42:25,000
with concerns that we may be heading back to a period where its accreditation

749
01:42:25,000 --> 01:42:33,100
may be in jeopardy, you know, if members of the legislature are receiving calls from the existing board

750
01:42:33,100 --> 01:42:40,620
that they're concerned they might be changed, what sounds as though there should be change on that board.

751
01:42:41,140 --> 01:42:48,000
And I'm hoping that both of you will be proactive, passionate advocates for the college

752
01:42:48,000 --> 01:42:54,000
that will help to be architects of that change because this is an institution that deserves saving.

753
01:42:54,000 --> 01:43:03,200
This is an institution that serves, that should have at its focus, at every turn, the students

754
01:43:03,200 --> 01:43:04,720
of Nassau County that we serve.

755
01:43:05,420 --> 01:43:13,860
And I know from both of your presentations, one is an accomplished litigator and board

756
01:43:13,860 --> 01:43:18,980
member of Five Towns College and yourself as an educator, have that passion.

757
01:43:19,460 --> 01:43:21,920
And, you know, I do share my colleagues'

758
01:43:24,870 --> 01:43:27,490
concerns that politics should never be a part of the

759
01:43:27,490 --> 01:43:28,470
running of that institution.

760
01:43:29,430 --> 01:43:35,110
And I know that both of you will keep at your focus the success of the institution and the

761
01:43:35,110 --> 01:43:36,070
students that we serve.

762
01:43:36,170 --> 01:43:37,490
And I'm looking forward to working with you.

763
01:43:38,610 --> 01:43:43,150
Just once slight correction, we did have, before you joined us, let's set a road

764
01:43:43,150 --> 01:43:43,530
on a tour.

765
01:43:43,670 --> 01:43:46,830
Edwin Kerrigan from the administration was there, and then I wonder if somebody from

766
01:43:46,830 --> 01:43:47,410
building the grounds.

767
01:43:48,170 --> 01:43:48,430
Yes, sir?

768
01:43:48,430 --> 01:43:54,010
I just want to correct from the record, I was not a board member of Five Fence College,

769
01:43:54,150 --> 01:43:54,730
I was the attorney.

770
01:43:55,210 --> 01:43:55,310
Right.

771
01:43:55,670 --> 01:43:55,730
Right.

772
01:43:56,290 --> 01:43:56,970
Thank you.

773
01:43:57,250 --> 01:43:57,970
Let's set up your leg.

774
01:43:59,070 --> 01:44:00,370
Thank you, Presiding Officer.

775
01:44:02,330 --> 01:44:10,010
I certainly echo all of my colleagues' concerns and wishes for the Niesa Community College.

776
01:44:10,850 --> 01:44:13,690
This comment really is not towards the candidates.

777
01:44:14,370 --> 01:44:20,370
I keep hearing about this tour and I do not believe that anyone from our side was invited

778
01:44:20,370 --> 01:44:25,310
to a tour and so I'd like to put it on the record that if something like this happens

779
01:44:25,310 --> 01:44:28,850
in the future that we at least receive an invitation.

780
01:44:29,510 --> 01:44:29,930
Thank you.

781
01:44:30,530 --> 01:44:35,150
It was arranged by the faculty and actually they invited me and then a couple of legislators

782
01:44:35,150 --> 01:44:40,310
joined in but I would reach out to the president and she would be thrilled to have as many

783
01:44:40,310 --> 01:44:41,810
legislators as possible going on that tour.

784
01:44:41,810 --> 01:44:47,790
So whenever you have the time, they'll bring you over and see exactly what we saw.

785
01:44:48,790 --> 01:44:49,710
Okay, thank you.

786
01:44:50,190 --> 01:44:57,130
I guess it's just a general comment just to make sure that we receive invitations that are gone out.

787
01:44:57,250 --> 01:44:58,050
Okay, thank you.

788
01:44:59,050 --> 01:44:59,970
All right, let's do it.

789
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:05,360
Yeah, just a couple things, Mr. Spitz. Thank you for being here, too. I'm not going to make

790
01:45:05,360 --> 01:45:08,720
you answer all of the tough questions. I asked Mr. Rosenberg what I'm hoping that you have

791
01:45:08,720 --> 01:45:15,160
similar answers. You know, just to comment briefly, quickly on Legislative Ford's comment,

792
01:45:16,180 --> 01:45:23,580
the college has a tremendous course handbook. The variety of courses that they offer is

793
01:45:23,580 --> 01:45:28,340
outstanding. The problem that they have is purely economic and they don't have enough

794
01:45:28,340 --> 01:45:35,540
faculty, and they're scrambling to have faculty members teach these courses, aside from the

795
01:45:35,540 --> 01:45:41,620
declining enrollment and retention problems. So I'm hoping that you have fresh ideas, as

796
01:45:41,620 --> 01:45:48,440
Legislator Rhodes said, we welcome fresh ideas, but it has to be ideas that are geared

797
01:45:48,440 --> 01:45:54,160
towards the sustainability of this college, because when I'm hearing the pathway that

798
01:45:54,160 --> 01:46:01,200
the colleges on now does not bode well for its ability to stay open and I'm concerned

799
01:46:01,200 --> 01:46:06,820
about that and I hope you appreciate that as well. In your career so far in education

800
01:46:06,820 --> 01:46:12,220
you were on the board is that it at Valley Stream? Yes I was in Valley Stream and in all

801
01:46:12,220 --> 01:46:19,100
of your years in the board of Valley Stream did you feel any sort of political pressure

802
01:46:19,100 --> 01:46:28,000
at times? Yes. And how did you respond to that? I did my best. I explained what my position

803
01:46:28,000 --> 01:46:35,040
was and I set to it. So what would you describe what type of political pressure you received?

804
01:46:36,860 --> 01:46:38,060
Oh,

805
01:46:41,520 --> 01:46:53,860
people wanted jobs in the school system, so I referred them to the superintendent, and

806
01:46:55,140 --> 01:46:56,280
that was it.

807
01:46:56,760 --> 01:47:00,760
So you mean they tried to use your influence to obtain employment?

808
01:47:01,080 --> 01:47:01,660
That's right.

809
01:47:03,520 --> 01:47:08,860
And you have any particular ideas on how you think the college should be heading right now?

810
01:47:09,440 --> 01:47:13,780
No, I don't have any idea. I will listen.

811
01:47:14,060 --> 01:47:18,300
I will listen to my fellow trustees and come up with a plan.

812
01:47:21,600 --> 01:47:22,120
Thank you.

813
01:47:23,500 --> 01:47:24,540
Let's start at 30-way.

814
01:47:25,220 --> 01:47:32,300
Hi. I also want to thank both of you for trying to help with this college that we all do care about.

815
01:47:33,720 --> 01:47:38,640
And I agree with my colleagues that the number one issue we have has been money.

816
01:47:39,340 --> 01:47:42,480
And I think, you know, or you'll find out that there's a formula

817
01:47:42,480 --> 01:47:45,340
and the county is supposed to give a certain percentage.

818
01:47:45,560 --> 01:47:50,940
And unfortunately, the county has up until very recently been very strapped financially.

819
01:47:51,600 --> 01:47:53,960
But right now we're sort of in good position.

820
01:47:54,420 --> 01:47:59,880
So I think it might behoove you to take a look at that formula

821
01:47:59,880 --> 01:48:05,500
and put pressure on the county to give a little bit more than they have to this

822
01:48:05,500 --> 01:48:09,860
point because the money is available. So that's my two cents.

823
01:48:13,660 --> 01:48:18,180
All right, well thank you Mr. Stris. Appreciate it. Thank you Mr. Roseburg.

824
01:48:19,480 --> 01:48:22,020
Any further debate or discussion of the two nominations?

825
01:48:23,500 --> 01:48:25,980
If not, all in favor signify by saying aye.

826
01:48:26,280 --> 01:48:27,800
Aye. Those opposed?

827
01:48:29,240 --> 01:48:35,460
Okay, so it passes by 11 votes in the affirmative and 7 abstentions.

828
01:48:38,350 --> 01:48:39,190
Congratulations, guys.

829
01:48:42,410 --> 01:48:44,830
Now we have, actually, we're going to go back to Wednesday,

830
01:48:44,950 --> 01:48:48,830
Mr. Tortino is here, so we're going to ask for a motion to untable

831
01:48:49,650 --> 01:48:53,710
by the legislative roads, seconded by the legislative fray,

832
01:48:54,130 --> 01:48:57,790
all in favor of untabling that nomination signify by saying aye.

833
01:48:58,030 --> 01:48:58,550
Aye.

834
01:48:58,950 --> 01:48:59,470
Those opposed?

835
01:48:59,470 --> 01:49:03,810
So now that's before us, and Mr. Tautini, you want to come up?

836
01:49:08,550 --> 01:49:09,570
Get well, be well.

837
01:49:09,790 --> 01:49:09,910
Good

838
01:49:12,020 --> 01:49:15,920
afternoon, Presiding Officer Nicolelo, members of the County Legislator.

839
01:49:16,700 --> 01:49:19,260
I just want to first say I apologize for my tardiness.

840
01:49:19,940 --> 01:49:23,240
I appreciate you temporarily tabling this resolution.

841
01:49:23,980 --> 01:49:26,860
I had a deposition that went a lot longer than it should have gone.

842
01:49:28,100 --> 01:49:28,980
That being said...

843
01:49:28,980 --> 01:49:31,740
It wasn't with Mr. Rhodes, because I know he's here, so...

844
01:49:33,280 --> 01:49:41,340
I hope that being said, as you all are aware, I've been appointed by our county executive

845
01:49:41,940 --> 01:49:47,780
to the Nassau County Assessment Review Commission pending your confirmation, which I hopefully

846
01:49:47,780 --> 01:49:48,940
hopefully get today.

847
01:49:49,680 --> 01:49:54,400
Just wanted to come in, introduce myself, give you a little background, and answer any

848
01:49:54,400 --> 01:49:55,200
questions you may have.

849
01:49:55,960 --> 01:50:01,580
First things first, I'm a lifelong Nassau County resident, originally from Glencove,

850
01:50:01,580 --> 01:50:08,580
the good City of Glencove, where I still currently reside and am a homeowner. I am a trial attorney

851
01:50:08,580 --> 01:50:16,000
by trade. I work for Geico staff council that also our offices are in Nassau County. I've

852
01:50:16,000 --> 01:50:20,880
been a trial attorney for about six years now. On the side, I do dabble in land use

853
01:50:20,880 --> 01:50:27,100
law and residential closings as well. Also, in the past couple of years, I've been

854
01:50:27,100 --> 01:50:29,040
on the city zoning board for about two years

855
01:50:29,480 --> 01:50:31,780
and also became a city councilman for two years

856
01:50:31,780 --> 01:50:32,780
shortly thereafter.

857
01:50:34,500 --> 01:50:35,820
I'm excited for the opportunity

858
01:50:35,820 --> 01:50:37,500
to be helping the County of Nassau

859
01:50:37,500 --> 01:50:38,700
with the assessment review commission.

860
01:50:39,720 --> 01:50:41,780
I look forward to making a contribution to ARC

861
01:50:41,780 --> 01:50:43,360
and yeah, that's it.

862
01:50:43,440 --> 01:50:44,100
If you have any questions,

863
01:50:44,200 --> 01:50:45,220
I'll be happy to answer them.

864
01:50:46,500 --> 01:50:47,280
Any questions?

865
01:50:49,760 --> 01:50:50,500
Let's say it to Richie Witt.

866
01:50:50,800 --> 01:50:51,440
I just want to say thank you.

867
01:50:51,440 --> 01:50:52,860
I was expecting a question from the County of Nassau.

868
01:50:52,860 --> 01:50:54,440
I have a few questions, yeah.

869
01:50:55,060 --> 01:50:57,200
I just want to say that I've had the pleasure

870
01:50:58,760 --> 01:51:04,120
I have complete respect for him. He's a straight up person. He'll tell you if he agrees with you,

871
01:51:04,260 --> 01:51:08,000
he'll tell you if he doesn't agree with you, and you left out that you just got engaged.

872
01:51:08,280 --> 01:51:10,580
I did. I apologize for that, and I just got engaged.

873
01:51:10,760 --> 01:51:20,100
Three weeks ago. But anyway, Rocco, this is a challenge, but I have faith in you that you're going to address it,

874
01:51:20,240 --> 01:51:22,500
and I look forward to working with you.

875
01:51:22,620 --> 01:51:25,780
Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you to everybody on the Legislature. I appreciate it.

876
01:51:26,440 --> 01:51:28,680
Thank you. Any other questions?

877
01:51:29,100 --> 01:51:30,400
So it's a great discussion.

878
01:51:31,420 --> 01:51:33,960
Hearing none, all in favor signify by saying aye.

879
01:51:34,380 --> 01:51:34,920
Aye.

880
01:51:35,280 --> 01:51:35,760
Those opposed?

881
01:51:37,040 --> 01:51:37,320
Okay.

882
01:51:37,800 --> 01:51:37,960
Yeah?

883
01:51:38,500 --> 01:51:38,700
Yeah.

884
01:51:39,360 --> 01:51:40,420
All right.

885
01:51:40,580 --> 01:51:45,880
So that it passes by a vote of 12 votes in the affirmative and 6 votes in the negative.

886
01:51:46,620 --> 01:51:46,860
All right.

887
01:51:46,900 --> 01:51:47,060
Congratulations.

888
01:51:47,800 --> 01:51:48,400
Thank you.

889
01:51:48,980 --> 01:51:49,740
Thank you.

890
01:51:49,740 --> 01:51:50,040
Thank you.

891
01:51:50,200 --> 01:51:51,880
All right.

892
01:52:01,960 --> 01:52:04,920
All right, so that's six votes, 12 votes in the affirmative,

893
01:52:05,240 --> 01:52:06,780
six abstentions in the passed.

894
01:52:08,440 --> 01:52:10,740
Eric, congratulations, Mr. Tultino.

895
01:52:12,120 --> 01:52:14,460
Next, appointments are to the Planning Commission.

896
01:52:15,620 --> 01:52:24,800
We have items 31, 32, 31 and 32 I'll call right now.

897
01:52:25,040 --> 01:52:26,180
These are resolutions to confirm

898
01:52:26,180 --> 01:52:27,560
the County Executive's appointments

899
01:52:28,180 --> 01:52:31,620
of Murray Foreman and Reed Sackiewicz

900
01:52:31,620 --> 01:52:33,500
to the Nassau County Planning Commission.

901
01:52:34,780 --> 01:52:36,340
Moved by Legislator Ferretti,

902
01:52:36,500 --> 01:52:39,460
seconded by Legislator Gaylord, those two before us.

903
01:52:40,020 --> 01:52:43,100
But in the meantime, so we can consider all these together,

904
01:52:43,280 --> 01:52:47,260
we do have an emergency item, which is 125 or 22,

905
01:52:47,640 --> 01:52:50,640
to resolution confirm the Nassau County Executive's

906
01:52:50,640 --> 01:52:53,280
appointment of Condon Sharona-Kalati

907
01:52:53,280 --> 01:52:55,480
to the Nassau County Planning Commission.

908
01:52:55,660 --> 01:52:57,420
So we need a motion to establish an emergency.

909
01:52:58,040 --> 01:52:59,240
Moved by Legislator Walker,

910
01:52:59,440 --> 01:53:00,980
seconded by Legislator Ferretti.

911
01:53:00,980 --> 01:53:02,900
Any debate or discussion on the emergency?

912
01:53:04,620 --> 01:53:05,000
Yes.

913
01:53:05,960 --> 01:53:11,500
We were under the impression before we provide votes for the emergency that someone was going to come up and justify the need for the emergency.

914
01:53:19,160 --> 01:53:20,040
Chris Lemoine from the administration.

915
01:53:20,620 --> 01:53:23,780
The original item as filed had a mistake in it.

916
01:53:23,940 --> 01:53:27,540
It referenced that Ms. Colatti would be replacing Sean Salley.

917
01:53:27,980 --> 01:53:28,560
That was a mistake.

918
01:53:28,780 --> 01:53:32,800
Ms. Colatti is going to be replacing, is going to be filling an open seat on the planning commission.

919
01:53:32,800 --> 01:53:34,500
so we apologize for any confusion.

920
01:53:35,000 --> 01:53:35,900
And thank you for the courtesy.

921
01:53:37,200 --> 01:53:40,800
Mr. Chris, the...

922
01:53:41,540 --> 01:53:43,680
currently, are there enough votes,

923
01:53:44,180 --> 01:53:46,040
members of the planning commission to have a quorum?

924
01:53:46,380 --> 01:53:46,600
Yes.

925
01:53:46,940 --> 01:53:47,100
There are.

926
01:53:47,260 --> 01:53:47,320
Okay.

927
01:53:53,270 --> 01:53:54,370
Any other questions?

928
01:54:02,720 --> 01:54:02,940
All right.

929
01:54:03,480 --> 01:54:04,540
Any other debate or discussion?

930
01:54:04,760 --> 01:54:06,080
Hearing none, for the emergency,

931
01:54:06,240 --> 01:54:07,700
all in favor signify by saying aye.

932
01:54:08,080 --> 01:54:08,560
Aye.

933
01:54:08,840 --> 01:54:09,300
Those opposed?

934
01:54:10,000 --> 01:54:11,140
Okay, the emergency is established,

935
01:54:11,380 --> 01:54:14,320
so I will call the item 125 of 22,

936
01:54:14,320 --> 01:54:20,140
resolution from the County Executive's Appointment of Kandan Kaladi to the Nessar County Planning

937
01:54:20,140 --> 01:54:26,480
Commission. Vote again by legislative Faredi, second by legislative Joffrey. So now all three

938
01:54:26,480 --> 01:54:31,940
of those appointments are before us. Come on up. How are you doing, Reed?

939
01:54:38,710 --> 01:54:39,730
So who wants to go first?

940
01:54:48,040 --> 01:54:53,980
Hi, my name is Kandan Kaladi. I'd like to first of all thank the county

941
01:54:53,980 --> 01:54:58,820
the executive and all the legislatures for considering

942
01:55:00,460 --> 01:55:03,100
me for appointment for the Planning Board Commission.

943
01:55:05,220 --> 01:55:06,420
I was born in Iran.

944
01:55:07,600 --> 01:55:11,340
I migrated to the United States in 1981.

945
01:55:13,820 --> 01:55:19,520
I went to school, and I got married.

946
01:55:19,520 --> 01:55:32,060
and I have, skipping a few decades, I have three children, four grandchildren, and I'm

947
01:55:32,060 --> 01:55:46,320
working currently at Board of Election. I also am one of the 15 elected members of the UMJCA

948
01:55:46,320 --> 01:55:53,580
central board in Great Neck. That's the Persian Jewish community in Great Neck. We

949
01:55:53,580 --> 01:55:58,800
have a very established system. We have a central board and many committees that

950
01:55:58,800 --> 01:56:05,960
are conducted underneath. I am very dedicated to community work. We have many

951
01:56:05,960 --> 01:56:14,700
meetings and we make a lot of decisions. I'm also a member of the Public

952
01:56:14,700 --> 01:56:24,440
Affairs Committee in my community which we try to keep a good relationship with all public officials.

953
01:56:26,680 --> 01:56:36,100
And that's about it. I am hoping to be able to use my experience and serve the county.

954
01:56:39,220 --> 01:56:41,540
Well, thank you. Any questions from Ms. Colotte?

955
01:56:41,540 --> 01:56:42,280
Good

956
01:56:54,820 --> 01:57:01,000
afternoon. My name is Maury Foreman. Thank you to county executive

957
01:57:01,000 --> 01:57:06,800
Blakeman and to the legislature for considering my appointment this afternoon

958
01:57:06,800 --> 01:57:11,920
to the Nassau County Planning Commission. I've been a resident of Nassau County

959
01:57:11,920 --> 01:57:20,840
for the past 25 years. I educate my highest degree as a master's of business

960
01:57:20,840 --> 01:57:24,000
Administration from Columbia University.

961
01:57:24,500 --> 01:57:27,920
I'm a lifelong emergency and acquisition practitioner,

962
01:57:27,980 --> 01:57:31,800
mostly in the area of what you would call today private

963
01:57:31,800 --> 01:57:32,260
equity.

964
01:57:32,900 --> 01:57:37,760
Currently, my area of focus is in health care real estate

965
01:57:37,760 --> 01:57:41,400
in the operation and ownership primarily of skilled

966
01:57:41,720 --> 01:57:45,500
nursing facilities throughout the United States.

967
01:57:45,500 --> 01:57:54,380
I am also active in community, having been the long-serving president of the Lawrence

968
01:57:54,380 --> 01:57:58,580
Union Free School District for the past 15 years.

969
01:57:59,160 --> 01:58:06,760
I look forward to bringing my broad-based business, development, and community service

970
01:58:06,760 --> 01:58:12,560
experience to my post as on the Nassau County Planning Commission.

971
01:58:13,180 --> 01:58:15,840
I'll entertain any questions that you might have.

972
01:58:17,490 --> 01:58:18,530
Let us know, Draca.

973
01:58:19,270 --> 01:58:20,590
Thank you, Presiding Officer.

974
01:58:20,790 --> 01:58:21,790
Hello, Mr. Forman.

975
01:58:21,830 --> 01:58:22,250
How are you?

976
01:58:22,790 --> 01:58:23,590
Fine, thank you.

977
01:58:23,850 --> 01:58:25,190
Thank you for being here.

978
01:58:25,430 --> 01:58:26,170
A couple of questions.

979
01:58:26,550 --> 01:58:27,970
I've been given some information.

980
01:58:29,250 --> 01:58:38,610
I was given some articles concerning major issues of Medicaid fraud and breach of fiduciary

981
01:58:38,610 --> 01:58:40,270
duties brought against you.

982
01:58:40,270 --> 01:58:47,130
specifically a press release from the FBI from 2010 indicates that the federal

983
01:58:47,130 --> 01:58:52,430
government accused you of involvement in a multi-million dollar Medicaid fraud

984
01:58:52,430 --> 01:58:59,210
scheme. Is that true? Unfortunately anybody who's been in the health care

985
01:58:59,210 --> 01:59:06,650
business has from time to time been subject to claims that are brought by

986
01:59:07,470 --> 01:59:16,430
which is basically a bounty system where individual people can bring a cause of action. That specific

987
01:59:16,430 --> 01:59:22,550
item that you referred to, if you read the rest of the press release, was settled without

988
01:59:22,550 --> 01:59:32,210
the admission of any guilt. So there's really nothing to say that we clearly deny all claims

989
01:59:32,210 --> 01:59:39,890
and that was it never it never proceeded but you agreed to settle the claim by

990
01:59:39,890 --> 01:59:44,730
paying 14 million dollars to settle those that is that is not correct I

991
01:59:44,730 --> 01:59:53,810
personally I was I was part of a group that was as I said that was a subject

992
01:59:53,810 --> 01:59:57,990
of this what they call a key 10 action and again if you'll read the press

993
01:59:57,990 --> 01:59:59,970
releases in detail by person.

994
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:02,620
Assembly did not pay one penny towards that settlement.

995
02:00:03,940 --> 02:00:06,660
But you were involved in that settlement, though?

996
02:00:07,300 --> 02:00:12,940
I just, yes, similarly, as allegations were made, I was also involved in the settlement.

997
02:00:13,980 --> 02:00:16,800
But again, I did not pay one penny towards the settlement.

998
02:00:16,800 --> 02:00:19,480
So the allegations didn't go further because it was settled?

999
02:00:22,100 --> 02:00:27,320
The allegations did not go further because they were unfounded.

1000
02:00:28,120 --> 02:00:31,540
But yet somebody paid $14 million to settle those allegations.

1001
02:00:32,280 --> 02:00:32,920
Somebody did.

1002
02:00:33,420 --> 02:00:35,960
Did you know who it was that paid these $14 million?

1003
02:00:36,480 --> 02:00:37,340
That's confidential.

1004
02:00:37,940 --> 02:00:38,140
Wow.

1005
02:00:38,640 --> 02:00:39,800
You can't share that with us.

1006
02:00:39,960 --> 02:00:40,220
Cannot.

1007
02:00:40,320 --> 02:00:41,440
How many years ago did that happen?

1008
02:00:42,120 --> 02:00:45,300
That was settled in excess of 12 years ago.

1009
02:00:45,700 --> 02:00:47,700
And that's not a matter of public record?

1010
02:00:48,280 --> 02:00:49,640
Who the individuals were?

1011
02:00:50,740 --> 02:00:54,220
The individuals are, well, the entities and the individuals are,

1012
02:00:54,360 --> 02:00:56,160
if you read the press release, are a matter of public record.

1013
02:00:57,660 --> 02:01:08,900
You were also involved in a nursing home problem in which the bankruptcy court findings, they

1014
02:01:08,900 --> 02:01:16,800
found a diversion of assets, a sham company was created to divert assets to avoid paying

1015
02:01:16,800 --> 02:01:19,480
one billion dollars in wrongful death judgments.

1016
02:01:20,200 --> 02:01:21,120
You know what I think about that?

1017
02:01:22,900 --> 02:01:29,240
Again, that was a, you know, that too was a litigation brought by some very aggressive

1018
02:01:29,240 --> 02:01:33,700
plaintiff's attorney, which unfortunately is also a risk of the nursing home business.

1019
02:01:34,260 --> 02:01:42,660
And that too was settled without any adverse finding.

1020
02:01:43,320 --> 02:01:48,700
Well, you know, one man's trash is another man's treasure, as they say, but you call

1021
02:01:48,700 --> 02:01:54,380
at the risk of being in the nursing home or healthcare business, but you're still obligated

1022
02:01:54,380 --> 02:01:58,660
to conform yourself to legal activities, correct?

1023
02:01:59,400 --> 02:02:11,700
That is correct, and as I stand here today, I am unimplicated in any of the type of activities

1024
02:02:11,700 --> 02:02:16,660
that you are speaking about.

1025
02:02:16,660 --> 02:02:20,620
The bankruptcy court findings, I think, named you in those findings.

1026
02:02:21,320 --> 02:02:30,860
Again, those were allegations, those were not findings, those were not entered, those were not entered into judgments.

1027
02:02:31,220 --> 02:02:35,300
Can you talk about the genesis of what those claims or allegations were about?

1028
02:02:37,700 --> 02:02:45,580
Again, there were very aggressive plaintiff attorneys looking for a source of payment

1029
02:02:45,580 --> 02:02:53,400
for some, again, what I would say were very aggressive claims, and again, there's probably

1030
02:02:53,400 --> 02:02:59,200
not enough time here today to really go into the whole, to the whole stores.

1031
02:02:59,200 --> 02:03:05,200
So, notwithstanding aggressive litigators, you escaped unscathed?

1032
02:03:07,840 --> 02:03:14,620
Again, I would say that there were no adverse findings, so that is correct.

1033
02:03:16,700 --> 02:03:18,180
I have nothing further to discuss.

1034
02:03:20,620 --> 02:03:23,760
Anyone have any other questions for Mr. Forman?

1035
02:03:26,950 --> 02:03:27,210
Okay.

1036
02:03:27,930 --> 02:03:28,170
Reed?

1037
02:03:31,490 --> 02:03:32,110
Anything else?

1038
02:03:32,490 --> 02:03:33,870
No, you're good for now.

1039
02:03:34,070 --> 02:03:34,730
Thank you so much.

1040
02:03:37,790 --> 02:03:38,230
Thank you.

1041
02:03:38,230 --> 02:03:42,050
So, like this first up, my name is Reed Sackwich.

1042
02:03:42,150 --> 02:03:44,730
I am a lifelong resident of the village of New High Park,

1043
02:03:48,640 --> 02:03:52,760
proud graduate of all New High Public Schools,

1044
02:03:53,000 --> 02:03:54,120
starting at New High Park Road School

1045
02:03:54,120 --> 02:03:55,660
and New High Park Memorial High School.

1046
02:03:56,460 --> 02:03:59,860
I am currently the owner of a plumbing company.

1047
02:03:59,920 --> 02:04:02,640
I'm a licensed master plumber, Sackwich Plumbing.

1048
02:04:04,160 --> 02:04:08,340
I also am a partner in the unit New High Park,

1049
02:04:08,440 --> 02:04:10,800
a family run company business

1050
02:04:10,800 --> 02:04:16,600
that my family owns. Currently, I'm the Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissions in the New

1051
02:04:16,600 --> 02:04:22,140
Epoch Fire District. I am the next Chief of New Epoch Fire District. I am married with

1052
02:04:22,140 --> 02:04:29,360
two children, a young lady and a son. And I look forward to serving Nassau County and

1053
02:04:29,360 --> 02:04:32,480
trying to get them to proceed in a great direction.

1054
02:04:33,320 --> 02:04:34,280
Thank you.

1055
02:04:34,680 --> 02:04:40,400
Before I open up the questions, I've known Reid for probably 30 years or longer.

1056
02:04:40,900 --> 02:04:43,720
I actually knew his father as well before him.

1057
02:04:44,480 --> 02:04:48,740
Both Reid is his two brothers, one of whom was a New York City firefighter

1058
02:04:48,740 --> 02:04:50,680
and the other who's also serving as a commissioner.

1059
02:04:51,480 --> 02:04:56,640
Their father has been active in serving our community for not just decades,

1060
02:04:56,780 --> 02:05:00,600
but we're talking 50, 60, 70 years that they've been giving back to the community.

1061
02:05:00,600 --> 02:05:04,100
so you would be an excellent addition to serving the county.

1062
02:05:05,480 --> 02:05:07,640
Any other questions or discussion?

1063
02:05:10,700 --> 02:05:12,140
Okay, thank you, Reid.

1064
02:05:12,820 --> 02:05:16,120
Any debate or discussion before we go?

1065
02:05:20,140 --> 02:05:24,800
I just want to further expound on my colleague,

1066
02:05:25,320 --> 02:05:27,840
legislative truckers, points in regards to Mr. Foreman.

1067
02:05:28,460 --> 02:05:34,220
It sounded like Mr. Foreman gave some clarity in terms of the issue at hand,

1068
02:05:34,220 --> 02:05:40,680
but I really would want to hear, and I'm going to respectfully request that that appointment be tabled,

1069
02:05:41,220 --> 02:05:45,060
I really want to hear from the administration of whether or not they were concerned,

1070
02:05:45,260 --> 02:05:50,300
or even aware of some of the stuff that occurred, you know, some 12 years ago,

1071
02:05:50,420 --> 02:05:52,620
and were they comfortable with those responses?

1072
02:05:52,960 --> 02:05:56,180
And it just seems like it seems like a very large issue,

1073
02:05:56,320 --> 02:06:01,340
and I understand Mr. Forman has indicated that he didn't pay anything towards the $14 million,

1074
02:06:01,720 --> 02:06:07,640
But, but, but obviously he decided and there's some concerns here with the FBI and I would

1075
02:06:07,640 --> 02:06:11,040
think I would want to hear from the administration to get a little bit more clarity.

1076
02:06:11,560 --> 02:06:15,720
I'm just concerned that we, we don't, you know, start to set a precedent that, that

1077
02:06:15,720 --> 02:06:18,520
we're just going to look past this kind of stuff without hearing from the administration

1078
02:06:18,520 --> 02:06:22,640
when we hear something on the floor that references Medicaid for, which I understand,

1079
02:06:22,640 --> 02:06:27,080
you know, in that business, as Mr. Foreman indicated, a lot of people are investigated

1080
02:06:27,080 --> 02:06:27,800
regarding that.

1081
02:06:27,800 --> 02:06:32,020
But it just seems like the county has a history of stuff

1082
02:06:32,020 --> 02:06:32,780
like this happening.

1083
02:06:34,060 --> 02:06:36,160
And it's happening in previous administrations.

1084
02:06:36,680 --> 02:06:40,300
And it just seems to be, it just seems logical to me that

1085
02:06:40,300 --> 02:06:43,900
rather than just rush and pass it through, it just seems

1086
02:06:43,900 --> 02:06:45,820
logical that we at least hear from the administration

1087
02:06:45,820 --> 02:06:49,180
to make sure that they're still, I like to know that

1088
02:06:49,180 --> 02:06:52,700
they're aware, because we discovered it by doing a

1089
02:06:53,320 --> 02:06:55,480
Google search, because we didn't get a chance to

1090
02:06:55,480 --> 02:06:56,260
interview Mr. Forman.

1091
02:06:56,260 --> 02:06:59,260
But I just want to make sure that they're aware.

1092
02:06:59,900 --> 02:07:04,960
So either someone come up, or we table it, or we discuss it another time.

1093
02:07:05,200 --> 02:07:09,880
But it seems to me it seems to be a little improved to move forward after hearing what we just heard

1094
02:07:10,480 --> 02:07:13,120
and to find out if they still want to be able to move forward.

1095
02:07:15,620 --> 02:07:17,460
Well, there's members of the administration here.

1096
02:07:17,580 --> 02:07:17,860
They're upstairs.

1097
02:07:18,640 --> 02:07:21,100
Nobody's approached us and said, well, we're drawing this nomination.

1098
02:07:21,420 --> 02:07:23,400
So I mean, that's really not an issue.

1099
02:07:23,400 --> 02:07:29,030
So I mean, if you want to make a motion to the table, you can go ahead and do so if you need a second.

1100
02:07:30,090 --> 02:07:38,810
Well, I mean that. I don't know if Chris Lamorne is still in the back. I mean, I'm not too sure if he is.

1101
02:07:39,010 --> 02:07:43,990
He may not be able to comment on it, but he may not know if he's able to comment on what we just heard.

1102
02:07:44,590 --> 02:07:48,590
I would like to start with whether or not the administration was aware.

1103
02:07:48,590 --> 02:07:54,370
If the administration was aware, then we can go from there and maybe he can't comment on that part.

1104
02:07:55,050 --> 02:07:59,730
But I'd at least like to know if Chris, if you don't mind coming up, just to find out.

1105
02:08:00,070 --> 02:08:04,490
And he may say, you know, he doesn't know. Which is fine. That's okay.

1106
02:08:06,350 --> 02:08:11,810
Chris, why don't you come to the microphone to tell us whether or not the administration is withdrawing this nomination?

1107
02:08:12,030 --> 02:08:17,170
No, because I know from the administration we're not withdrawing the item.

1108
02:08:17,170 --> 02:08:21,850
You heard from Mr. Foreman, he explained the factors around the matters that were brought

1109
02:08:21,850 --> 02:08:24,330
up, so at this time we're not withdrawing it.

1110
02:08:24,330 --> 02:08:29,130
So you were, so you, so just to be clear, you were aware before he was presented to us

1111
02:08:29,130 --> 02:08:31,070
today of the concerns of Mr. Foreman.

1112
02:08:31,530 --> 02:08:36,030
I was not aware personally, particularly, but the administration obviously has the

1113
02:08:36,030 --> 02:08:39,450
background of Mr. Foreman and was more than happy to present him for the nomination

1114
02:08:39,450 --> 02:08:39,550
today.

1115
02:08:39,710 --> 02:08:40,110
Understandable.

1116
02:08:40,230 --> 02:08:40,390
Okay.

1117
02:08:40,990 --> 02:08:41,670
No further curses.

1118
02:08:42,110 --> 02:08:42,730
We don't have any disabled.

1119
02:08:45,410 --> 02:08:46,050
Now

1120
02:08:51,840 --> 02:08:58,040
we're going to have a vote on the three nominations. All in favor of these three nominations,

1121
02:08:58,400 --> 02:09:02,060
signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed.

1122
02:09:05,250 --> 02:09:09,170
Passes by a vote of 11 to 7. They pass.

1123
02:09:11,220 --> 02:09:18,960
The last two nominations we have today are items 36 and 37. Resolutions 80 and 81.

1124
02:09:18,960 --> 02:09:22,920
these are resolutions to confirm the county executive's appointment of William

1125
02:09:22,920 --> 02:09:28,960
Rockensees and Reginald Spinello to the Nessau County Industrial Development

1126
02:09:28,960 --> 02:09:36,060
Agency. Moved by Legislative Ford, seconded by Legislative Walker. Those two

1127
02:09:36,060 --> 02:09:37,900
nominations are for us.

1128
02:09:39,960 --> 02:09:42,200
Good afternoon,

1129
02:09:53,810 --> 02:09:58,170
everyone. Bill Rockensees, thank you for

1130
02:09:58,170 --> 02:10:01,790
and I'm for inviting me here today for confirmation.

1131
02:10:02,250 --> 02:10:04,050
Thank you to Bruce Blakeman for nominating me.

1132
02:10:04,690 --> 02:10:06,050
I believe you have my resume,

1133
02:10:06,410 --> 02:10:08,830
but just I'll give a brief synopsis.

1134
02:10:09,310 --> 02:10:12,490
So I'm a civil engineer, graduated from Manhattan College.

1135
02:10:13,090 --> 02:10:15,190
I have a license to practice engineering

1136
02:10:15,190 --> 02:10:16,370
in the state of New York.

1137
02:10:18,830 --> 02:10:21,950
Formally 30 years of service in municipal government,

1138
02:10:22,470 --> 02:10:24,950
working for the Village of Freeport, town of Hempstead,

1139
02:10:26,170 --> 02:10:32,330
as their engineer for the town. I was a commissioner of engineering. In those roles, I did a lot

1140
02:10:32,330 --> 02:10:39,790
of obviously project design, but also involved in site plan reviews, both residential, commercial,

1141
02:10:41,870 --> 02:10:47,270
subdivision work. So I'm very familiar with zoning and planning and that sort of thing.

1142
02:10:48,290 --> 02:10:53,950
Currently, I work for a private engineering firm on Long Island H2M in there over five

1143
02:10:53,950 --> 02:11:03,670
years so I feel that my background could help the board or services. I am a lifelong resident

1144
02:11:03,670 --> 02:11:08,850
of Nassau County. I live in West Hempstead with my wife. I raise my kids in West Hempstead.

1145
02:11:09,030 --> 02:11:15,610
Two of them have owned houses in Nassau County. If anybody has any questions, I'm here.

1146
02:11:16,270 --> 02:11:18,670
I look forward to hopefully serving in this role.

1147
02:11:19,750 --> 02:11:22,270
Okay, any questions for Mr. Roppensies?

1148
02:11:28,620 --> 02:11:31,020
Good afternoon. I'm Reggie Spinello.

1149
02:11:31,720 --> 02:11:36,180
I want to thank the county executive for the nomination

1150
02:11:36,180 --> 02:11:39,920
and the opportunity to speak here in front of all of you.

1151
02:11:40,720 --> 02:11:44,940
I was a councilman for two years in Glencove.

1152
02:11:45,260 --> 02:11:50,340
I was also the mayor for four years for the city of Glencove.

1153
02:11:51,020 --> 02:11:59,880
Also, during that time, I was the chair of the IDA, the CDA, and the local economic development

1154
02:11:59,880 --> 02:12:00,420
court.

1155
02:12:02,060 --> 02:12:09,780
One of the things that we did that was really tremendous for the City of Gwankow, we had

1156
02:12:09,780 --> 02:12:10,340
a revitalization.

1157
02:12:11,180 --> 02:12:13,500
It was a project that was many years into making.

1158
02:12:14,220 --> 02:12:17,780
We revitalized 56 saithers on the waterfront.

1159
02:12:17,780 --> 02:12:28,560
It was a billion-dollar public-private partnership with RxR, created about a thousand jobs, about

1160
02:12:28,560 --> 02:12:38,100
58 million in salaries, and because of the job and everything going forward with it,

1161
02:12:38,100 --> 02:12:46,100
Over time, it will bring 50, have 50 more million dollars of spending into the local

1162
02:12:46,100 --> 02:12:46,780
economy.

1163
02:12:48,200 --> 02:12:49,500
We set it up.

1164
02:12:49,640 --> 02:12:55,700
It was an interesting, it was called a PIF, which is a pilot incremental financing.

1165
02:12:56,520 --> 02:12:59,360
The city was responsible for the infrastructure.

1166
02:13:00,380 --> 02:13:02,300
There was a bond floated for that.

1167
02:13:02,300 --> 02:13:08,000
In fact, the city was able to doing the sale of the property.

1168
02:13:09,000 --> 02:13:15,320
We collected $15 million for the sale of the property which paid off a HUD loan to the county.

1169
02:13:17,060 --> 02:13:27,780
We had $10 million in fees that helped us to turn a $5 million deficit in the city of Point Cove into a surplus when I left.

1170
02:13:28,980 --> 02:13:37,600
Additionally, we were able to revitalize the downtown, we put together a mixed-use project

1171
02:13:37,600 --> 02:13:45,420
in the middle of downtown, 146 rental units, and I think it's about 5,000 square feet of

1172
02:13:45,420 --> 02:13:50,040
retail, so I'm familiar with IDAs and how they work.

1173
02:13:51,280 --> 02:13:54,720
I look forward to the opportunity to serve the county.

1174
02:13:54,920 --> 02:13:56,620
I think it's a very important thing.

1175
02:13:56,620 --> 02:14:04,000
I think IDAs are very important, I think sometimes they're misunderstood, but I also think it's

1176
02:14:04,000 --> 02:14:10,440
important that they be transparent and explain how they're doing everything with things going

1177
02:14:10,440 --> 02:14:13,140
on in New York and people leaving.

1178
02:14:13,820 --> 02:14:20,400
I think it's important that IDA take a role in actually maintaining residents here, bringing

1179
02:14:20,400 --> 02:14:25,360
new ones in, and creating job opportunities so that we can keep people here.

1180
02:14:25,900 --> 02:14:27,140
if you have any questions.

1181
02:14:28,080 --> 02:14:28,940
Thank you, Reggie.

1182
02:14:29,360 --> 02:14:30,600
Any legislative authority?

1183
02:14:31,020 --> 02:14:33,540
Thank you, Presiding Officer. Good afternoon, gentlemen.

1184
02:14:34,060 --> 02:14:35,000
Thank you. Congratulations.

1185
02:14:35,500 --> 02:14:37,320
I served on the Town of Hempstead IDA

1186
02:14:37,320 --> 02:14:39,140
for a couple of years before I was a legislator,

1187
02:14:39,640 --> 02:14:41,880
and one of the things we did

1188
02:14:41,880 --> 02:14:43,280
in the Town of Hempstead IDA

1189
02:14:43,280 --> 02:14:45,000
was we put in place a policy

1190
02:14:45,000 --> 02:14:47,080
that required any pilot

1191
02:14:48,320 --> 02:14:49,280
proposal that

1192
02:14:49,280 --> 02:14:50,680
notification go out to

1193
02:14:51,280 --> 02:14:52,420
the elected representatives,

1194
02:14:55,120 --> 02:14:55,340
the local

1195
02:14:55,340 --> 02:14:59,780
municipality. While I don't believe that policy has been implemented in the county

1196
02:15:00,780 --> 02:15:06,460
I do recall when the appointments to the IDA were made a couple of years back that I did

1197
02:15:06,460 --> 02:15:12,500
ask that, nevertheless, even though it was our policy, that that be done. I'm asking for

1198
02:15:12,500 --> 02:15:17,460
myself that I specifically be notified to any IDA pilot proposal in the 15th legislative

1199
02:15:17,460 --> 02:15:21,340
district, but I'm sure my colleagues would agree that they want to be notified as well.

1200
02:15:23,060 --> 02:15:29,420
That has happened. I have been notified anytime, but would you agree to ensure that we are

1201
02:15:29,420 --> 02:15:34,580
notified of any pilot proposal prior to it being voted on yes in Glen Cove we

1202
02:15:34,580 --> 02:15:40,340
did that actually this was a tax deviation so we had to present it to

1203
02:15:40,340 --> 02:15:45,940
each affected tax jurisdiction we came here and presented to the county also

1204
02:15:45,940 --> 02:15:51,960
and rather than just a straight pilot where the idea would approve it because

1205
02:15:51,960 --> 02:15:56,820
it was a tax deviation we needed the approval of each of the four taxing

1206
02:15:56,820 --> 02:16:03,680
district. We needed the city, the school, the county and the library. And we sent the

1207
02:16:03,680 --> 02:16:08,340
information to all of them. It was a very complicated deal. And all of them had their

1208
02:16:08,340 --> 02:16:12,540
attorneys looked at it and eventually all of them approved it and the product.

1209
02:16:12,640 --> 02:16:17,080
Well, I understand that there's legal requirements to notify the taxing municipality. Don't

1210
02:16:17,080 --> 02:16:22,020
speak specifically to me. I want an email being alerted that there is a proposed

1211
02:16:22,020 --> 02:16:25,720
pilot in the 15th legislative district. Fair enough?

1212
02:16:26,600 --> 02:16:28,500
Fine. Absolutely. Thank you.

1213
02:16:29,560 --> 02:16:34,440
I think that goes for all of us. We're all very concerned about pilots recently so.

1214
02:16:44,440 --> 02:16:48,560
Mayor, first of all, thank you for agreeing to take on this responsibility.

1215
02:16:49,700 --> 02:16:58,260
And actually from both of the nominees, what do you view as being the proper function of the IDA?

1216
02:16:58,260 --> 02:16:59,160
I

1217
02:17:01,600 --> 02:17:06,940
would say to help with the economic growth of the county, to help bring in businesses,

1218
02:17:07,140 --> 02:17:10,160
help keep businesses, I think it's important.

1219
02:17:10,360 --> 02:17:13,620
I think small businesses need IDAs to help them wherever possible.

1220
02:17:14,680 --> 02:17:17,720
So yeah, I think it's to help the economic growth of the town.

1221
02:17:21,680 --> 02:17:28,740
As I had mentioned some of my thoughts, I also believe that it's important that

1222
02:17:28,740 --> 02:17:32,840
that the IDAs can get, you know, depending on the project,

1223
02:17:33,300 --> 02:17:35,380
we need also affordable housing.

1224
02:17:35,780 --> 02:17:37,580
And with some of these IDA projects,

1225
02:17:37,880 --> 02:17:39,660
like the one at the waterfront,

1226
02:17:39,820 --> 02:17:42,640
there's about a 10% component for affordable,

1227
02:17:43,080 --> 02:17:44,700
like all the workforce housing,

1228
02:17:44,780 --> 02:17:46,220
but you have to make sure that housing

1229
02:17:46,620 --> 02:17:51,000
is not 120 or 100 to 120% of AMI.

1230
02:17:51,380 --> 02:17:53,480
You want it to be where other people can get there,

1231
02:17:53,540 --> 02:17:55,220
like it's, whether it's,

1232
02:17:55,220 --> 02:17:59,700
So it should go from like 60% up to 80%

1233
02:17:59,700 --> 02:18:01,860
get those kind of people involved in it.

1234
02:18:02,200 --> 02:18:06,500
The project, the downtown, there were so many people.

1235
02:18:06,680 --> 02:18:11,320
10% of it went for, went, was lottery.

1236
02:18:11,980 --> 02:18:15,100
And some of those, some of those apartments down there

1237
02:18:15,100 --> 02:18:18,120
are 60 to 80%, which is much more

1238
02:18:18,120 --> 02:18:20,640
about really helping somebody out with

1239
02:18:20,640 --> 02:18:24,140
because if you take 100, 120% of AMI,

1240
02:18:24,140 --> 02:18:31,440
It's like a regular worker making $70,000, $80,000, $90,000 a year, so that really doesn't

1241
02:18:31,440 --> 02:18:35,940
benefit the people that need it, but that's the component, and I think it's important.

1242
02:18:37,380 --> 02:18:38,100
Thank you.

1243
02:18:38,220 --> 02:18:38,900
I appreciate it.

1244
02:18:39,580 --> 02:18:45,720
With respect to what would be your, I guess, basis of evaluating a particular project,

1245
02:18:45,840 --> 02:18:47,480
what's your philosophy on that?

1246
02:18:48,180 --> 02:18:55,020
In other words, what are you looking for in your evaluation of specific problems?

1247
02:18:55,360 --> 02:18:56,800
Projects, what's your thought process?

1248
02:18:57,120 --> 02:19:01,320
Well, I mean, you need to have some community benefit.

1249
02:19:01,600 --> 02:19:06,660
It's got to benefit the community in certain ways.

1250
02:19:06,860 --> 02:19:12,780
Obviously, you take a piece of property, like with the waterfront,

1251
02:19:12,860 --> 02:19:15,980
there were no taxes for 30 years on that property.

1252
02:19:15,980 --> 02:19:23,400
So, new revenue stream, more revenue, and you hope in some of these projects that IDA is still,

1253
02:19:23,560 --> 02:19:27,380
unfortunately, a lot of them are rental units.

1254
02:19:28,100 --> 02:19:34,760
And then when the numbers go to everyone, it doesn't look that good because the number of jobs created,

1255
02:19:34,920 --> 02:19:41,660
how many jobs you have created in a rental unit, you have four or five workers, that's it.

1256
02:19:41,660 --> 02:19:47,980
So I think you know you have to look at everything as a whole and you have to see what the needs of the community are

1257
02:19:47,980 --> 02:19:54,280
Especially downtown, so if we're going to maintain people we need feet on the ground in downtown

1258
02:19:54,280 --> 02:19:59,420
Downtown see people walking around at night City of Lankov unfortunately

1259
02:19:59,940 --> 02:20:04,620
We're probably closed at five o'clock and you don't want a nine-to-five downtown

1260
02:20:04,620 --> 02:20:10,420
So those kind of things that can keep people around and spending money in the local economy

1261
02:20:10,420 --> 02:20:15,560
for me. I think that's important for an IDA. I appreciate it. Thank you for your insights.

1262
02:20:17,340 --> 02:20:18,700
Thank you. Any other questions?

1263
02:20:21,530 --> 02:20:26,590
Hi, I don't have a question, just a comment. I just have gotten to know both of you over the years,

1264
02:20:26,870 --> 02:20:31,910
and I know Bill, my other life as an attorney, I've dealt with you at the town of Hempstead

1265
02:20:32,690 --> 02:20:38,830
and land use issues, and I just, I'm very happy to see you both here for this today.

1266
02:20:38,830 --> 02:20:41,870
gives me a lot of confidence in moving forward with the I.D.A.

1267
02:20:42,330 --> 02:20:42,490
So.

1268
02:20:44,800 --> 02:20:45,620
That's the Drucker.

1269
02:20:45,880 --> 02:20:46,200
Thank you.

1270
02:20:46,380 --> 02:20:47,100
Thank you, Presiding Officer.

1271
02:20:47,180 --> 02:20:49,200
Mr. Spinello, I just have one question for you.

1272
02:20:49,360 --> 02:20:54,040
So just to piggyback a little bit on what Legislative Roads had elicited from you

1273
02:20:54,480 --> 02:21:01,480
about how, you know, your philosophy is that these pilots should benefit the community

1274
02:21:01,480 --> 02:21:02,100
at large.

1275
02:21:02,100 --> 02:21:12,380
So, in my district, Amazon built this tremendous last mile destination facility, so I'm sure

1276
02:21:12,380 --> 02:21:16,820
you've seen them now or they're cropping up all over Long Island and heard about them.

1277
02:21:17,420 --> 02:21:23,700
And although this was a blighted area and it was not on the tax rolls for 40 years

1278
02:21:23,700 --> 02:21:32,020
or more, so I certainly welcomed a development project that conformed to the zoning

1279
02:21:32,020 --> 02:21:43,200
there and provided the tax, put them on the tax rolls, but they applied for a pilot. And

1280
02:21:43,200 --> 02:21:50,840
I vehemently opposed it because there was any other company in the world that is less

1281
02:21:50,840 --> 02:21:58,020
in need of a pilot, it's Amazon, but yet nonetheless they got one. I'd like to know

1282
02:21:58,020 --> 02:22:01,680
how you feel about something like that when you come across your desk as a member

1283
02:22:02,980 --> 02:22:28,140
Well, I think that the way that they evaluate these projects for the IDA is, it may not be the size of the company and what they have, it's the amount of investment they want to make in that piece of property and the return that they're going to get from it if it's feasible for them with those particular numbers.

1284
02:22:28,140 --> 02:22:35,120
and that's why they do the studies. They do the economic impact studies to see if that's

1285
02:22:35,120 --> 02:22:35,540
the case.

1286
02:22:36,300 --> 02:22:40,780
In this particular case, I think Amazon was playing a little bit of game of poker with

1287
02:22:40,780 --> 02:22:45,620
the community saying that if they didn't get the tax pilot, they were going to withdraw

1288
02:22:45,620 --> 02:22:50,820
from the project. This particular property was perfect for them. It was a vast swath

1289
02:22:50,820 --> 02:23:00,940
of land. The project did not require any major excavation. It was a two-story building. It

1290
02:23:00,940 --> 02:23:07,220
didn't require a lot of disturbance of the ground, of the soil, which was certainly that

1291
02:23:07,220 --> 02:23:12,180
was concerning to the residents. And we had the Department of New York State D.E.C.

1292
02:23:12,720 --> 02:23:17,440
on premises every single day, making sure that they did comply with the regulations.

1293
02:23:18,200 --> 02:23:25,640
So they built it according to specs, according to zoning, but why in God's name did they need a pilot?

1294
02:23:26,020 --> 02:23:33,880
This was not a major investment on their part. It was a two-story structure that required minimal excavation.

1295
02:23:35,440 --> 02:23:39,380
And their allegation that if we didn't get the pilot, they're going to build it elsewhere.

1296
02:23:39,540 --> 02:23:42,220
I said, well, good luck. Go find another property like this one. They didn't.

1297
02:23:42,680 --> 02:23:43,760
Well, they didn't have to go look.

1298
02:23:43,760 --> 02:23:49,440
But I just would like to know your comments, you know, you mentioned that the investment

1299
02:23:49,440 --> 02:23:52,640
has to be commensurate with the return.

1300
02:23:53,040 --> 02:23:58,680
Well, I don't think the investment was commensurate with the return of a pilot here.

1301
02:23:59,200 --> 02:24:00,500
I wonder if you have thoughts on that.

1302
02:24:02,700 --> 02:24:04,740
I mean, I can't answer that.

1303
02:24:04,740 --> 02:24:12,310
I mean, people like pilots and people don't like pilots, and that's very understandable

1304
02:24:12,310 --> 02:24:30,130
Because the measuring stick should be the amount of taxes that the property is generating versus future taxes.

1305
02:24:30,710 --> 02:24:38,530
But for the incentive, they wouldn't get their return on investment.

1306
02:24:38,530 --> 02:24:44,690
So I understand what you're saying, and sometimes companies are greedy, and that's where IDAs,

1307
02:24:45,110 --> 02:24:47,590
where you have to make decisions and say no.

1308
02:24:48,050 --> 02:24:53,690
But pilots don't lower taxes.

1309
02:24:54,970 --> 02:24:58,970
Okay, pilots slow the rate of growth for a pilot,

1310
02:24:59,130 --> 02:25:03,270
but a pilot never takes what the taxes are and lowers them.

1311
02:25:03,270 --> 02:25:13,030
It just, the theory is that they grow at a rate, at a slower rate over time so that

1312
02:25:13,030 --> 02:25:18,790
whosoever is project, they get to absorb and make the money back.

1313
02:25:18,950 --> 02:25:25,990
Yeah, but the reduction in taxes at the early stages that a pilot offers, that gap is made

1314
02:25:25,990 --> 02:25:32,510
up by the taxpayers, the residents, and there better be a return of investment there

1315
02:25:32,510 --> 02:25:36,890
for the community. There better be a clawback if they don't comply with what you're talking

1316
02:25:36,890 --> 02:25:43,330
about. The IDA puts these specifications on community improvement or benefits to the

1317
02:25:43,330 --> 02:25:48,010
community. Well, you know what? I don't believe you can ever paint it with a broad brush

1318
02:25:48,010 --> 02:25:51,510
and say, I either like pilots or I don't like pilots. Every pilot should be evaluated

1319
02:25:51,510 --> 02:25:56,830
on its own merits. But I just wanted to know your philosophy in following up

1320
02:25:56,830 --> 02:26:04,110
with legislative roads. If you had a philosophy vis-a-vis a company like Amazon.

1321
02:26:06,790 --> 02:26:13,070
Well, Amazon hasn't come to going over and I doubt they will, but I mean every

1322
02:26:13,070 --> 02:26:18,310
project like you said has to be looked at on its own merits and see what type of

1323
02:26:18,310 --> 02:26:22,230
benefit it is for their community. I don't think you can paint it with a

1324
02:26:22,230 --> 02:26:26,490
broad brush. I don't think there's one set four nil that works for every

1325
02:26:26,490 --> 02:26:27,990
Thank you very much.

1326
02:26:30,190 --> 02:26:30,830
What's that about?

1327
02:26:31,790 --> 02:26:35,210
Just again, one additional question.

1328
02:26:36,050 --> 02:26:42,910
Obviously in Nassau County and County projects we have prioritized the use of union labor.

1329
02:26:44,890 --> 02:26:53,410
What's your view on either acquiring or strongly encouraging the use of union labor with respect to this project?

1330
02:26:53,410 --> 02:26:54,130
I

1331
02:26:59,060 --> 02:27:09,180
mean, as far as what we did in the city was the public amenities, which were the city's

1332
02:27:09,180 --> 02:27:13,240
responsibility that we bonded for, that was union.

1333
02:27:13,600 --> 02:27:14,560
That had to be union.

1334
02:27:14,840 --> 02:27:20,520
When it came to the private piece of it, that became between the union and RXR.

1335
02:27:26,250 --> 02:27:31,950
But it doesn't guarantee that union labor will be used on these projects.

1336
02:27:31,950 --> 02:27:35,990
And I think I understand what legislative roads I didn't mean to take over from you, Steve.

1337
02:27:36,530 --> 02:27:44,330
No, I mean, I think Union labor should be used on things, but in our particular case,

1338
02:27:44,410 --> 02:27:48,550
there was a whole field and those are the things that sort of get negotiated.

1339
02:27:49,010 --> 02:27:50,930
I mean, that could be negotiated in the beginning.

1340
02:27:51,130 --> 02:27:54,110
We had that as the participation plan.

1341
02:27:54,270 --> 02:27:58,270
We also had 20% local hiring for the project.

1342
02:27:58,650 --> 02:28:01,550
So we had things like that that all went into the matter.

1343
02:28:01,550 --> 02:28:15,210
But when you look at the issue of pilots, and I agree with you, every pilot should be looked at independently and evaluated on its own basis as to what the project is and what the investment is and what it will bring back to the community.

1344
02:28:15,770 --> 02:28:27,750
But I think that my concern, and it may be shared by some of my fellow members up here, that when you look at pilots, even though you're claiming that it doesn't take away from the taxes,

1345
02:28:27,750 --> 02:28:32,910
it does stop the growth of taxes on that property because it slows it

1346
02:28:32,910 --> 02:28:37,430
slows it down you know it could be 20 years 15 years so when you look at that

1347
02:28:37,430 --> 02:28:42,430
that is something any increases will be borne by the tax-paying base okay

1348
02:28:42,430 --> 02:28:47,050
because as increases that that their increases will stay flat it can

1349
02:28:47,050 --> 02:28:51,750
fluctuate even higher so residents so I think sometimes when we look at the

1350
02:28:51,750 --> 02:28:56,190
fact that a developer is going to get a benefit okay in the form of a

1351
02:28:56,190 --> 02:29:03,150
pilot that we look at, perhaps maybe they should advocate toward either a project labor

1352
02:29:03,150 --> 02:29:09,090
agreement or utilizing union labor, because in almost all the cases, those union members

1353
02:29:09,600 --> 02:29:16,410
will be local residents, so that that investment would be that they will then be hiring and

1354
02:29:16,410 --> 02:29:20,910
bringing in people who actually live in the community or close to that community and

1355
02:29:20,910 --> 02:29:23,010
that they will spend their money within that community.

1356
02:29:23,010 --> 02:29:30,210
So when you go to non-union without having an apprenticeship program that is required

1357
02:29:30,210 --> 02:29:33,630
in place, the developers then can bring people from out of state.

1358
02:29:34,030 --> 02:29:36,410
So that's where we lose even more so.

1359
02:29:36,590 --> 02:29:40,530
So that is, I think, why, and I'm sorry for jumping on your question, but I'll give

1360
02:29:40,530 --> 02:29:46,230
it back to you, but that is why I say that the IDA has to seriously look at and petition

1361
02:29:46,230 --> 02:29:52,870
in New York State to start changing this and require a certain percentage. If an IDA, if

1362
02:29:52,870 --> 02:29:58,310
somebody is getting a pilot payment of a certain percentage of the project, it must be mandated

1363
02:29:58,310 --> 02:29:59,970
that they either sign a PLA.

1364
02:30:04,660 --> 02:30:10,860
And we had an apprentice program also, and minority business, everything else, yeah.

1365
02:30:11,020 --> 02:30:11,840
Exactly, thank you.

1366
02:30:12,260 --> 02:30:20,060
Well, Legislator Ford, you certainly covered the topic and the rationale for the questions,

1367
02:30:20,240 --> 02:30:22,180
so I appreciate that one. Thank you.

1368
02:30:23,320 --> 02:30:28,940
All right, thank you. Any other questions? All right, any debated discussion?

1369
02:30:28,940 --> 02:30:31,480
Thank you, folks. Thank you. Reggie, Bill.

1370
02:30:33,640 --> 02:30:36,560
All in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Those

1371
02:30:36,560 --> 02:30:45,700
opposed? Passes again by a vote of 12, 11 to the power of 6, 7, 7 negative.

1372
02:30:48,260 --> 02:30:48,560
All right.

1373
02:30:48,640 --> 02:30:55,400
Those are all the appointments that we have. The next item we have is item 10, Resolution

1374
02:30:55,400 --> 02:30:59,900
54. A resolution proving a memorandum of agreement between and stipulates the settlement

1375
02:30:59,900 --> 02:31:04,840
by and between the county and the Nassau County Sheriff's Correctional Officers Benevolence Association,

1376
02:31:05,680 --> 02:31:08,640
local 830 of the Civil Service Employees Association,

1377
02:31:09,640 --> 02:31:16,460
the Detectives Association, Inc., and the Superior Association of the County of Nassau.

1378
02:31:17,360 --> 02:31:21,660
Motion by the Legislator Sheffer, seconded by the Legislator Walker.

1379
02:31:22,120 --> 02:31:23,300
That's before us, Peter.

1380
02:31:24,320 --> 02:31:26,020
Good afternoon, members of the legislature.

1381
02:31:26,880 --> 02:31:32,480
My name is Peter B. And I'm a principal in the law firm of B. Reddy, Fishbine, Hatter and Donovan.

1382
02:31:33,020 --> 02:31:35,300
With me today is my law partner Bill DeWitt.

1383
02:31:36,580 --> 02:31:42,140
And we have previously spoken to several of your committees on this topic.

1384
02:31:42,760 --> 02:31:46,500
But for the benefit of those of you who may have missed the legislative presentation,

1385
02:31:47,220 --> 02:31:53,360
we were asked to assist the county in resolving what has been referred to as the longevity dispute,

1386
02:31:53,360 --> 02:32:00,780
a long-standing dispute between the county and its several unions, five of them specifically.

1387
02:32:01,820 --> 02:32:08,420
By way of background, each of the county's union collective bargaining agreements calls for compensation

1388
02:32:08,420 --> 02:32:12,200
to be paid in a number of different categories, not just base pay.

1389
02:32:12,340 --> 02:32:13,220
There is base pay.

1390
02:32:13,800 --> 02:32:18,560
There are provisions for night shift differential, holiday pay, a variety of different categories.

1391
02:32:18,560 --> 02:32:28,140
Back in 2011, you will recall that NIFA imposed a wage freeze, and that freeze covered essentially all categories of pay.

1392
02:32:29,040 --> 02:32:40,500
In 2014, that freeze was lifted with respect to most categories of pay as a result of agreements between the unions and the county which were approved by NIFA.

1393
02:32:40,500 --> 02:32:49,040
by NYFA. That wage freeze lasted right through them until 2014 when those agreements were

1394
02:32:49,040 --> 02:32:56,440
executed with the county and approved by NYFA. However, those agreements left longevity frozen

1395
02:32:57,320 --> 02:33:04,920
and therefore the county continued to pay longevity at the frozen dollar amounts which

1396
02:33:04,920 --> 02:33:11,760
were then in place at 2014 and which had been frozen since 2011. That longevity pay basically

1397
02:33:11,760 --> 02:33:17,520
provided for a certain amount of money to be paid based on years of service with the county.

1398
02:33:18,420 --> 02:33:26,300
When the 2014 agreements expired in 2017, the unions took the position that longevity

1399
02:33:26,730 --> 02:33:33,280
was fully restored and no longer frozen. The county took the contrary position

1400
02:33:33,280 --> 02:33:43,860
And as such, since 2018, longevity has remained at those frozen rates, and the topic was put into litigation.

1401
02:33:44,880 --> 02:33:54,600
The matter was litigated through the courts with the ultimate disposition that the courts directed that the resolution be the result of binding arbitration.

1402
02:33:55,340 --> 02:34:00,680
Preparations were made fairly recently to go into binding arbitration.

1403
02:34:00,680 --> 02:34:07,280
However, prior to the arbitration taking place, the current county executive suggested the

1404
02:34:07,280 --> 02:34:12,660
possibility that the parties attempt to mediate the dispute, and that was done with the assistance

1405
02:34:12,660 --> 02:34:16,720
of a retired New York State Supreme Court judge, Justice George Silver.

1406
02:34:17,840 --> 02:34:23,360
The result of those mediations was that the parties did reach an agreement, the mediation

1407
02:34:23,360 --> 02:34:26,720
was successful, and the outcome of that mediation is before you today.

1408
02:34:27,480 --> 02:34:33,420
It provides, in short, that employees will get only one-half of the additional monies

1409
02:34:33,420 --> 02:34:38,140
retroactive to January of 18 that they would have gotten had the unions won the arbitration,

1410
02:34:38,360 --> 02:34:44,760
and only 72.22 percent of the frozen longevity formula going forward, starting in January

1411
02:34:44,760 --> 02:34:45,360
of 22.

1412
02:34:46,100 --> 02:34:51,440
It further provides for a ceiling or cap of 32 years of service for the accumulation

1413
02:34:51,440 --> 02:34:54,180
of additional years of service towards longevity pay.

1414
02:34:55,060 --> 02:35:01,120
While the retroactive portion of the settlement reflected a 50-50 risk assessment of going

1415
02:35:01,120 --> 02:35:06,960
into arbitration, the going forward portion of the settlement is a prospective structural

1416
02:35:06,960 --> 02:35:12,220
change, significantly reducing the longevity formula that were in effect previously.

1417
02:35:13,280 --> 02:35:16,980
If any member of the legislature has any questions, we'd be happy to answer whatever

1418
02:35:16,980 --> 02:35:17,380
we can.

1419
02:35:17,380 --> 02:35:22,640
I just want to confirm what you just said that so the matter has been referred to binding

1420
02:35:22,640 --> 02:35:23,280
arbitration.

1421
02:35:23,520 --> 02:35:23,860
Yes sir.

1422
02:35:24,300 --> 02:35:29,420
So once it goes to binding arbitration there's no appeals, there's no court that's going

1423
02:35:29,420 --> 02:35:29,880
to intervene.

1424
02:35:29,980 --> 02:35:35,000
Essentially what the arbitrator rules is going to be what the county will be stuck with.

1425
02:35:35,160 --> 02:35:36,380
That is essentially correct.

1426
02:35:36,880 --> 02:35:42,180
And over the years the county's history of binding arbitration has not been good.

1427
02:35:42,180 --> 02:35:49,820
Well, there are two kinds of arbitration. There is both interest arbitration and grievance arbitration.

1428
02:35:49,960 --> 02:35:55,660
This was ordered into grievance arbitration. An arbitrator is not bound by traditional rules of evidence,

1429
02:35:55,940 --> 02:36:02,040
is not bound by many of the rules of law that would apply in a court, and therefore there is a risk

1430
02:36:02,040 --> 02:36:09,100
that an arbitrator would reach a result that you or I might feel was not the proper remedy

1431
02:36:09,100 --> 02:36:15,360
based on the documents before us, notwithstanding a potentially erroneous result, the courts

1432
02:36:15,360 --> 02:36:19,260
are very unlikely to overturn it in the absence of irrationality.

1433
02:36:19,560 --> 02:36:22,180
Okay. Any other questions for Mr. B?

1434
02:36:25,180 --> 02:36:25,840
Thank you, Peter.

1435
02:36:26,040 --> 02:36:28,260
Thank you very much for your time of attention. Appreciate it.

1436
02:36:28,360 --> 02:36:30,580
All right. I'd like to ask Maurice to come up for a moment.

1437
02:36:31,340 --> 02:36:31,560
Will

1438
02:36:43,560 --> 02:36:48,800
you show us budget review? Did you take a look at the longevity deal?

1439
02:36:49,080 --> 02:36:52,860
Yes, we did. And we came up with a number that is pretty close to their number.

1440
02:36:52,860 --> 02:36:58,160
Our estimation was about $106.7 million versus their number.

1441
02:36:58,740 --> 02:37:03,780
Did you also take a look at the possible exposure if this matter is not resolved?

1442
02:37:04,380 --> 02:37:11,180
We were asked about that this morning and we looked at it and if this was resolved not in the county's favor,

1443
02:37:11,580 --> 02:37:17,900
we would lose the 50% discount that we're getting on the retro, the 72.2 cap going forward,

1444
02:37:17,900 --> 02:37:25,320
and the 30 year cap that this deal is offering by doing that the course will

1445
02:37:25,320 --> 02:37:32,300
be an additional 81.1 million we estimate. Thank you. I noticed in your

1446
02:37:32,300 --> 02:37:39,060
report that you indicated that Mr. DeLaweson had been negotiating contracts

1447
02:37:39,060 --> 02:37:43,540
for the county but was not involved in this settlement, correct? That's correct.

1448
02:37:44,960 --> 02:37:47,680
You noted how much Mr. DeLarvison has been paid to date?

1449
02:37:48,220 --> 02:37:51,000
I believe it was $925,000.

1450
02:37:52,460 --> 02:38:01,120
So Mr. DeLarvison's fees, as of now, paid by a knifer with the S.O. County tax payers money is almost a million dollars?

1451
02:38:01,460 --> 02:38:02,020
That is correct.

1452
02:38:02,660 --> 02:38:05,420
He's continuing to be paid $25,000 a month?

1453
02:38:06,100 --> 02:38:06,920
That is correct.

1454
02:38:08,040 --> 02:38:13,020
So here's, I mean, it's not for you, really, but I believe Knifer needs an oversight board.

1455
02:38:14,040 --> 02:38:15,540
You know, this is a

1456
02:38:20,080 --> 02:38:27,180
no big contract. They appointed him. There's little oversight.

1457
02:38:27,340 --> 02:38:33,420
And we're going to be seeking copies of the hours and time sheets that he's put in for almost a million dollars.

1458
02:38:34,420 --> 02:38:39,200
They make almost all their decisions in executive session. They come out and it's a pro forma vote.

1459
02:38:39,200 --> 02:38:46,780
There's no public comment. I mean it's astonishing that a governmental body in the state of New York can get away with this, but they do.

1460
02:38:49,350 --> 02:38:51,890
I'll get off my soapbox. Thank you.

1461
02:38:53,950 --> 02:38:56,470
Thanks. Any other questions for Mr. Chalmers?

1462
02:38:56,850 --> 02:38:57,010
Any

1463
02:39:00,180 --> 02:39:03,860
other debate or discussion on the longevity payments settlement?

1464
02:39:04,960 --> 02:39:07,340
If not, all in favor signify by saying aye.

1465
02:39:07,580 --> 02:39:07,780
Aye.

1466
02:39:07,780 --> 02:39:10,780
Those opposed, the carries unanimously.

1467
02:39:11,180 --> 02:39:11,420
Move

1468
02:39:19,160 --> 02:39:23,720
to item number nine, which is the settlement with Leipa.

1469
02:39:24,280 --> 02:39:29,480
It's a resolution authorizing the county attorney to compromise and settle the claims of petitioner,

1470
02:39:29,520 --> 02:39:32,220
a long-term lighting company doing business as Leipa,

1471
02:39:36,770 --> 02:39:40,650
and the county of Nassau pursuant to the county law,

1472
02:39:40,770 --> 02:39:44,630
the county government law, and the Nassau County Administrative Code.

1473
02:39:45,890 --> 02:39:48,210
Anyone here from the administration on this?

1474
02:39:54,160 --> 02:39:59,940
Motion by legislator Faredi, seconded by legislator Sheik.

1475
02:40:00,880 --> 02:40:01,880
So it's before us.

1476
02:40:04,200 --> 02:40:04,840
Mr. Vincelet.

1477
02:40:11,040 --> 02:40:11,620
Good afternoon.

1478
02:40:12,580 --> 02:40:13,680
I'm Dan Vincelet.

1479
02:40:13,820 --> 02:40:19,320
I'm Trial Counsel to Nassau County for the Long Island Power Authority tax or charari proceedings.

1480
02:40:20,140 --> 02:40:29,780
Previously, we provided a summary to the legislature on April 11th that highlighted the litigation that's before the court and the proposed settlement.

1481
02:40:29,780 --> 02:40:35,540
To recap, a trial is scheduled before Judge DiStefano and Nassau County Supreme Court.

1482
02:40:36,040 --> 02:40:41,400
On May 30th, appraisal reports have been filed exchanged by the experts of the respective parties.

1483
02:40:42,440 --> 02:40:54,720
Both respective experts have valued the Barrett and Glenwood landing plants significantly below the indicated market values for the years at issue, which are 2015 through 2019.

1484
02:40:56,040 --> 02:41:01,120
If this were to proceed to trial, the indicated reductions for the plants are in the range

1485
02:41:01,120 --> 02:41:04,680
of about 70 to 80% over that course of years.

1486
02:41:04,920 --> 02:41:10,380
It would be a very, very, very significant refund to the county in hundreds of millions

1487
02:41:10,380 --> 02:41:16,700
of dollars, $700,000, $800,000,000, in addition to the refunds which would be paid with

1488
02:41:16,700 --> 02:41:22,160
interest and costs, the revenue, tax revenue from those properties would be significantly

1489
02:41:22,160 --> 02:41:25,920
reduced, based upon a reduced assessment found by the court.

1490
02:41:26,900 --> 02:41:31,900
What is before you is a settlement that has been negotiated that basically sets,

1491
02:41:32,440 --> 02:41:39,000
well, first and foremost, it waves refunds from the county to Long Island Power Authority

1492
02:41:39,000 --> 02:41:40,340
and National Grid.

1493
02:41:41,120 --> 02:41:46,880
It sets a payment plan, a guaranteed payment plan over a course of six years.

1494
02:41:46,880 --> 02:41:56,520
that is about 46% of the current tax payments provides a glide path to the affected school

1495
02:41:56,520 --> 02:42:07,320
districts. And it also provides for an extension, the power service agreement is supposed to

1496
02:42:07,320 --> 02:42:15,200
terminate in 2028. If that agreement is extended, then the settlement period would be extended

1497
02:42:15,200 --> 02:42:20,780
as well. The payments would remain the same even if assets were to be retired or removed.

1498
02:42:21,800 --> 02:42:27,880
So that is the settlement that is before this legislature. If you wish me to recap further

1499
02:42:27,880 --> 02:42:32,340
or answer any questions, they're before us. Glad to entertain you.

1500
02:42:32,360 --> 02:42:36,080
Just to highlight a couple of points of what you just said. Now, assuming that the

1501
02:42:36,080 --> 02:42:45,300
The exposure includes the 2005, 2006, 2006, 2007, 2008 cases, the possible exposure to

1502
02:42:45,300 --> 02:42:48,380
the counties in the range of 750 million to 800 million.

1503
02:42:48,640 --> 02:42:49,160
That is correct.

1504
02:42:49,620 --> 02:42:56,080
And we have indication from the Office of Budget Review that if it was in that range,

1505
02:42:56,840 --> 02:43:00,800
the debt service for the county would approximately be $100 million a year.

1506
02:43:03,160 --> 02:43:14,160
Now you indicated the glide path and that after five years the liper will be paying 53.5% of what it is paying now.

1507
02:43:15,200 --> 02:43:15,700
That is correct.

1508
02:43:16,140 --> 02:43:23,520
In terms of the glide path, the first year, in terms of percentages, what will the liper be paying?

1509
02:43:26,910 --> 02:43:28,730
I don't believe one. Let me see if I have that.

1510
02:43:28,830 --> 02:43:31,330
You have just an approximate number.

1511
02:43:31,330 --> 02:43:34,830
I have it in millions, believe

1512
02:43:39,760 --> 02:43:43,880
the first year's payment I believe is $42 million from the current.

1513
02:43:50,560 --> 02:43:57,220
I guess in general terms the percentage will be higher and it will start over the course of five years,

1514
02:43:57,340 --> 02:43:59,120
it will go down to the 53.5%.

1515
02:43:59,120 --> 02:44:00,400
It will be significantly higher.

1516
02:44:01,180 --> 02:44:08,840
With respect to the appraisals that have been submitted to date, in terms of EF Barrett,

1517
02:44:08,840 --> 02:44:16,280
What was Leip as opposed to in their appraisal, what would the reduction be for Barrett?

1518
02:44:16,520 --> 02:44:22,280
Yes, EF Barrett has an indicated market value for the years at issue between $578 million

1519
02:44:22,280 --> 02:44:32,420
and $503 million. Leip as appraisal report came in in 2015 at $371.2 million and in the last year

1520
02:44:32,420 --> 02:44:39,620
2019 at $27.8 million, which is a significant reduction. The county's appraisal for those

1521
02:44:39,620 --> 02:44:47,480
years in the earliest year 2015 came in at $299 million, which is approximately $70 million

1522
02:44:47,480 --> 02:44:52,680
less than Leipa's appraisal report. In the final year, the county's report came

1523
02:44:52,680 --> 02:44:59,100
in at $93.5 million, which, while higher than Leipa's, is still significantly lower

1524
02:44:59,100 --> 02:44:59,740
than the 500

1525
02:45:02,300 --> 02:45:06,780
So generally the court will be deciding between those two appraisals.

1526
02:45:07,020 --> 02:45:07,620
That is correct.

1527
02:45:07,960 --> 02:45:16,380
And with respect to at least glen with landing, county's appraisal is even lower than LIPEs.

1528
02:45:16,440 --> 02:45:16,960
Yes it is.

1529
02:45:17,560 --> 02:45:23,600
And if county goes to trial on this action and loses, there's no glide path, correct?

1530
02:45:23,940 --> 02:45:29,800
There is no glide path. What will happen is the refunds, the reductions will occur, refunds will be ordered with interest.

1531
02:45:29,800 --> 02:45:33,060
and then the assessment will be set at the lower number.

1532
02:45:33,260 --> 02:45:34,240
And that will be immediate.

1533
02:45:34,440 --> 02:45:35,780
Now, we're not talking about five years from now.

1534
02:45:36,060 --> 02:45:36,700
No, that's correct.

1535
02:45:36,900 --> 02:45:37,420
It will be immediate.

1536
02:45:37,740 --> 02:45:42,340
So those percentage reductions are substantially higher,

1537
02:45:42,700 --> 02:45:46,100
greater reductions than under this light path.

1538
02:45:46,360 --> 02:45:46,620
Correct.

1539
02:45:48,120 --> 02:45:50,320
And there are no other appraisals out there.

1540
02:45:50,440 --> 02:45:51,640
The court's simply going to be considering

1541
02:45:51,640 --> 02:45:53,620
between one or other appraisal

1542
02:45:53,620 --> 02:45:56,540
that's substantially worse than this deal

1543
02:45:56,540 --> 02:45:56,980
is in the ocean.

1544
02:45:56,980 --> 02:46:00,740
But the court is limited to the two appraisal reports that have been filed exchanged.

1545
02:46:01,040 --> 02:46:06,880
In other words, the school districts are going to be hit with these tremendous reductions immediately.

1546
02:46:07,400 --> 02:46:07,600
Correct.

1547
02:46:09,360 --> 02:46:10,840
Any other questions?

1548
02:46:11,760 --> 02:46:14,060
Mr. Vincenlant, let's say it's a Reggie Witten.

1549
02:46:15,380 --> 02:46:16,860
Thank you, Presiding Officer.

1550
02:46:18,080 --> 02:46:18,600
Look,

1551
02:46:20,820 --> 02:46:25,400
I just have, in my mind, this has been going on for 10 years in my district.

1552
02:46:25,400 --> 02:46:32,640
Lypa. Lypa has also, their revenue has gone up tremendously in those last 10 years.

1553
02:46:32,880 --> 02:46:40,340
My district in Swells Island Park has suffered environmental losses that we don't even know yet.

1554
02:46:41,200 --> 02:46:48,400
Lypa has a whole harmless letter saying they're not going to be responsible for any environmental cleanup in my district.

1555
02:46:49,140 --> 02:46:55,660
I can't understand how that's even imaginable, knowing just little things that I know, including

1556
02:46:55,660 --> 02:47:00,540
the fact that right near Leipa was supposedly one of the biggest fishing spots because the

1557
02:47:00,540 --> 02:47:01,500
water was so hot.

1558
02:47:02,120 --> 02:47:07,940
And that's, you know, who knows if that, what type of radioactive or whatever type

1559
02:47:07,940 --> 02:47:11,920
of materials caused the water to be so hot in that area, drew all the fish there.

1560
02:47:13,240 --> 02:47:16,680
So we have no idea what the environmental impact is.

1561
02:47:17,300 --> 02:47:20,720
I just have a couple things that are just still bothering me.

1562
02:47:21,020 --> 02:47:25,720
Look, if the school districts are doing okay, I'm happy about that.

1563
02:47:25,900 --> 02:47:27,860
I'm concerned about the residents.

1564
02:47:28,980 --> 02:47:32,120
Number one, like that is a utility.

1565
02:47:33,020 --> 02:47:40,020
We have two separate assessment categories for utilities, correct?

1566
02:47:41,660 --> 02:47:41,800
Yes.

1567
02:47:42,000 --> 02:47:43,880
Number three and number four.

1568
02:47:44,680 --> 02:47:54,880
So when one of those members of those groups is reduced like LIPA is, which we can get into another whole story,

1569
02:47:55,060 --> 02:48:01,880
because I don't know how they're being reduced just because they found a way to use less space basically to do their business,

1570
02:48:02,000 --> 02:48:13,420
but that's another whole problem, how is it that the homeowners are being affected with what I'm hearing is going to be almost $200 a month, believe it or not?

1571
02:48:14,000 --> 02:48:17,080
within the five years of an increase in school taxes.

1572
02:48:17,260 --> 02:48:20,220
How is it that homeowners who are not in those three

1573
02:48:20,220 --> 02:48:22,840
or four class, how are they getting hit with this increase?

1574
02:48:23,780 --> 02:48:27,560
We don't have exact figures, but what I, you know,

1575
02:48:27,640 --> 02:48:30,060
what we have shared in the past is that WIPA does have

1576
02:48:30,060 --> 02:48:32,300
separate agreements with the two school districts

1577
02:48:32,300 --> 02:48:33,920
with respect to direct payments.

1578
02:48:34,660 --> 02:48:37,080
So the thought is that the payments are playing

1579
02:48:37,080 --> 02:48:39,680
to North Shore and to Island Park school districts

1580
02:48:40,220 --> 02:48:42,160
will help soften the blow if you will.

1581
02:48:44,120 --> 02:48:48,300
You know, no one knows what the tax levy for the school districts is going to be or what

1582
02:48:48,300 --> 02:48:50,700
the rates are going to be, so we have to project that.

1583
02:48:51,300 --> 02:48:57,540
But based on those estimates, it does get absorbed across the four classes, plus with

1584
02:48:57,540 --> 02:49:02,360
the direct payments coming from LIPA that should help to soften the blow, if you

1585
02:49:02,360 --> 02:49:02,460
will.

1586
02:49:03,040 --> 02:49:08,980
Well, I had a problem with that from day one because, you know, Northport got $14

1587
02:49:08,980 --> 02:49:14,740
million, I believe, which is tremendous. I forget I did. It's gotten before times, but

1588
02:49:14,740 --> 02:49:23,640
I apologize, I don't know exactly how many more. It is for Island Park. We can go through

1589
02:49:23,640 --> 02:49:28,920
this again during committees. Island Park is getting hit even harder, in my opinion,

1590
02:49:28,920 --> 02:49:36,060
because not only is their average income for the area much less, but they're also

1591
02:49:36,060 --> 02:49:41,700
getting hit percentage wise probably more than North Shore and they're still

1592
02:49:41,700 --> 02:49:45,880
they're still producing a lot of energy from there. I don't understand how

1593
02:49:45,880 --> 02:49:50,520
Leipa is getting this tax break. I am just saying that as a I understand that

1594
02:49:50,520 --> 02:49:55,000
there seems to be this risk that everyone's concerned about and I and

1595
02:49:55,000 --> 02:49:58,040
that's because they knocked down a building I get it they knocked down a

1596
02:49:58,040 --> 02:50:01,620
building but they're still producing the same amount of energy they're

1597
02:50:01,620 --> 02:50:07,500
still making the same profit. They're still a monopoly. We have no place to go other than

1598
02:50:07,500 --> 02:50:14,000
Maipa. So I can go on. I think it's hurting my constituents not only with the school district

1599
02:50:14,000 --> 02:50:18,480
because what happens in year six, you know? God knows what's going to happen in year six

1600
02:50:20,220 --> 02:50:25,420
when there's no more benefit from this settlement. I mean, we're going to get clocked as the

1601
02:50:25,420 --> 02:50:29,580
of, you know, the most professional word I can think of

1602
02:50:29,580 --> 02:50:31,500
without saying a bad word.

1603
02:50:34,060 --> 02:50:36,860
So the other thing that I'm concerned about,

1604
02:50:38,740 --> 02:50:41,420
we wanted, I know what they wanted to settle this for a while.

1605
02:50:41,540 --> 02:50:43,680
It's one of the reasons I understand

1606
02:50:44,300 --> 02:50:46,540
it's part of the reason why we have oversight

1607
02:50:46,540 --> 02:50:48,360
from the state, I get it.

1608
02:50:48,680 --> 02:50:51,480
We have to get rid of this burden of this lawsuit.

1609
02:50:51,700 --> 02:50:52,660
I understand that.

1610
02:50:52,660 --> 02:50:57,300
However, when the prior administration tried to do this,

1611
02:50:58,040 --> 02:51:02,000
we were told that we couldn't do a pilot with the North Shore anyway

1612
02:51:02,000 --> 02:51:04,840
because Leipa does not own the property.

1613
02:51:05,080 --> 02:51:06,260
They still don't own the property.

1614
02:51:06,500 --> 02:51:08,480
It's national grid owns the property.

1615
02:51:08,740 --> 02:51:09,360
There's no doubt.

1616
02:51:09,480 --> 02:51:10,340
There's never been a question.

1617
02:51:11,200 --> 02:51:15,200
So in the presentation that was provided to us during committees,

1618
02:51:15,580 --> 02:51:18,460
pilot I think was used, I think accounted eight times.

1619
02:51:20,280 --> 02:51:26,800
Now, you're changing it to some special usage that we use for sewer tax, saying that that's

1620
02:51:26,800 --> 02:51:28,060
what we're going to be using now.

1621
02:51:28,640 --> 02:51:32,200
I want you to explain to me, number one, has it ever been used before?

1622
02:51:32,700 --> 02:51:34,440
And number two, how is it different from a pilot?

1623
02:51:35,600 --> 02:51:41,620
Direct assessment, which is being used, has been used for assessment purposes for, say,

1624
02:51:41,740 --> 02:51:47,880
for zombie houses or properties that are taken off the roll as a direct tax, if

1625
02:51:47,880 --> 02:51:52,900
it has not been used in the compromise or settlement of tax or shirari proceedings.

1626
02:51:54,340 --> 02:51:59,460
The way that it is different than a pilot is that in the calculation of the school tax rate

1627
02:51:59,460 --> 02:52:05,620
and the school aid formula, that value gets counted in the bucket as far as the formula for school aid

1628
02:52:05,620 --> 02:52:07,740
and for the school taxes.

1629
02:52:08,240 --> 02:52:11,520
Do you think that this could be challenged in this court of law?

1630
02:52:11,660 --> 02:52:12,520
Anything could be challenged.

1631
02:52:13,720 --> 02:52:15,720
I think it might be.

1632
02:52:16,220 --> 02:52:17,260
Anything could be challenged.

1633
02:52:17,260 --> 02:52:22,460
And what would be your defense in saying that it's, you know, how did we use this?

1634
02:52:22,540 --> 02:52:29,320
How did you put the utility in the same category as a sewage pipe?

1635
02:52:30,260 --> 02:52:34,460
It's a direct assessment. It's not specific to sewage pipes.

1636
02:52:35,460 --> 02:52:38,700
And again, this is consistent with the real property tax law

1637
02:52:38,700 --> 02:52:40,760
and with the Nassau County Administrative Code.

1638
02:52:41,320 --> 02:52:42,680
That's how it's being compromised.

1639
02:52:43,580 --> 02:52:46,840
I think it's going to be tough to defend from what I've been told.

1640
02:52:47,900 --> 02:52:52,400
First of all, even the fact that pilot was used by Leipa so many times,

1641
02:52:52,600 --> 02:52:53,540
I mean they think it's a pilot.

1642
02:52:56,880 --> 02:53:01,040
The legality of just that in my mind is a real question,

1643
02:53:01,160 --> 02:53:02,920
because again, we want to save the county money,

1644
02:53:02,920 --> 02:53:06,460
but if we're not doing something that will stand up in court,

1645
02:53:06,600 --> 02:53:09,740
if it's challenged, I don't know how much money we're actually saving the county.

1646
02:53:11,540 --> 02:53:20,720
So, again, as someone who represents this district, the school district might be okay for a couple

1647
02:53:20,720 --> 02:53:21,140
of years.

1648
02:53:21,320 --> 02:53:24,380
They're going to get hit very hard when this is over.

1649
02:53:24,540 --> 02:53:31,560
It's very temporary band-aid, maybe you could say, and right now we're seeing it's a glide

1650
02:53:31,560 --> 02:53:31,740
path.

1651
02:53:32,020 --> 02:53:35,700
It's going to come in pretty hard that sixth year, no matter what you say.

1652
02:53:35,980 --> 02:53:37,440
I'm hearing $200 a month.

1653
02:53:37,440 --> 02:53:42,500
that was that was an estimate actually from you know from prior administration

1654
02:53:42,500 --> 02:53:50,760
and I believe it fits in the just me looking at it the calculations um it's

1655
02:53:50,760 --> 02:53:59,760
it's Leipa is the utility where I think we're I I understand the risk to the

1656
02:53:59,760 --> 02:54:04,160
county but I think a lot of judges would take a look at this and say hey

1657
02:54:04,160 --> 02:54:08,180
You know what? You're still making the same amount of energy.

1658
02:54:08,860 --> 02:54:11,600
You may be found a more effective way to do it, great.

1659
02:54:12,120 --> 02:54:16,120
But you're still making the same profit, and you still have environmental impacts.

1660
02:54:16,440 --> 02:54:21,680
I forget the exact percentage that Island Park is still producing, but it's still a tremendous amount.

1661
02:54:22,440 --> 02:54:25,880
I remember when we looked at a house in Glenwood Landing,

1662
02:54:26,200 --> 02:54:29,500
before I was married, there was a beautiful house near the water,

1663
02:54:29,660 --> 02:54:30,780
and I couldn't remember why I didn't sell.

1664
02:54:30,780 --> 02:54:36,100
near Leipa plant and in the backyard there was a wire like 10 inches wide

1665
02:54:36,100 --> 02:54:41,560
buzzing that went right by the house. I mean our residents have been exposed

1666
02:54:41,560 --> 02:54:45,020
to all this. They're going to be continuing to be exposed especially in

1667
02:54:45,020 --> 02:54:49,700
Island Park and we're all afraid that a judge is going to look at it and say oh

1668
02:54:49,700 --> 02:54:54,140
Leipa you knocked down a building so you're entitled to have a you know

1669
02:54:54,140 --> 02:54:59,840
$700 million tax cut congratulations. I just maybe because my father was a

1670
02:54:59,840 --> 02:55:04,680
I have more faith in judges to take a real look at the evidence than this.

1671
02:55:04,840 --> 02:55:08,500
I mean, I understand the risk, and I understand mitigating the risk.

1672
02:55:08,740 --> 02:55:12,380
But at some point, when are we going to stand up to these utilities?

1673
02:55:12,800 --> 02:55:17,140
Like, when are we going to say, you come into our area, you don't even live in this area,

1674
02:55:17,180 --> 02:55:22,880
you make a tremendous amount of money, and you take advantage of our area environmentally.

1675
02:55:24,900 --> 02:55:27,300
And, you know, we're not doing anything to stop you.

1676
02:55:27,300 --> 02:55:29,080
I think it's morally wrong.

1677
02:55:29,400 --> 02:55:34,300
And I'm glad that the schools have five years to get ready for the hit,

1678
02:55:34,480 --> 02:55:35,460
but the hit's still coming.

1679
02:55:36,820 --> 02:55:39,400
And the environmental impact, we don't even have a study,

1680
02:55:39,500 --> 02:55:41,080
so we don't even know what that's going to be.

1681
02:55:41,800 --> 02:55:42,760
And, you know, great.

1682
02:55:43,000 --> 02:55:45,980
Maybe you get this lawsuit off the books.

1683
02:55:46,280 --> 02:55:46,680
Congratulations.

1684
02:55:47,240 --> 02:55:49,160
But it's at a big cost, in my opinion.

1685
02:55:51,640 --> 02:55:52,300
Let's go to Ford.

1686
02:55:53,820 --> 02:55:56,100
I'm just going to follow the legislative derigy written.

1687
02:55:56,100 --> 02:56:05,180
And okay, so we're taking a look when I look at the Allen Puck School District and I think

1688
02:56:05,180 --> 02:56:12,060
one of, I know it's been over 10 years and this has been hanging over our heads and you

1689
02:56:13,620 --> 02:56:18,820
know I had a problem in the previous administration and I just don't understand why we carried

1690
02:56:18,820 --> 02:56:26,000
this forward that when they negotiated a settlement with Leipa when they look at this that

1691
02:56:26,000 --> 02:56:31,980
that they provide the same percentage reduction to all of the school districts that are involved

1692
02:56:31,980 --> 02:56:36,900
in this, despite, you know, you had cited, you know, how these poor school districts

1693
02:56:36,900 --> 02:56:42,440
and we're going to try to soften the blow. But it can never understand how you would

1694
02:56:42,440 --> 02:56:48,100
reduce Isle and Park to the same level as Glenwood Landing when Isle and Park still

1695
02:56:48,100 --> 02:56:53,200
has the Barrett and the building has not been demolished, not one piece of equipment

1696
02:56:53,200 --> 02:56:59,840
has been taken out of it. It isn't basically an eyesore within the neighborhood which the

1697
02:56:59,840 --> 02:57:06,380
people have to live with, close proximity. There are some very environmental concerns

1698
02:57:06,380 --> 02:57:13,200
as it draws fresh water to cool the engines and stuff like that. Why didn't you look

1699
02:57:13,200 --> 02:57:21,280
at this and say that maybe it would be fair if we took a look at what was on the property

1700
02:57:21,280 --> 02:57:26,620
and what we were looking to achieve to help Leipa with their reduction.

1701
02:57:27,360 --> 02:57:32,080
You know, I had expressed this a while ago about changing this.

1702
02:57:32,620 --> 02:57:34,820
Why didn't you take a look at this?

1703
02:57:35,520 --> 02:57:39,420
We tried to negotiate the best deal we could for both properties.

1704
02:57:40,060 --> 02:57:46,500
The thing with the Glenwood Landing property was that the structure came down,

1705
02:57:46,720 --> 02:57:49,020
but the roll was frozen at the time I believe.

1706
02:57:49,020 --> 02:57:52,540
I came down in 2012 while the assessment roll was frozen.

1707
02:57:53,820 --> 02:57:54,220
So

1708
02:57:56,530 --> 02:58:01,730
we believe that the values that we negotiate at the end were the best that we could do

1709
02:58:01,730 --> 02:58:02,490
for the two properties.

1710
02:58:02,550 --> 02:58:03,110
But you said it.

1711
02:58:03,170 --> 02:58:04,150
There was no building there.

1712
02:58:04,230 --> 02:58:04,850
There's nothing there.

1713
02:58:05,050 --> 02:58:06,590
When you look at Glenwood Landing, nothing.

1714
02:58:07,030 --> 02:58:10,230
When you look at Isle and Park, there you go, you have this big, big end.

1715
02:58:10,630 --> 02:58:13,490
The fact is that it still is generating electricity.

1716
02:58:13,490 --> 02:58:22,230
It is still a viable power plant that is generating for hundreds of thousands of homes, all right?

1717
02:58:22,790 --> 02:58:27,610
It will still be used. That location will still be used. It's not going away.

1718
02:58:28,150 --> 02:58:33,930
It will still be used by LIPE or whatever energy company is going to come with them or after them or whatever,

1719
02:58:33,930 --> 02:58:40,070
because we're looking, Equinor is planning on building a wind farm off of Long Beach Island.

1720
02:58:40,070 --> 02:58:45,590
And there's their intention to run the cables from that wind farm up into the area of the

1721
02:58:45,590 --> 02:58:45,970
Barrett.

1722
02:58:46,430 --> 02:58:53,270
We also have our Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant, which is now used to generate its own

1723
02:58:53,270 --> 02:59:01,030
electricity, but to make it more stable, they invested $10 to $20 million in putting

1724
02:59:01,030 --> 02:59:08,190
two new feeder cables so that it's a stable power supply for the Bay Park Sewage Treatment

1725
02:59:08,190 --> 02:59:08,430
Plant.

1726
02:59:08,430 --> 02:59:16,470
So we know that the power plant is there, but I just don't understand when we look at this you know both the north and the south shore

1727
02:59:16,950 --> 02:59:21,170
It's not apples to apples. It's apples and oranges. So

1728
02:59:21,170 --> 02:59:24,990
So what's going to happen is when I look at this and I

1729
02:59:26,010 --> 02:59:29,470
Got thank you Maurice for providing me with this information

1730
02:59:29,470 --> 02:59:35,790
But when I look at the difference in what these school districts are going to be impacted, you know based on

1731
02:59:35,790 --> 02:59:38,650
on their school district, the number of residents,

1732
02:59:39,750 --> 02:59:43,970
and it's where maybe Glenwood Landing

1733
02:59:44,630 --> 02:59:46,730
might see a difference of like say $1,000,

1734
02:59:47,350 --> 02:59:50,250
maybe Ocean Side will see a change of $1,000,

1735
02:59:51,090 --> 02:59:54,330
but Island Park will go up maybe about $2,000

1736
02:59:55,010 --> 02:59:55,970
or $2,500.

1737
02:59:57,010 --> 02:59:59,870
So there is, you know, it really

1738
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:08,720
There really isn't. The comparison on the value of the plans is not consistent with the needs

1739
03:00:08,720 --> 03:00:13,780
of the school. And I know Island Park is a much smaller school district, but it also has

1740
03:00:13,780 --> 03:00:22,040
43 percent of their students get free lunch, which is something that is not considered

1741
03:00:22,040 --> 03:00:27,360
by New York State either, because had New York State education departments would take a look

1742
03:00:27,360 --> 03:00:33,160
at maybe poverty levels in the various schools throughout the state, maybe they'd change their

1743
03:00:33,160 --> 03:00:37,420
formula the way that they're handing down school aid, and then maybe Island Park would

1744
03:00:37,420 --> 03:00:43,380
actually get its fair share or its rightful share to be able to stay in existence.

1745
03:00:44,400 --> 03:00:51,280
But have you looked at other, or has anyone in the administration looked at other opportunities

1746
03:00:51,280 --> 03:00:53,200
to soften the blow for Island Park?

1747
03:00:53,200 --> 03:01:01,440
I know legislated Gerigie Witten and I had tried to float an idea of like maybe trying to establish some sort of a pilot through the county

1748
03:01:02,460 --> 03:01:04,680
That maybe can help offset

1749
03:01:05,260 --> 03:01:09,420
Has that ever been considered did we talked about that right to you? Am I?

1750
03:01:10,300 --> 03:01:15,460
Unfortunately in the North Shore, we can't do a pilot because like but doesn't own the property

1751
03:01:16,220 --> 03:01:21,940
Okay. All right, and I guess like but doesn't own the property. I think it's national grid that owns the property town in

1752
03:01:21,940 --> 03:01:25,200
Island Park. The

1753
03:01:28,690 --> 03:01:34,670
direct assessment, I was under the impression that by changing it from a pilot

1754
03:01:34,670 --> 03:01:41,030
to a direct assessment that it would make it more palatable for the school district. But

1755
03:01:41,030 --> 03:01:49,850
in essence it really doesn't. The taxes on the property paid by LIPA will be frozen

1756
03:01:49,850 --> 03:01:51,430
and set at a certain rate, correct?

1757
03:01:51,690 --> 03:01:52,130
That's correct.

1758
03:01:53,730 --> 03:01:57,370
So will this type of maybe, Michelle can explain,

1759
03:01:57,830 --> 03:01:59,510
will this type, will direct assessment,

1760
03:02:00,810 --> 03:02:04,730
will this impact the formula that the school district,

1761
03:02:04,890 --> 03:02:07,750
that the state may use in order to award state aid

1762
03:02:07,750 --> 03:02:08,710
to the school district?

1763
03:02:09,090 --> 03:02:09,230
I

1764
03:02:11,660 --> 03:02:13,500
think it's the property tax cap that gets it

1765
03:02:13,500 --> 03:02:14,620
impacted when it's a pilot.

1766
03:02:18,220 --> 03:02:18,920
We'll go ahead, Michelle.

1767
03:02:19,520 --> 03:02:21,000
Michelle's pilot deputy assessor.

1768
03:02:21,720 --> 03:02:24,120
Regarding the pilot, I'm not an expert on how

1769
03:02:24,120 --> 03:02:30,300
they deal with their tax cap. It's our understanding that it is a factor in their tax cap and that's

1770
03:02:30,300 --> 03:02:35,720
why the county, after doing research and consultation with the county attorney's office has determined

1771
03:02:35,720 --> 03:02:40,040
that the direct assessment would not impact them and they would be able to lower their

1772
03:02:40,040 --> 03:02:44,160
levy by the amount of these payments. Should the school district choose to do that? We

1773
03:02:44,160 --> 03:02:47,080
don't know if they're going to do that but the assumption is they would do that.

1774
03:02:47,700 --> 03:02:49,820
And that would lessen the blow to the residents.

1775
03:02:49,820 --> 03:02:55,600
all right and on the projections that we get you know we have received on you

1776
03:02:55,600 --> 03:03:00,000
know like when you look at the glide path and I guess basically maybe based on

1777
03:03:00,000 --> 03:03:05,320
what somebody is paying in school taxes currently and then with this glide path

1778
03:03:05,320 --> 03:03:12,500
the increase is that we say they're usually you would incorporate the basic

1779
03:03:12,500 --> 03:03:22,180
like 2% increase, but this currently includes the current state aid if it doesn't include

1780
03:03:22,180 --> 03:03:25,420
any increase in any school aid on this, correct?

1781
03:03:25,700 --> 03:03:26,180
That is correct.

1782
03:03:26,360 --> 03:03:29,140
If they received more state aid than their levy would reduce even more.

1783
03:03:29,540 --> 03:03:33,860
It also doesn't include the direct payment that is outside of the glide path schedule.

1784
03:03:34,440 --> 03:03:38,440
So this is almost a worst-case scenario because the numbers changed from even Friday.

1785
03:03:39,640 --> 03:03:40,500
Oh, okay.

1786
03:03:40,500 --> 03:03:46,620
would we be able to get like maybe you know I know you can do it today but I'd

1787
03:03:46,620 --> 03:03:51,620
like to see overall because I'd like to I've asked a county executive to send

1788
03:03:51,620 --> 03:03:56,240
something out to the residents to explain yes I know I know Richard it's

1789
03:03:56,240 --> 03:04:00,920
after the fact you know but yeah so

1790
03:04:04,410 --> 03:04:10,670
Michelle Michelle I'd like to see so

1791
03:04:10,670 --> 03:04:14,530
so that we can have a better understanding as we move forward, you know, with something

1792
03:04:14,530 --> 03:04:15,070
like this.

1793
03:04:15,310 --> 03:04:15,670
All right?

1794
03:04:16,730 --> 03:04:17,250
Okay, thank you.

1795
03:04:17,750 --> 03:04:20,390
Michelle, while you're there, I'd like to say to Richie, what has the question?

1796
03:04:21,070 --> 03:04:29,090
Can you explain to me, I was told originally when I met with the assessment office, I'm

1797
03:04:29,090 --> 03:04:34,650
not sure if you were there, and it was probably about nine years ago, not to worry about

1798
03:04:34,650 --> 03:04:41,370
about school taxes or anything going up because life is a utility and they get assessed by

1799
03:04:41,370 --> 03:04:48,330
usage or production rather. How the heck is this happening that we are giving them such

1800
03:04:48,330 --> 03:04:53,610
a huge reduction just based on a building? No, no, no, no, wait, I'd like to hear it

1801
03:04:53,610 --> 03:04:58,230
from the assessment department rather than the county attorney. I understand his thoughts.

1802
03:04:58,330 --> 03:05:01,510
Unfortunately I'm not a utility assessor so I really don't have the expertise to

1803
03:05:01,510 --> 03:05:01,910
answer that question.

1804
03:05:01,910 --> 03:05:03,590
Alright, let me ask you another question then.

1805
03:05:04,750 --> 03:05:08,790
Class 3 and 4 are for utilities and commercial, correct?

1806
03:05:09,070 --> 03:05:09,270
Correct.

1807
03:05:09,670 --> 03:05:18,910
Normally, when an entity that is involved with one of these groups, like Verizon, let's say,

1808
03:05:19,150 --> 03:05:24,110
or whoever, leave or whatever happens,

1809
03:05:25,250 --> 03:05:30,390
the other businesses in that class 3 and 4 pick up the difference, correct?

1810
03:05:30,390 --> 03:05:31,030
No.

1811
03:05:31,870 --> 03:05:33,310
So explain how that works.

1812
03:05:33,770 --> 03:05:35,670
It depends on what the removal is.

1813
03:05:35,790 --> 03:05:39,670
In this particular case, this is a physical removal out of class three and four.

1814
03:05:40,070 --> 03:05:45,330
So that amount that they would share, that amount of the pie, so to speak, the class share,

1815
03:05:45,550 --> 03:05:47,650
gets distributed equally to the remaining classes.

1816
03:05:48,010 --> 03:05:50,230
In this case, that would be classes one and two.

1817
03:05:51,130 --> 03:05:55,810
That's exactly contrary to what I was told like eight or nine years ago.

1818
03:05:55,970 --> 03:05:57,890
I was with the mayor of Seacliffe at the time.

1819
03:05:58,990 --> 03:06:05,010
So because a building is knocked down, it is now going to class 1 and 2.

1820
03:06:05,690 --> 03:06:11,190
If a building was knocked down in class 3 and class 4, it would equally distribute to classes 1 and 2.

1821
03:06:11,490 --> 03:06:14,090
So how does that work for the South Shore, for Island Park?

1822
03:06:14,270 --> 03:06:15,030
Exactly the same way.

1823
03:06:15,050 --> 03:06:17,410
But did you knock down any buildings, Denise?

1824
03:06:18,410 --> 03:06:20,690
Did you have any buildings knocked down in there?

1825
03:06:21,030 --> 03:06:24,890
No, Island Park, the Barrett is still the same building, right?

1826
03:06:25,090 --> 03:06:26,570
So they didn't have any building at the beginning of time.

1827
03:06:26,570 --> 03:06:29,090
The valuation aspect of it would be different.

1828
03:06:29,610 --> 03:06:32,850
And in this particular instance, it's going to be a direct assessment.

1829
03:06:33,010 --> 03:06:36,210
So it's going to be a removal as taxable value from the assessment rule.

1830
03:06:36,430 --> 03:06:37,970
Even though building wasn't knocked down.

1831
03:06:38,430 --> 03:06:38,630
Correct.

1832
03:06:39,170 --> 03:06:42,210
So the reason it's happening on the North Shore is because the building was knocked down.

1833
03:06:42,650 --> 03:06:44,870
It's being handled exactly the same way.

1834
03:06:45,450 --> 03:06:48,990
All of these properties are going to be removed from the taxable portion of the roll.

1835
03:06:49,170 --> 03:06:53,370
That's considered a physical removal, a quantity removal from those classes.

1836
03:06:53,370 --> 03:06:57,310
and that's why the share will be equally distributed to classes one and two.

1837
03:06:58,910 --> 03:07:02,070
Yeah, that does sound like a pilot.

1838
03:07:02,790 --> 03:07:06,710
But the other thing is, I don't understand.

1839
03:07:07,310 --> 03:07:10,530
Again, maybe I just have it, I've had it in my mind for so long

1840
03:07:10,530 --> 03:07:16,270
that commercial and utility are completely separate from residential.

1841
03:07:16,890 --> 03:07:20,130
They are separate as far as being in separate classes.

1842
03:07:20,350 --> 03:07:22,430
You have to look at community as a whole.

1843
03:07:22,430 --> 03:07:25,770
You can't just look at one class by itself.

1844
03:07:26,130 --> 03:07:29,030
Something that happens in one class will affect the other classes.

1845
03:07:29,650 --> 03:07:32,530
And the school district still needs the exact same amount of levy.

1846
03:07:33,150 --> 03:07:37,810
So if class 3 and 4 are not paying that same amount of classes 1 and 2, we're going to pick up the difference.

1847
03:07:38,570 --> 03:07:45,030
So I was told that the fact that Leipa was, you know, knocking down the building,

1848
03:07:45,030 --> 03:07:52,190
I think that Verizon National Grid, and I believe it was Optima, was going to be picking up the slack.

1849
03:07:53,830 --> 03:07:55,330
How much did they pick up?

1850
03:07:55,990 --> 03:07:59,390
I don't have an answer to that question. We did not look at the other utility properties.

1851
03:07:59,730 --> 03:08:05,270
So the other utility properties didn't have to pick up? Do you know if they had to pick up anything?

1852
03:08:05,970 --> 03:08:08,050
We did not look at the other utility properties.

1853
03:08:10,020 --> 03:08:16,480
So class 3 and 4 didn't have to absorb any increase, only the residential?

1854
03:08:17,600 --> 03:08:19,620
We did not look at the other utility properties.

1855
03:08:23,420 --> 03:08:32,660
I don't understand that because I've been told again, I don't know, I'm not an expert like you are and I appreciate, I'm sorry to have you in this position.

1856
03:08:33,020 --> 03:08:37,440
It's not your fault, it's just that you're here representing the department.

1857
03:08:39,640 --> 03:08:49,380
So, we don't know how much like of an increased Verizon or National Grid or Optima, all of those other members of Class 3 and 4 are absorbing.

1858
03:08:49,980 --> 03:08:54,740
Correct. We did not look at the un-utility properties. We looked specifically at these properties that are in question.

1859
03:08:54,740 --> 03:08:55,680
So

1860
03:09:01,080 --> 03:09:09,340
what it is, though, within the school, within the district, within the Island Park School District,

1861
03:09:10,780 --> 03:09:15,360
when you shifted over to, for the class one and class two to pick up the taxes,

1862
03:09:16,700 --> 03:09:22,660
would it, if you shifted also to the, to any utilities, it would only be utilities in the school district?

1863
03:09:22,900 --> 03:09:24,480
Correct. On the school side.

1864
03:09:24,680 --> 03:09:25,300
On the school side.

1865
03:09:26,380 --> 03:09:29,320
But the county would be, it would be shifted.

1866
03:09:29,320 --> 03:09:32,560
If you shifted it to three and four, does the county portion?

1867
03:09:33,600 --> 03:09:35,420
No, the shift would be the same way.

1868
03:09:35,600 --> 03:09:37,140
It's just that when you're talking about the county,

1869
03:09:37,560 --> 03:09:39,720
it's a very large county compared to a school district.

1870
03:09:39,980 --> 03:09:43,380
But within, but the school portion taxes of the taxes

1871
03:09:43,380 --> 03:09:47,140
would stay within the school, regardless of its utility,

1872
03:09:47,360 --> 03:09:48,480
private home or business, correct?

1873
03:09:48,840 --> 03:09:49,300
All right, thank you.

1874
03:09:50,860 --> 03:09:54,300
Just, doesn't it happen every year that shifts takes place

1875
03:09:54,300 --> 03:09:55,280
between the different classes?

1876
03:09:55,820 --> 03:09:55,980
Yes.

1877
03:09:55,980 --> 03:10:02,580
So if there's a massive reduction in commercial property in Nassau County, then it gets shifted

1878
03:10:02,580 --> 03:10:04,020
to the other classes, correct?

1879
03:10:04,240 --> 03:10:04,500
Correct.

1880
03:10:05,740 --> 03:10:06,200
All right.

1881
03:10:06,200 --> 03:10:08,980
We have several individuals who are here to speak.

1882
03:10:09,580 --> 03:10:10,420
Two slips are in.

1883
03:10:10,600 --> 03:10:13,660
Again, thank you for your patience and waiting here since we started the meeting.

1884
03:10:14,320 --> 03:10:14,940
Richard Schoeren.

1885
03:10:20,090 --> 03:10:24,170
Thank you for the opportunity to speak again, just to clarify some things that I've

1886
03:10:24,170 --> 03:10:24,310
heard.

1887
03:10:24,370 --> 03:10:27,850
It's kind of frustrating that the county is not up on these things, they can answer

1888
03:10:27,850 --> 03:10:29,050
these questions clearly to me.

1889
03:10:29,650 --> 03:10:36,570
Obviously, every business, every residence, every utility in Island Park's taxes are

1890
03:10:36,570 --> 03:10:37,710
going to go up because of this.

1891
03:10:38,730 --> 03:10:43,330
As you noted, Mr. Nicoletti, the tax levies are going to stay the same.

1892
03:10:44,450 --> 03:10:51,640
Every residence, every business is going to have to absorb this, and I know I spoke

1893
03:10:51,640 --> 03:10:55,500
about this before, but I want to give a little bit more flavor as to what's been

1894
03:10:55,500 --> 03:10:57,300
going on in Island Park for the last decade.

1895
03:10:59,280 --> 03:11:07,400
A decade ago the school came to the community and said we're faced with a tsunami, it's potentially catastrophic to the district.

1896
03:11:08,440 --> 03:11:15,500
So many people, community-minded people like myself and the Civic Association and Denise was involved, we did what we could.

1897
03:11:16,040 --> 03:11:25,600
We protested. Hundreds of students wrote cards that our library director here engineered.

1898
03:11:25,600 --> 03:11:29,600
to all of our legislators, to Albany, to Leipa.

1899
03:11:30,120 --> 03:11:33,080
We protested at the plant in the pouring rain.

1900
03:11:33,620 --> 03:11:35,280
This is five, six years ago.

1901
03:11:36,200 --> 03:11:38,260
We went to Leipa board meetings.

1902
03:11:39,160 --> 03:11:41,580
The Chamber of Commerce president, myself,

1903
03:11:42,320 --> 03:11:43,880
the library president, other people,

1904
03:11:44,060 --> 03:11:47,100
we waited hours to speak directly to Mr. Falcone and others

1905
03:11:47,100 --> 03:11:52,220
to tell them what the impact that their action was having on us.

1906
03:11:56,100 --> 03:12:06,900
And we were out, our school district spent money, increased the money to be spent for our attorneys, and we hired a lobbyist, and we did all of this.

1907
03:12:07,000 --> 03:12:14,620
And I went to the town of Hempstead meetings, I came to this meeting, this is maybe the third or fourth time I've been to this meeting, asking for help.

1908
03:12:14,620 --> 03:12:26,060
Okay? And here we are. You all failed. It was a failure. We didn't get the help. This is a political question.

1909
03:12:26,300 --> 03:12:32,680
LIPA is a political entity. Okay? Their board members are appointed by Albany.

1910
03:12:33,540 --> 03:12:40,360
And we could have made a difference. We could have made a difference but it didn't work. It's a failure.

1911
03:12:41,220 --> 03:12:46,120
As a result, everyone in my community is going to pay hundreds, if not thousands of

1912
03:12:46,120 --> 03:12:46,780
dollars more.

1913
03:12:48,980 --> 03:12:54,240
In five years, certainly, and the glide path you talk about, you know, it's going to get

1914
03:12:54,240 --> 03:12:57,680
progressively worse, and many of them can't afford it.

1915
03:12:58,240 --> 03:12:59,200
They literally can't afford it.

1916
03:12:59,200 --> 03:13:01,200
They're going to be forced to move, okay?

1917
03:13:02,180 --> 03:13:06,880
And I'm active in the school, and I'm very proud of the little tiny school district

1918
03:13:06,880 --> 03:13:07,540
that we have.

1919
03:13:08,140 --> 03:13:08,360
Okay?

1920
03:13:08,860 --> 03:13:13,160
We have an elementary school and a middle school, and we send our children to pay tuition

1921
03:13:13,160 --> 03:13:13,960
to Long Beach High School.

1922
03:13:15,960 --> 03:13:21,360
I think we're the smallest school district on Long Island, but we provide a real quality

1923
03:13:21,360 --> 03:13:22,360
education for children.

1924
03:13:22,720 --> 03:13:27,020
It's one of the reasons that I raised my wife, my wife raised our family there.

1925
03:13:27,480 --> 03:13:29,340
It's a great little tiny school district, okay?

1926
03:13:29,740 --> 03:13:31,920
But it's always a question of what we can do.

1927
03:13:33,620 --> 03:13:40,020
And I think we have a 40-48 million dollar budget, and the liper pays like 45% of that.

1928
03:13:41,380 --> 03:13:49,720
So you take away 50% of that 43% contribution, the school district isn't going to be able to provide the same services.

1929
03:13:50,440 --> 03:13:55,200
My children, thank God, are graduating now, and we benefited from a great school district.

1930
03:13:55,200 --> 03:14:01,100
Okay, but there's so many families now that have moved in because Island Park is an affordable community

1931
03:14:01,100 --> 03:14:04,400
Who have young children and their children are going to suffer as a result of this?

1932
03:14:05,100 --> 03:14:07,680
Okay, and this is what politicians are supposed to do

1933
03:14:07,680 --> 03:14:13,740
You're supposed to look out for the for out for our interests. Okay, and and we've had a 10-year warning

1934
03:14:14,380 --> 03:14:20,060
And we did everything we could as I said hundreds of students hundreds of little kids wrote letters

1935
03:14:21,300 --> 03:14:23,480
To everyone please help us

1936
03:14:24,260 --> 03:14:35,200
Please help us. We spent hours. I probably spent, think about, I probably spent 500 hours, you know, working on this with other people, Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Association.

1937
03:14:35,780 --> 03:14:51,790
Yet here we are, okay? And I just saw that the county attorney evidently has some information about what it's going to cost the residents of Island Park and shared it with you all, but somehow we don't have that information.

1938
03:14:52,530 --> 03:14:58,190
Residents don't know. At least the last administration had a whole presentation to us.

1939
03:14:58,630 --> 03:14:59,970
Okay, and literally hundreds of people...

1940
03:15:00,080 --> 03:15:05,240
We filled the whole Lincoln Orange middle school and asked questions all the way until

1941
03:15:05,240 --> 03:15:09,900
the night. We weren't satisfied, but at least you heard us and at least you had a presentation

1942
03:15:09,900 --> 03:15:14,980
and we knew what it was going to cost us. And all sorts of people that I hadn't seen in

1943
03:15:14,980 --> 03:15:19,920
many, many years came out. You know, people, simple people, people who care about one

1944
03:15:19,920 --> 03:15:23,520
on one care about their community, they had an opportunity to be heard and they at

1945
03:15:23,520 --> 03:15:28,660
least got to see what was going to impact them. You don't even have the respect

1946
03:15:28,660 --> 03:15:33,060
to have a community forum for us. Nothing. Nothing. You're just going to vote right now.

1947
03:15:33,200 --> 03:15:36,740
You're going to push this through. I also heard the county attorney say that trials

1948
03:15:36,740 --> 03:15:41,060
isn't even until the end of the month. You have another meeting. You have another meeting

1949
03:15:41,060 --> 03:15:44,160
before the end of the month. You could have a community meeting at Island Park.

1950
03:15:45,720 --> 03:15:49,280
Sheldonman, why won't you have a community meeting at Island Park? Can you answer that?

1951
03:15:50,160 --> 03:15:53,960
We have urged the administration to have community meetings, but it's not the

1952
03:15:53,960 --> 03:15:58,240
the legislature's prerogative to hold a meeting in the community.

1953
03:15:59,360 --> 03:16:06,360
We have a full meeting here in which the public's invited to it, and we're happy to be a member

1954
03:16:06,360 --> 03:16:06,880
of the public.

1955
03:16:07,900 --> 03:16:11,720
Are you asking right now, in this public forum, to the county to please have a community

1956
03:16:11,720 --> 03:16:12,200
meeting?

1957
03:16:12,440 --> 03:16:13,340
No, I'm not asking.

1958
03:16:13,420 --> 03:16:14,440
I'm responding to your question.

1959
03:16:14,520 --> 03:16:15,220
Well, I'm asking you.

1960
03:16:15,240 --> 03:16:16,000
Will you ask?

1961
03:16:16,160 --> 03:16:17,500
I'm responding to your question.

1962
03:16:17,680 --> 03:16:18,300
Will you ask?

1963
03:16:18,680 --> 03:16:20,960
Well, at this point, we're voting on this today.

1964
03:16:21,380 --> 03:16:21,620
Okay.

1965
03:16:21,840 --> 03:16:22,340
Time's up.

1966
03:16:22,340 --> 03:16:25,000
If they want to have a meeting afterwards, then they can go ahead and do so.

1967
03:16:26,120 --> 03:16:29,400
Will you table this to allow the community to have an opportunity to save?

1968
03:16:29,640 --> 03:16:34,340
I'm telling you that time is up. We're voting on this today.

1969
03:16:34,660 --> 03:16:35,360
Why is time up?

1970
03:16:35,940 --> 03:16:37,640
Because the trial is imminent.

1971
03:16:38,280 --> 03:16:42,040
Well, you have another legislative meeting scheduled before the trial.

1972
03:16:42,120 --> 03:16:43,140
So what's going to change in a month?

1973
03:16:44,640 --> 03:16:47,520
You're going to show respect to the people that are impacted by this.

1974
03:16:47,700 --> 03:16:49,300
You're going to tell us how it's going to impact us.

1975
03:16:49,300 --> 03:16:52,800
You don't have to give them an opportunity to tell you, to tell you how they're impacted

1976
03:16:52,800 --> 03:16:53,240
by it.

1977
03:16:53,360 --> 03:16:53,760
You don't care?

1978
03:16:54,220 --> 03:16:54,400
No.

1979
03:16:54,560 --> 03:16:55,140
I didn't say that.

1980
03:16:55,780 --> 03:16:59,900
We have had all hearings, over to the public, public can come here and speak.

1981
03:17:00,620 --> 03:17:05,380
The administration has chosen not to do a forum in the community, but at this point,

1982
03:17:05,440 --> 03:17:09,020
for all purposes, it's on for a vote today and we're going to vote on it.

1983
03:17:09,260 --> 03:17:14,420
As the legislative leader, as the president of this body, you're happy that the county

1984
03:17:14,420 --> 03:17:16,280
executive is not providing a forum to the community?

1985
03:17:16,280 --> 03:17:22,880
I'm not commenting on that, but I'm telling you this, we have been actively advocating

1986
03:17:23,680 --> 03:17:30,300
for more for the school district for years, and we have tried in every possible way to

1987
03:17:30,300 --> 03:17:36,080
gain more from the state, from Lypa, from wherever source we could, but time has run

1988
03:17:36,080 --> 03:17:36,760
out, sir.

1989
03:17:37,020 --> 03:17:44,020
Well, as sound as him and Mr. Sharon, if this case is not settled, you're not looking

1990
03:17:44,020 --> 03:17:48,580
at a glide path. You're not looking at a few percent points that decrease in the first

1991
03:17:48,580 --> 03:17:53,580
year. You're looking at 70 to 80 percent. You want to talk about devastation.

1992
03:17:53,940 --> 03:17:59,060
We've known this for decades. We know it. You don't need to tell us. We live it. We

1993
03:17:59,060 --> 03:18:01,980
know it. Our school district told us 10 years ago.

1994
03:18:02,900 --> 03:18:07,660
Let's see if we're ready. Thanks, Presiding Officer. Just responding

1995
03:18:07,660 --> 03:18:08,940
to some of Mr. Scherren's comments.

1996
03:18:12,680 --> 03:18:15,740
Before attacking this current administration,

1997
03:18:15,740 --> 03:18:22,760
The reality is, this was decided when the prior administration gave the Village of Island

1998
03:18:22,760 --> 03:18:29,820
Park and Glenn was landing a going away gift before they left, which was an appraisal that

1999
03:18:30,300 --> 03:18:32,700
tied the hands of the county in this administration.

2000
03:18:33,420 --> 03:18:38,620
If this is not approved today, we're going to be sending in Mr. Vincelette for a trial.

2001
03:18:39,140 --> 03:18:42,240
It's not going to be walking into a gunfight with a knife, it's going to be walking

2002
03:18:42,240 --> 03:18:46,780
into a gunfight with your hands tied together, your feet tied together, and the result to

2003
03:18:46,780 --> 03:18:50,520
Isle and Park and Glenwood Landing is certainly going to be more devastating than what we're

2004
03:18:50,520 --> 03:18:56,060
seeing now. So I don't have a lack of compassion. Nobody wants their taxes to increase. But

2005
03:18:56,060 --> 03:19:00,760
the reality is the fate of this situation was decided. I mean, how do you go into

2006
03:19:00,760 --> 03:19:04,820
court where your evidence is worse than the evidence for Leipa?

2007
03:19:06,000 --> 03:19:06,720
Sir, I can't see a question.

2008
03:19:06,720 --> 03:19:10,260
Hold on. How do you expect Mr. Vincellette to go in?

2009
03:19:10,260 --> 03:19:11,440
I can answer your question, sir.

2010
03:19:12,500 --> 03:19:14,560
The answer to your question is every single person

2011
03:19:14,560 --> 03:19:17,100
has known for 10 years the assessments

2012
03:19:17,100 --> 03:19:18,320
are going to be very, very low.

2013
03:19:18,840 --> 03:19:20,200
It's not a secret.

2014
03:19:21,060 --> 03:19:23,960
The assessment that the county put in evidently

2015
03:19:23,960 --> 03:19:25,960
before they left is no secret.

2016
03:19:26,580 --> 03:19:27,220
Everyone knew.

2017
03:19:27,420 --> 03:19:29,920
Every smart person, our county attorney,

2018
03:19:30,260 --> 03:19:32,840
knew that we were under the gun and that the assessments

2019
03:19:32,840 --> 03:19:33,880
were going to come in very low.

2020
03:19:34,280 --> 03:19:35,740
Nothing new happened.

2021
03:19:36,560 --> 03:19:37,840
Nothing new happened.

2022
03:19:38,840 --> 03:19:48,340
you could try to push the blame. I know I understand it's your political strategy to do that, but those of us who have been involved, who know, it's complete nonsense.

2023
03:19:48,500 --> 03:19:52,660
Sir, I talk in reality. The reality is the evidence is going to be put before the jury in court.

2024
03:19:52,940 --> 03:19:53,100
Yes.

2025
03:19:53,540 --> 03:19:59,800
The evidence on behalf of the county in this trial would be worse than the evidence put forth by Leipa for our position.

2026
03:20:00,160 --> 03:20:05,660
I don't know how, as an attorney, I would expect to win a case like that. You're an attorney as well, would you?

2027
03:20:05,660 --> 03:20:10,800
No one expected no one expects to win. Okay. Well, then I think that's why it's a political question

2028
03:20:10,800 --> 03:20:13,260
Look, it's it's about hold on a second

2029
03:20:13,260 --> 03:20:20,020
You came in here and talked about this administration and their lack of having a meeting and you praise the prior administration for having a meeting

2030
03:20:20,020 --> 03:20:24,120
I didn't praise them. I did actually you said you wouldn't know you did okay

2031
03:20:24,120 --> 03:20:28,260
The prior administration is who's tied our hands and has put us in this position today

2032
03:20:28,260 --> 03:20:33,620
So if you if you bothered to go to the meeting that I was at you would know I attacked that administration

2033
03:20:33,620 --> 03:20:39,020
just as much if not more than I attack this administration on the same way okay

2034
03:20:39,020 --> 03:20:43,220
and I met with them privately and I attacked them privately too so it's

2035
03:20:43,220 --> 03:20:47,240
not a political question it's a community it's a community begging to help and

2036
03:20:47,240 --> 03:20:54,560
not getting it. Richard I just want to just two seconds yeah on while I

2037
03:20:54,560 --> 03:20:59,840
understand why we why they are looking to settle this because of the county

2038
03:20:59,840 --> 03:21:02,020
we guarantee, we understand that.

2039
03:21:02,620 --> 03:21:04,900
But yes, the school district, Island Park,

2040
03:21:05,420 --> 03:21:08,240
is gonna suffer more than the other school districts

2041
03:21:08,240 --> 03:21:10,320
and more than any other community, we know that.

2042
03:21:11,020 --> 03:21:13,900
We tried to get whatever way we could get some more money

2043
03:21:13,900 --> 03:21:16,800
to be able to, I think, let me just,

2044
03:21:17,100 --> 03:21:19,840
and we only got this today, so it's not like

2045
03:21:19,840 --> 03:21:20,760
I could have shared it.

2046
03:21:21,500 --> 03:21:25,200
But if I have to take, send something out myself,

2047
03:21:25,700 --> 03:21:28,920
but like based on, and I'm just going by whatever

2048
03:21:28,920 --> 03:21:36,300
of the numbers. Like say currently if somebody is paying in 21-22 if their taxes were 48-27

2049
03:21:37,940 --> 03:21:42,340
at the end of this, by 26-27, based on a...

2050
03:21:44,240 --> 03:21:45,620
Why am I talking about...

2051
03:21:45,620 --> 03:21:51,440
But it would be like say they would end up based on these calculations with a 2% increase

2052
03:21:52,240 --> 03:21:58,700
every year in school taxes, okay? They built this end to show more realistically. It

2053
03:21:58,700 --> 03:22:01,540
it would be somebody would then be paying 75, 49.

2054
03:22:02,260 --> 03:22:03,040
But that's without-

2055
03:22:03,040 --> 03:22:03,580
So almost double.

2056
03:22:04,160 --> 03:22:07,200
Yeah, and that's without, but that is what,

2057
03:22:07,900 --> 03:22:11,060
but even if you didn't, if they didn't remove it,

2058
03:22:11,500 --> 03:22:12,880
but they were saying that they showed

2059
03:22:13,360 --> 03:22:16,840
that with the increases in everything with the pilot,

2060
03:22:17,080 --> 03:22:22,020
I guess, the same amount in 26, 27 would be 5602.

2061
03:22:23,200 --> 03:22:26,840
So it would, you know, so it would be like 775 more.

2062
03:22:26,840 --> 03:22:33,200
And this one would be $2,700 more a year that somebody would be paying in school taxes.

2063
03:22:33,880 --> 03:22:39,520
This does not, this number does not, and we'll try to get better numbers for you, but this

2064
03:22:39,520 --> 03:22:42,340
number does not include state aid, okay?

2065
03:22:42,540 --> 03:22:45,760
So it goes from four to seven, as I already said, with the settlement?

2066
03:22:46,160 --> 03:22:49,720
Yeah, it would go, I'm sorry, I don't have my other glasses on, I apologize.

2067
03:22:50,380 --> 03:22:52,620
So it would be like, say, this is just an example.

2068
03:22:52,820 --> 03:22:52,980
Right.

2069
03:22:53,960 --> 03:23:00,560
4827 it would go up to 7549 with the settlement with the settlement but but

2070
03:23:00,560 --> 03:23:06,880
that being said let's we have to you know we fought Richard we were in every

2071
03:23:06,880 --> 03:23:10,980
kind of weather we fought we fought to get the barret repowered when they were

2072
03:23:10,980 --> 03:23:13,960
looking about repowering that would have been something that would have

2073
03:23:13,960 --> 03:23:18,500
saved the community it wasn't done that was changed now we have to look to

2074
03:23:18,500 --> 03:23:23,920
see, what else can we bring and we will advocate to bring whatever we can to that bar because

2075
03:23:23,920 --> 03:23:28,680
that plant isn't going anywhere. I want it to be cleaned up and I want it to bring in

2076
03:23:28,680 --> 03:23:34,540
so that the assessment will go up and Island Park will have, see, reduction in their property

2077
03:23:34,540 --> 03:23:39,240
taxes that they have to pay because of an increase. We also have to look at commercial

2078
03:23:39,240 --> 03:23:44,500
development. But that being said, you have to realize Mr. Endazo and Dr. Vivino,

2079
03:23:44,500 --> 03:23:49,680
Now, the same both of them said that Island Park School District has always been short

2080
03:23:49,680 --> 03:23:52,080
changed on state aid, always.

2081
03:23:52,620 --> 03:23:53,820
When you, no, no, no.

2082
03:23:54,520 --> 03:23:56,840
It's just more percentage of our tax, of our tax base.

2083
03:23:57,080 --> 03:23:57,220
No.

2084
03:23:57,540 --> 03:24:00,260
Even if you, even if you quite, we'll put it, or it wouldn't make a difference.

2085
03:24:00,320 --> 03:24:03,640
No, state aid or such property taxes, but I'll let you know.

2086
03:24:03,740 --> 03:24:05,060
But we'll be in touch with this.

2087
03:24:05,080 --> 03:24:06,360
We have other speakers.

2088
03:24:06,880 --> 03:24:07,020
Thank you.

2089
03:24:08,240 --> 03:24:11,600
Ms. Koenig, Jessica Koenig from the Island Park Public Library.

2090
03:24:17,700 --> 03:24:18,140
Hi.

2091
03:24:18,140 --> 03:24:24,900
To start out with, if you want, I can actually explain what happens on the tax cap form because

2092
03:24:24,900 --> 03:24:26,060
I do it for the library.

2093
03:24:26,360 --> 03:24:26,480
Yeah.

2094
03:24:26,700 --> 03:24:26,940
Okay.

2095
03:24:27,180 --> 03:24:28,260
So I'm going to give you an example.

2096
03:24:28,860 --> 03:24:36,000
If we collect 1.4 million in taxes of which LIPA is paying something like 650,000.

2097
03:24:36,460 --> 03:24:43,340
But because that's taxes, our 2% that we're permitted to ask for is 28,000.

2098
03:24:43,340 --> 03:24:44,980
Just a straight 2%.

2099
03:24:44,980 --> 03:24:53,080
If that were to turn into a pilot, so if 600,000 was now a pilot, we'd have to subtract that right off the top.

2100
03:24:53,380 --> 03:25:02,400
Make 1.4 million minus 600,000. Now we're only allowed to ask for 2% on 800,000.

2101
03:25:02,760 --> 03:25:08,600
So where we were allowed to ask for 28,000, now 2% is only 16,000.

2102
03:25:08,660 --> 03:25:11,780
So that in a nutshell is the tax cap issue.

2103
03:25:12,600 --> 03:25:21,860
Sure. Okay, so what I wanted to say today is that we want to make sure that the library is included in the settlement.

2104
03:25:22,400 --> 03:25:30,780
We did foil the document, which kindly the County Attorney sent to us right away, and so we could see that the school is listed.

2105
03:25:31,440 --> 03:25:33,800
We are not specifically listed.

2106
03:25:33,800 --> 03:25:41,700
did the school district would need to have instructions of exactly what to forward to

2107
03:25:41,700 --> 03:25:46,240
the library. So if it's your anticipation that the school that we should get a portion

2108
03:25:46,240 --> 03:25:52,360
of that right now, we get approximately 4%. And I'm assuming that that that should continue.

2109
03:25:53,700 --> 03:25:59,740
We get actually from Michelle's office a nice statement that shows what the school

2110
03:25:59,740 --> 03:26:05,400
gets and what the library gets and so we're hopeful that even or I mean not even just hopeful

2111
03:26:05,400 --> 03:26:10,260
we really need it to continue to be that way with the direct assessment the same as it

2112
03:26:10,260 --> 03:26:14,800
is with the pilot. That there's a statement that the school gets every year that shows

2113
03:26:14,800 --> 03:26:19,640
what they have to forward to us. We're not allowed to collect our own taxes. Everything

2114
03:26:19,640 --> 03:26:24,000
goes through the school district and comes to us. So that was the first thing I wanted

2115
03:26:24,000 --> 03:26:30,740
to mention. You know, for us, it really would be great if we could be included in one of

2116
03:26:30,740 --> 03:26:37,020
these one-time payments. Everybody is understanding that the school district needs it. The library

2117
03:26:37,020 --> 03:26:42,280
needs it, too. We're very small. We're one of the smallest libraries in the county.

2118
03:26:42,680 --> 03:26:49,080
Our budget is too small for us to have reasonably extended taxpayer money to take

2119
03:26:49,080 --> 03:26:54,620
on litigation, so we didn't. We understand why school districts have received most of

2120
03:26:54,620 --> 03:26:58,920
the media attention in these disputes and libraries have been kind of lost in the shuffle.

2121
03:26:59,400 --> 03:27:04,380
As you know, libraries serve all members of the community. If there were some kind of payment

2122
03:27:04,380 --> 03:27:09,360
that would come our way, it would go a long way and the library libraries are very efficient.

2123
03:27:09,720 --> 03:27:14,600
I also thought it would give some good PR to Lypa and they could certainly use it.

2124
03:27:15,720 --> 03:27:24,320
Our library has stood the test of time. We were one of the few libraries that was very, very impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

2125
03:27:24,920 --> 03:27:29,840
It took us nine months to come back, and as you know, our community is coming back from it.

2126
03:27:30,600 --> 03:27:40,500
I think the other thing that was mentioned on April 11th is that it would be that some monetary relief should come to all of us from the state.

2127
03:27:40,500 --> 03:27:47,860
and we are interested in that too, and we may be coming to you again for some support in that kind of endeavor going forward.

2128
03:27:48,380 --> 03:27:57,520
We do feel a bit in the library like we're collateral damage that we're a small entity among much larger entities with larger concerns.

2129
03:27:57,700 --> 03:28:03,480
We of course understand why the settlement is happening, but we're just asking for your help. Thank you.

2130
03:28:03,480 --> 03:28:09,560
I have one quick question for you. Any discussions between the library and the school district

2131
03:28:09,560 --> 03:28:15,460
about sharing any of the payment that the library is going to be making to the school

2132
03:28:15,460 --> 03:28:15,700
district?

2133
03:28:16,400 --> 03:28:24,160
There hasn't been discussion about that. I'm sure we could try, but there are much larger

2134
03:28:24,160 --> 03:28:24,980
entities.

2135
03:28:25,180 --> 03:28:25,500
I got you.

2136
03:28:25,860 --> 03:28:26,100
Thanks.

2137
03:28:30,640 --> 03:28:32,100
Michelle, I

2138
03:28:35,680 --> 03:28:40,800
know you've been so kind in the past in providing the information for Mrs.

2139
03:28:40,960 --> 03:28:46,320
Connick to be able to send the bill to the school so that they could get their payment.

2140
03:28:47,100 --> 03:28:51,840
Under this direct assessment formula, will you still be able to do that for them?

2141
03:28:54,110 --> 03:28:58,370
The receiver of taxes is going to be actually receiving that direct assessment because

2142
03:28:58,370 --> 03:29:01,430
it's going to be part of the tax warrant, so they're going to be sending out a bill.

2143
03:29:01,610 --> 03:29:04,510
They're also going to be collecting that money and they disperse it to the school

2144
03:29:04,510 --> 03:29:07,870
district. It's the school district's responsibility to disperse it back to the library.

2145
03:29:08,310 --> 03:29:13,230
So there is no, you know, because I know like, I think on my school tax in Long Beach

2146
03:29:13,230 --> 03:29:19,230
there's like a school board and a line out. Is there a line item, I had to check with

2147
03:29:19,230 --> 03:29:23,030
Janine Driscoll, right, to find out if there's a line item on the bill so that they know?

2148
03:29:23,890 --> 03:29:28,130
I don't know that the mechanics of that have been worked out as far as creating

2149
03:29:28,130 --> 03:29:31,590
a two line item for the direct assessment. That's something that we could absolutely

2150
03:29:31,590 --> 03:29:37,790
Can you look into that and then that will save Jessica a lot of headache and trying to run after somebody to pay her

2151
03:29:37,790 --> 03:29:42,190
So, you know, you know, we try to you know, you're gonna take a hit

2152
03:29:42,190 --> 03:29:47,610
You know, we're gonna try to work with you Jessica because you know you are a very important library. I've been there

2153
03:29:47,610 --> 03:29:50,750
So I thank you very much. I

2154
03:29:50,750 --> 03:29:51,270
Have a question

2155
03:30:04,600 --> 03:30:12,340
It should be baked into the item that the school district is responsible for paying to

2156
03:30:12,340 --> 03:30:13,020
the library.

2157
03:30:15,660 --> 03:30:19,860
That's actually the only thing we, that's before us, is the settlement between

2158
03:30:19,860 --> 03:30:24,560
the county and the library as to the assessed values and the settlement of the lawsuit. So

2159
03:30:24,560 --> 03:30:32,320
So the school districts are settling their separate lawsuits and receiving the monies

2160
03:30:32,320 --> 03:30:33,620
that the LIPA is going to pay them.

2161
03:30:33,680 --> 03:30:35,780
That's a separate lawsuit so we can't make any.

2162
03:30:36,000 --> 03:30:36,420
Right.

2163
03:30:37,160 --> 03:30:42,880
That's saying that we, the body should do that, but we should have made sure that

2164
03:30:42,880 --> 03:30:48,140
that was part of the agreement with LIPA to make sure that all parties were made home.

2165
03:30:48,880 --> 03:30:49,060
No.

2166
03:30:49,740 --> 03:30:53,540
Actually, I did reach out to LIPA and on the county.

2167
03:30:53,540 --> 03:31:01,700
library, and because we do not directly fund schools or libraries, and Leipa said that they're

2168
03:31:01,700 --> 03:31:08,180
the issue that they have, the school district took an action against Leipa. The library

2169
03:31:08,180 --> 03:31:15,580
did not. So that's why I couldn't get a separate payment from Leipa to the Island

2170
03:31:15,580 --> 03:31:21,160
Park Library. I already looked into that, but we'll try whatever we have.

2171
03:31:21,160 --> 03:31:26,440
anything from the school saying that we know that would be up to the school the

2172
03:31:26,440 --> 03:31:31,180
school is the one that had took the action against Leipa so you know I will

2173
03:31:31,180 --> 03:31:34,720
mention it to the school district in the hopes that they'll take us a portion but

2174
03:31:34,720 --> 03:31:38,900
I cannot compel them to share any of the money that they get with this the

2175
03:31:38,900 --> 03:31:44,880
library that's it's a I know it's that's that's the problem yeah the

2176
03:31:44,880 --> 03:31:47,420
huge problem hit us. Councilman Di Esposito.

2177
03:31:53,400 --> 03:31:54,540
Thank you very much and good

2178
03:31:54,540 --> 03:31:56,580
Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for having me.

2179
03:31:58,840 --> 03:32:06,980
I think today there's an opportunity for the legislature to table this item. It seems

2180
03:32:06,980 --> 03:32:14,880
that there's been questions coming from the dais that are not being answered. There's

2181
03:32:14,880 --> 03:32:20,340
no specific numbers. There seems to be a lot of answers saying we'll look into that and

2182
03:32:20,340 --> 03:32:26,800
will get you the legislature the information when we can. Today is the vote and today's

2183
03:32:26,800 --> 03:32:35,290
vote I understand comes as you need to make sure that you look out for the county and

2184
03:32:35,290 --> 03:32:42,000
you have a fiduciary responsibility to do that. But I think there's also an opportunity

2185
03:32:43,400 --> 03:32:51,160
to hold off a little bit. And I'm not saying months, I'm not saying years. But if we

2186
03:32:51,160 --> 03:32:58,340
go back, or the county goes back into the courtroom when this trial is planned and asks

2187
03:32:58,340 --> 03:33:05,460
for an adjournment. I really do not see a judge saying no. There's been more action in

2188
03:33:05,460 --> 03:33:11,240
this case over the last month and a half than we've probably seen in the last decade.

2189
03:33:12,660 --> 03:33:17,900
We should ask for an adjournment until our argument, the argument of the town of Hempstead,

2190
03:33:17,900 --> 03:33:23,260
the argument of the village of Island Park as to whether Leipa had the authority to bring

2191
03:33:23,260 --> 03:33:28,440
such a lawsuit absent permission from the PAC-B board.

2192
03:33:30,120 --> 03:33:32,320
We've mentioned the glide path a few times.

2193
03:33:33,600 --> 03:33:34,880
This is not a glide path.

2194
03:33:35,600 --> 03:33:38,880
It's literally driving a jeep off of a cliff.

2195
03:33:41,390 --> 03:33:45,830
We also need more time, and again, I'm not asking for months and I'm not asking

2196
03:33:45,830 --> 03:33:52,510
for years because I understand that each one of you have a responsibility to all 1.4 million

2197
03:33:52,510 --> 03:33:57,430
residents of this county. And it's not all about Island Park and it's not all about Glen

2198
03:33:57,430 --> 03:34:04,960
Wood Landing. But we need some time, and we need help. We need help from everyone on

2199
03:34:04,960 --> 03:34:09,880
this dais, whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, to put pressure on the state

2200
03:34:09,880 --> 03:34:15,680
of New York so that they can find funding to fill in the gaps that are going to

2201
03:34:15,680 --> 03:34:17,640
crush our school district.

2202
03:34:21,320 --> 03:34:25,760
When you're all voting today, I'm asking you to do one thing.

2203
03:34:27,300 --> 03:34:33,840
When you're voting, vote as if this was the community that you grew up in.

2204
03:34:34,340 --> 03:34:40,920
Vote as if this was the community that you raised your children in. That this is the place

2205
03:34:41,700 --> 03:34:47,880
where they play Little League or soccer or lacrosse. This is the place that you're proud

2206
03:34:47,880 --> 03:34:48,600
to call home.

2207
03:34:51,260 --> 03:34:57,660
And think about tabling the item until we can have a conversation with

2208
03:34:57,660 --> 03:35:04,800
the judge in the case and ask for an adjournment. There is more to be done. We've moved the

2209
03:35:04,800 --> 03:35:11,360
needle over the last month and a half, going from a $3.5 million one-time payment to magically

2210
03:35:11,360 --> 03:35:18,160
appearing $9 million from Leipa to the school district. $9 million to a school district

2211
03:35:18,160 --> 03:35:23,780
that's going to be devastated, but have made the front page of Newsday twice in the last

2212
03:35:23,780 --> 03:35:30,060
seven days for paying executives far over a million dollars who don't even live on Long

2213
03:35:30,060 --> 03:35:36,840
Island. Yes, nine million dollars is a lot of money to all of us, but to lipa, it's

2214
03:35:36,840 --> 03:35:44,810
not. And Mr. Presiding Officer, your comments in the beginning of session talking about

2215
03:35:44,810 --> 03:35:51,750
about NYFA sounds eerily similar to LIPA. As a matter of fact, I don't think anybody

2216
03:35:51,750 --> 03:36:01,200
from LIPA is even here today, which speaks volumes. It speaks the same volumes that when

2217
03:36:01,200 --> 03:36:10,000
we did have the community meeting just before COVID, they literally sat on stage with no

2218
03:36:10,000 --> 03:36:18,240
motion as resident after resident asked how they would keep their local business open.

2219
03:36:19,380 --> 03:36:24,140
How they would continue to live in the home that they bought from their parents who bought

2220
03:36:24,140 --> 03:36:29,320
from their grandparents so they can continue to raise their kids in the village or the

2221
03:36:29,320 --> 03:36:30,360
community of Island Park.

2222
03:36:32,250 --> 03:36:37,130
So ladies and gentlemen, I'm simply asking today to hold off.

2223
03:36:37,850 --> 03:36:45,450
We have more to be done, and we've made significant movement over the last month and a half.

2224
03:36:46,370 --> 03:36:49,930
Give us the time to make the difference, and that's all I could ask.

2225
03:36:50,210 --> 03:36:51,230
Thank you very much for the time.

2226
03:36:53,840 --> 03:36:56,280
Thank you, Councilman. Senator Aldermato.

2227
03:37:04,610 --> 03:37:06,950
Mr. Chairman, members of the Board,

2228
03:37:09,040 --> 03:37:17,420
I will try notwithstanding that I have been known to filibuster once in a while.

2229
03:37:17,420 --> 03:37:23,020
in my old days in the Senate, and it's hard to break old habits.

2230
03:37:24,240 --> 03:37:33,120
Let me commend the Board for taking the time to courteously pay attention to those who have spoken

2231
03:37:33,120 --> 03:37:40,600
and raised their concerns with respect to the proposed settlement.

2232
03:37:41,420 --> 03:37:48,280
Let me first say, I don't know how many of you may be aware, the Village of Island Park

2233
03:37:48,280 --> 03:37:59,120
and the town of Hampstead are granted an order that gives us the opportunity, hopefully,

2234
03:37:59,120 --> 03:38:04,160
to participate in the litigation that is underway.

2235
03:38:04,160 --> 03:38:18,080
I support Councilman Espositos, the Espositos request, to adjourn this, not for a month, not

2236
03:38:18,080 --> 03:38:29,300
for a year, but for several weeks, because there will be a hearing conducted by Judge

2237
03:38:29,300 --> 03:38:39,460
Vito de Stefano, who I believe is the presiding judge in Nassau County, and who this matter

2238
03:38:40,160 --> 03:38:44,300
with Leipa and the county is in front of.

2239
03:38:47,930 --> 03:38:56,070
Larry Kelly and I are proceeding in my very seldom of undertaking anything since I left

2240
03:38:56,070 --> 03:39:02,530
the Congress pro bono, but in this case, it's totally pro bono.

2241
03:39:03,210 --> 03:39:09,230
On behalf of our community, Anthony mentioned that

2242
03:39:12,050 --> 03:39:15,190
the so-called glide path was anything

2243
03:39:15,190 --> 03:39:15,910
but that.

2244
03:39:17,980 --> 03:39:29,750
Imagine your taxes going from $4,500 a year to approximately $9,000.

2245
03:39:29,750 --> 03:39:37,330
And by the way, oh, we're giving you a glide path of five years.

2246
03:39:38,430 --> 03:39:44,190
So we'll only be raising your taxes just on the basis of that, and no other increased

2247
03:39:44,190 --> 03:39:47,890
expenditures, almost a thousand dollars a year.

2248
03:39:48,690 --> 03:39:50,890
Do you really think that's a glide path?

2249
03:39:52,010 --> 03:39:55,230
What do you think it does to the value of homes?

2250
03:39:56,010 --> 03:40:00,610
What does it do to the prospects of the community?

2251
03:40:01,410 --> 03:40:03,130
It is death and destruction.

2252
03:40:04,030 --> 03:40:11,490
And if you look at the lost income, nine million, they lose more than nine million a year.

2253
03:40:12,410 --> 03:40:16,190
And they're talking about, oh, we're going to give you a glide path of nine million.

2254
03:40:16,850 --> 03:40:18,470
Come on, wake up.

2255
03:40:19,610 --> 03:40:21,590
Anthony gave you one example.

2256
03:40:22,350 --> 03:40:29,570
The Lypa officials. You've got a guy who heads Lypa who cares about himself, building an empire.

2257
03:40:30,630 --> 03:40:37,070
Four officials getting paid as much as 325,000 a year. All of them live out of state.

2258
03:40:37,690 --> 03:40:45,470
Oh, but they got two of them, got addresses in Uniondale within the past three or four weeks since it was exposed.

2259
03:40:45,470 --> 03:40:53,370
It's probably both of them, two women at Marriott, renting a room there, supposedly.

2260
03:40:55,900 --> 03:41:01,200
This is running our utility, and we're standing by.

2261
03:41:02,740 --> 03:41:10,320
I spoke to the governor about this incredible ridiculous board, and his libel wanting to

2262
03:41:10,320 --> 03:41:11,240
grab everything.

2263
03:41:12,400 --> 03:41:20,380
And by the way, our lawsuit is not predicated on something that's rather important.

2264
03:41:21,260 --> 03:41:22,840
I don't want to bring it to you.

2265
03:41:24,060 --> 03:41:28,060
There never would have been a liper.

2266
03:41:29,280 --> 03:41:37,300
We never would have had this situation had there not been a promise made by the former

2267
03:41:37,300 --> 03:41:47,240
a governor, George Pataki, and made by the once-head of Leipa at the time, Richard Kessel,

2268
03:41:48,040 --> 03:41:58,610
and both of them promised at various organizational meetings that they would never permit the reduction

2269
03:41:58,610 --> 03:42:02,970
of the tax payments from the generating facilities.

2270
03:42:02,970 --> 03:42:11,750
They would not have any certioraries unless the local communities did something that would

2271
03:42:11,750 --> 03:42:13,190
occasion them to do that.

2272
03:42:13,430 --> 03:42:16,930
For example, try to curtail their activities, etc.

2273
03:42:17,790 --> 03:42:19,490
And none of the communities did that.

2274
03:42:20,810 --> 03:42:25,110
Let's talk about the life of Power Plant in Isle and Park, Barry.

2275
03:42:25,830 --> 03:42:28,550
It operates at 39 percent capacity.

2276
03:42:28,630 --> 03:42:31,150
It serves over 300,000 homes.

2277
03:42:31,150 --> 03:42:38,030
It has been a polluter since I was a kid and moved there quite a few years ago.

2278
03:42:39,920 --> 03:42:40,940
By the way,

2279
03:42:43,210 --> 03:42:47,430
the coverage that Newsday gives is not always very accurate.

2280
03:42:48,210 --> 03:42:49,530
I'm not 88.

2281
03:42:50,990 --> 03:42:52,110
I'm not 86.

2282
03:42:52,910 --> 03:42:59,050
I'm 84, and I feel good, and I'm happy to be in front of you.

2283
03:42:59,270 --> 03:43:01,630
But I'm not happy with these circumstances.

2284
03:43:01,630 --> 03:43:10,910
And let me say this to you, I understand the counties wanting to get rid of this potential

2285
03:43:10,910 --> 03:43:11,850
calamity.

2286
03:43:12,070 --> 03:43:12,630
I do.

2287
03:43:13,950 --> 03:43:19,810
Oh, my God, let's let the judge hear our motions in person.

2288
03:43:21,560 --> 03:43:29,370
We're talking about May 13th when the answers have to begin, and we're talking, I believe,

2289
03:43:29,370 --> 03:43:37,560
to 25th when the case begins. And I want to tell you something. We have a good case, because

2290
03:43:37,560 --> 03:43:45,900
Leipa had started to deceive the people not just when Falcone got there, but his predecessors

2291
03:43:46,760 --> 03:43:55,380
blazed a path of corruption, of lying, of thumbing their nose at the courts.

2292
03:44:01,220 --> 03:44:01,700
Let me

2293
03:44:01,700 --> 03:44:14,140
refer to a certain judge who comes from the North Shore up in your area and was

2294
03:44:14,140 --> 03:44:21,320
Judge Dana Winslow. Did you ever hear that name? Did any of you ever hear that

2295
03:44:21,320 --> 03:44:27,040
Dana Winslow made an order? And let me tell you what it was about.

2296
03:44:28,380 --> 03:44:31,340
Riper wanted to come in and make this acquisition.

2297
03:44:33,120 --> 03:44:37,980
Judge Winslow said, wait a minute, you can't do that.

2298
03:44:40,480 --> 03:44:42,660
This is a contract over a million dollars.

2299
03:44:43,420 --> 03:44:46,000
You have to go to the PACB board.

2300
03:44:48,300 --> 03:44:49,300
That's what they did.

2301
03:44:50,540 --> 03:44:52,840
They discontinued that purchase.

2302
03:44:54,200 --> 03:44:55,900
They didn't appeal the order.

2303
03:44:55,900 --> 03:44:59,560
that is still the order of the day.

2304
03:45:00,340 --> 03:45:10,520
And it is the law. They have broken the law since that decision in 1999.

2305
03:45:11,940 --> 03:45:15,520
It's a Brentcourt decision by Judge Winslow.

2306
03:45:17,020 --> 03:45:20,700
They have not submitted any of their contracts.

2307
03:45:20,700 --> 03:45:26,180
And, you know, the Katniss facility, how it came about?

2308
03:45:28,220 --> 03:45:37,760
It came about so that they could purchase offshore power that was produced cheaper, not using

2309
03:45:37,760 --> 03:45:44,040
the plant up in the North Shore, reducing utilization of the plant in Island Park.

2310
03:45:44,900 --> 03:45:49,060
How did we create, or did any of those plants create their problem?

2311
03:45:49,260 --> 03:45:49,420
No.

2312
03:45:49,800 --> 03:45:50,740
They wanted more money.

2313
03:45:50,740 --> 03:45:57,460
And by the way, none of those contracts went before the PAC Board.

2314
03:45:58,160 --> 03:45:58,760
None of them.

2315
03:45:59,720 --> 03:46:01,960
We have a moral issue here.

2316
03:46:02,680 --> 03:46:05,940
The governor and the head of light were both with impromise.

2317
03:46:06,400 --> 03:46:07,300
Oh, it wasn't written.

2318
03:46:08,180 --> 03:46:10,260
So now we're going to get to that.

2319
03:46:10,920 --> 03:46:12,200
What's morally right?

2320
03:46:13,600 --> 03:46:14,380
What's right?

2321
03:46:15,340 --> 03:46:18,200
We can let them disregard and we can say,

2322
03:46:18,200 --> 03:46:23,620
we looked the other way. And the counties afraid they're going to get crushed. I don't blame

2323
03:46:23,620 --> 03:46:29,700
you for being concerned. Not at all. I don't blame the present county objective. He inherited

2324
03:46:29,700 --> 03:46:37,660
the situation. It's been going on for years. And nobody stood up, including the governor.

2325
03:46:38,540 --> 03:46:46,740
I brought this to her attention, and she hasn't done a damn thing. Nothing for the

2326
03:46:46,740 --> 03:46:54,180
taxpayers of Long Island, Suffolk County, Nassau County, we want to build an empire. Yes. Build

2327
03:46:54,180 --> 03:47:01,200
an empire for Lyper. And you guys vote to continue this. You know what you do? You just

2328
03:47:01,200 --> 03:47:10,080
strengthen Falcone. His blackmailed us. Nine million dollars. That is an even half of one

2329
03:47:10,080 --> 03:47:16,640
year, what Island Park would lose. And we're supposed to say, Oh, thank you. Thank you.

2330
03:47:17,040 --> 03:47:25,840
Shove it. That's what I say. What are you kidding? Now, if you can't grant us two weeks

2331
03:47:25,840 --> 03:47:31,400
or three weeks, let Lyper know that they're going to be in for a battle. Let that court

2332
03:47:31,400 --> 03:47:38,860
hearing be held on the 13th. Let us participate and see what the judge says. Because I'm

2333
03:47:38,860 --> 03:47:47,420
I'm telling you, I think they have a very good chance to say all of the things you have

2334
03:47:47,420 --> 03:47:54,360
done like it without the PAC Board permission or illegal void, have an issue.

2335
03:47:55,720 --> 03:47:58,780
They don't want that argument to be raised.

2336
03:47:59,300 --> 03:48:00,460
Nobody's raised it.

2337
03:48:01,100 --> 03:48:07,860
We put it in our preliminary papers, the judge just signed the order, I just got

2338
03:48:07,860 --> 03:48:16,200
it last night, which gives us the ability to be heard. The opposition said,

2339
03:48:16,240 --> 03:48:23,000
apologize. Are we going to win? Will we be heard? I think we will be if you give us

2340
03:48:23,000 --> 03:48:28,680
the time. Don't preclude us by saying, oh, there's a settlement, because I'll

2341
03:48:28,680 --> 03:48:31,040
tell you the first thing that wiper will do,

2342
03:48:33,920 --> 03:48:35,600
then he's listening to me.

2343
03:48:37,020 --> 03:48:44,200
Okay. First thing they'll do is say, the county settled, there's no lawsuit for Island Park

2344
03:48:44,200 --> 03:48:50,580
or the town hem said toward to come into. We won't get the opportunity to put before the

2345
03:48:50,580 --> 03:48:57,500
court what Judge Winslow said. We won't get the opportunity to save all of us. I don't

2346
03:48:57,500 --> 03:49:03,880
want the county to pay a lot of money, but you will be destroying Island Park. A bunch

2347
03:49:06,200 --> 03:49:11,120
You're paying $4,500 a year in school taxes on your house.

2348
03:49:11,600 --> 03:49:15,840
You're one of the lowest working income communities in all of Long Island.

2349
03:49:16,460 --> 03:49:18,760
And your taxes go up to $9,000?

2350
03:49:20,800 --> 03:49:22,160
You think that's a glide path?

2351
03:49:22,700 --> 03:49:24,260
I ask each and every one of you.

2352
03:49:25,460 --> 03:49:28,720
I'm not telling you to derail the settlement.

2353
03:49:29,480 --> 03:49:32,380
I'm telling you to give us an opportunity to be heard.

2354
03:49:33,320 --> 03:49:39,320
put that pressure on Leipa on that piece of crap who goes and hires a million

2355
03:49:39,320 --> 03:49:43,080
dollars worth of people and they're going to tell us what to do and not one

2356
03:49:43,080 --> 03:49:50,740
of them lived in Long Island. He's an arrogant SOB, arrogant and he's a liar

2357
03:49:51,380 --> 03:49:57,480
estranged to the truth. Two years ago he promised me we're gonna build a gas

2358
03:49:57,480 --> 03:50:03,760
facility, an island park, it will reduce because it will increase your assessed valuation.

2359
03:50:06,010 --> 03:50:08,050
Put it off, he said, for three months.

2360
03:50:08,830 --> 03:50:10,550
Comes in again with his assistant.

2361
03:50:11,430 --> 03:50:15,950
Well, we'll put it in the beginning, nothing.

2362
03:50:16,890 --> 03:50:19,130
And now he's got nerve.

2363
03:50:19,830 --> 03:50:20,650
You know what he's done?

2364
03:50:21,530 --> 03:50:30,050
you sent word to the what is that board that that reduces when you put build

2365
03:50:30,050 --> 03:50:38,130
something your IDA one of the town IDA to know if they could apply to the town

2366
03:50:38,130 --> 03:50:45,790
IDA he tried to get some changes in their administrative code about four

2367
03:50:45,790 --> 03:50:54,850
months ago. And I found out this is a conniver. He doesn't work for the benefit of the people.

2368
03:50:55,730 --> 03:51:03,030
He is hurting the taxpayers of Long Island. He runs an empire that he wants bigger. And

2369
03:51:03,030 --> 03:51:11,110
he wants to run all of the electricity here. Him. Number one, Leipa. Take it away from

2370
03:51:11,110 --> 03:51:17,370
the private sector will do better. If he does better, and that's an example of hiring

2371
03:51:17,370 --> 03:51:23,510
four out-of-state people, paying them over a million dollars a year, not one of them

2372
03:51:23,510 --> 03:51:31,490
living here, that is incredible. And the governor should do something. Wake up,

2373
03:51:31,590 --> 03:51:37,990
Hocal, but more importantly, here at home. I'm asking you to do the right thing.

2374
03:51:37,990 --> 03:51:44,910
put this over for three weeks. Put it over. Let Leipa know that you just don't march to

2375
03:51:44,910 --> 03:51:47,510
their drum, that we follow the law.

2376
03:51:49,620 --> 03:51:54,380
Let the judge take a look at our arguments. Let them

2377
03:51:54,380 --> 03:52:03,120
hear our arguments and decide. Because I'll tell you this, if we win, the county wins.

2378
03:52:04,220 --> 03:52:04,980
Thank you.

2379
03:52:06,960 --> 03:52:07,940
You have any questions?

2380
03:52:08,580 --> 03:52:09,820
I wouldn't if I were you.

2381
03:52:14,390 --> 03:52:19,810
I'll give you for the record the judge's decision with respect to the...

2382
03:52:19,810 --> 03:52:21,390
Well, we can ask when we get back out.

2383
03:52:21,490 --> 03:52:22,110
Five minutes, please, sir.

2384
03:52:22,910 --> 03:52:23,190
Okay.

2385
03:52:24,270 --> 03:52:27,470
Do you want this the order of the court?

2386
03:52:27,950 --> 03:52:28,630
Wait a minute.

2387
03:52:29,030 --> 03:52:29,370
Sit down.

2388
03:52:29,930 --> 03:52:30,810
Sit down.

2389
03:52:31,490 --> 03:52:33,290
I didn't get up when you were talking.

2390
03:52:33,290 --> 03:52:33,390
Thank you.

2391
04:08:07,600 --> 04:08:08,440
Legislative forward.

2392
04:08:09,760 --> 04:08:14,720
Presiding officer, I ask that we table this item to the future date.

2393
04:08:15,260 --> 04:08:19,000
We have a second part of the Legislative.

2394
04:08:19,080 --> 04:08:21,320
There is a written, there's no debate on the motion to the table.

2395
04:08:21,440 --> 04:08:22,980
All in favor, signify by saying aye.

2396
04:08:23,940 --> 04:08:28,000
An aye vote is to table, opposed.

2397
04:08:29,440 --> 04:08:32,080
The motion table fails by a vote of 10 to 8.

2398
04:08:32,800 --> 04:08:34,540
All right, so before we have a vote on the item,

2399
04:08:34,620 --> 04:08:37,060
if any legislator wants to speak and have a statement,

2400
04:08:42,480 --> 04:08:47,900
I didn't know about the motion to table until it came out to the floor, so it's unfortunate

2401
04:08:47,900 --> 04:08:49,800
that that actually failed.

2402
04:08:50,640 --> 04:08:55,420
But I just want to bring this back home because what I've heard from residents over the last

2403
04:08:55,420 --> 04:09:00,040
several weeks since it's been considered has been something that's been more simplified.

2404
04:09:02,760 --> 04:09:07,180
When we're talking about settling a case with Lypa, and I understand the ramifications

2405
04:09:07,180 --> 04:09:15,580
as it pertains to what the county exposure is, and I don't put all the fault on County Executive

2406
04:09:15,580 --> 04:09:20,500
Blateman, nor do I put all the fault on County Executive Curran. I put some on both administrations.

2407
04:09:22,040 --> 04:09:27,620
That being said, let's just simplify this in terms of who we're talking about. Are we talking

2408
04:09:27,620 --> 04:09:33,940
about the same lipa that has had poor and shoddy service for the last 20-some odd years

2409
04:09:33,940 --> 04:09:39,240
that I experienced through my residence in Baldwin in Unendale and Roosevelt during Super

2410
04:09:39,240 --> 04:09:44,820
Storm Sandy had power for no, for periods of weeks. Are we talking about the same lipa

2411
04:09:44,820 --> 04:09:52,680
that has raised rates to astronomical numbers for decades before PSC and G came into power?

2412
04:09:53,000 --> 04:09:57,960
And now what we're doing is the proverbial, while I have you down, I'm going to kick

2413
04:09:57,960 --> 04:10:02,420
you in your teeth by saying to residents, not just in Island Park and up in the North

2414
04:10:02,420 --> 04:10:07,240
sure that we're going to say to them today that even though they did all this stuff to

2415
04:10:07,240 --> 04:10:11,260
you, that they provided poor service to you for the last two years, they don't even have

2416
04:10:11,260 --> 04:10:15,580
the respect to be here today, and on top of it they raised your rates, we're going

2417
04:10:15,580 --> 04:10:20,420
to say to you today that we're going to pass a settlement that, one, because it's

2418
04:10:20,420 --> 04:10:24,240
in the best interest of the county, and then two, that takes them off the hook.

2419
04:10:24,760 --> 04:10:33,440
So, I truly have a problem with us protecting Lypa, and I think that's the most egregious

2420
04:10:33,440 --> 04:10:37,660
matter that we can talk about today, because ratepayers in Nassau County have been getting

2421
04:10:37,660 --> 04:10:42,180
kicked in the face by Lypa's rates for decades.

2422
04:10:42,920 --> 04:10:47,300
I don't think anyone in this room, if I asked you, who here likes Lypa, no one's

2423
04:10:47,300 --> 04:10:50,760
going to raise a hand, but I think that speaks to all our public utilities.

2424
04:10:50,760 --> 04:10:57,520
All of our public utilities are despicable, and there's very little accountability from

2425
04:10:57,520 --> 04:11:03,700
the water districts to the public utilities in terms of LIPA, Verizon, whoever, Altis.

2426
04:11:04,760 --> 04:11:09,160
Each and every one of them have very little accountability to their ratepayers.

2427
04:11:09,660 --> 04:11:12,800
And we've all seen our rates go up and up and up.

2428
04:11:13,320 --> 04:11:17,720
I remember during SuperSong Sandy, I had residents that were without power for two

2429
04:11:17,720 --> 04:11:18,520
or three weeks.

2430
04:11:18,520 --> 04:11:23,280
some of them lost income because of that. Where does that settlement help them with this?

2431
04:11:24,000 --> 04:11:29,520
They're getting off the hook. This settlement is a sweetheart deal for them.

2432
04:11:29,740 --> 04:11:32,680
And I'm not casting aspersions on County Executive Blakeman.

2433
04:11:33,060 --> 04:11:35,620
And I'm not casting aspersions on County's over Kirkland.

2434
04:11:35,680 --> 04:11:38,180
I said it's a shared responsibility on why we're here today.

2435
04:11:39,140 --> 04:11:44,600
But ultimately, that guy that lost his power for several weeks,

2436
04:11:44,600 --> 04:11:50,520
who helped him pay for his mortgage when his power was out and he probably had to lose his

2437
04:11:50,520 --> 04:11:56,220
job because he had to watch his kids or who helped that business owner in in in in Union

2438
04:11:56,220 --> 04:12:00,000
Della Roosevelt when they couldn't operate their business they lost revenue for that period

2439
04:12:00,000 --> 04:12:06,460
of time. I bring that up because we're talking about the same entity today. It's not some

2440
04:12:06,460 --> 04:12:10,400
other phantom entity we're talking about we're talking about the same guys that

2441
04:12:10,400 --> 04:12:18,500
have hurt our residents for decades. And the best we can do is a sliding scale to the future.

2442
04:12:20,850 --> 04:12:25,830
I just feel like that is, and I understand the county executive's position in regards

2443
04:12:25,830 --> 04:12:30,330
to this, but I just feel like that's the wrong message to send to our residents, residents

2444
04:12:30,330 --> 04:12:35,830
that have paid and endured high rates from this public utility for decades. And if

2445
04:12:35,830 --> 04:12:40,610
you're a homeowner or a rate payer in this county, you understand that LIPA has hurt

2446
04:12:40,610 --> 04:12:47,370
you for two years, for two decades, if not more. And the bottom line is we should be doing

2447
04:12:47,370 --> 04:12:54,330
more as the governing watchdogs for not just the county, we want to make sure the counties

2448
04:12:54,330 --> 04:13:01,230
hold, of course, but for the people that put us here, great payers, homeowners, they deserve

2449
04:13:01,230 --> 04:13:07,030
better. And this settlement does not do that for them. So we are going to vote no today,

2450
04:13:08,010 --> 04:13:12,410
mainly for the reasons that I indicated before but also because it does not do

2451
04:13:12,410 --> 04:13:19,210
enough. We are not doing enough in this settlement and if we need to sit back and

2452
04:13:19,210 --> 04:13:24,630
get more time, I heard from Senator D'Amato on regard to this matter, I

2453
04:13:25,370 --> 04:13:31,390
rather go the full length to the 11th hour before I give this utility which

2454
04:13:31,390 --> 04:13:36,910
has been shameful in his actions, have raised rates, shoddy service, some type

2455
04:13:36,910 --> 04:13:41,890
a deal that they think is fair. If anything, they should be paying our rate payers back

2456
04:13:41,890 --> 04:13:47,470
something. Who's thinking about them today? Who's thinking about our homeowners today?

2457
04:13:57,680 --> 04:14:04,200
I, too, will be voting no on this settlement because I believe that the Island Park School

2458
04:14:04,200 --> 04:14:11,160
District as well as Oceanside needs to be protected even more so. You know, the way

2459
04:14:11,160 --> 04:14:17,020
that it was a blanket reduction in assessment, regardless of the school district. They had

2460
04:14:17,420 --> 04:14:24,280
a power plant and not a power plant, I think has proven to be unfair to Island Park because

2461
04:14:24,280 --> 04:14:31,320
I think that maybe if Glenwood Landing went lower, we could have kept a higher assessment

2462
04:14:31,320 --> 04:14:33,740
on the Island Park School District.

2463
04:14:36,120 --> 04:14:39,040
I understand why the county is doing this. You know,

2464
04:14:39,040 --> 04:14:43,200
and I think that I may not agree with it, but I do understand why they're doing this.

2465
04:14:43,780 --> 04:14:48,460
When you look at an $800 million liability, and according to our Office of Independent

2466
04:14:48,460 --> 04:14:54,340
Budget Review, the exposure for all of the residents in Nassau County could be about $90

2467
04:14:54,340 --> 04:14:55,380
million a year.

2468
04:14:55,380 --> 04:14:59,980
So, everybody else and the other people in the rest of the world.

2469
04:15:00,000 --> 04:15:02,300
Most of my district would have to absorb that cost.

2470
04:15:04,240 --> 04:15:10,180
You know, we need to go after our state representatives and our governor.

2471
04:15:11,360 --> 04:15:17,680
You know, legislative minority leader, I should say, Abraham did mention these public utilities,

2472
04:15:18,080 --> 04:15:21,180
like the has been out of control, PSE&G, Optimum Horizon.

2473
04:15:22,080 --> 04:15:27,420
Each and every single one of these utilities falls under the jurisdiction of New York State.

2474
04:15:27,420 --> 04:15:36,320
I have reached out to the Public Service Commission on various issues and, you know, lately they

2475
04:15:36,320 --> 04:15:40,520
have been responding and somebody who – I worked for Utility for 25 years.

2476
04:15:41,320 --> 04:15:46,120
So I know in the past when they used to be very – when the state was very powerful

2477
04:15:46,120 --> 04:15:51,840
and didn't oversight on the Utilities, you know, they responded more prudently

2478
04:15:51,840 --> 04:15:57,600
to the residents, to businesses, to everybody here in the jurisdictions that they served.

2479
04:15:58,320 --> 04:16:03,980
So I think now, and I will keep reaching out to the county executives, so I see that DCE

2480
04:16:03,980 --> 04:16:07,860
Walsh better get used to the fact that I'm going to keep reaching out to him in the

2481
04:16:07,860 --> 04:16:10,840
hopes of trying to help the school district find some magic ways.

2482
04:16:11,280 --> 04:16:17,100
But in the meantime, all of us, all of us, I know you're going to vote no, maybe

2483
04:16:17,100 --> 04:16:20,880
you'll vote yes, but I'm asking all of you to join me in going after Governor

2484
04:16:20,880 --> 04:16:26,600
Hockel. Going after our state representatives, I have to give credit to then Assemblywoman

2485
04:16:26,600 --> 04:16:32,000
Miller, who actually did come up with a plan to try to make some relief for the Island Park

2486
04:16:32,000 --> 04:16:37,020
School District, but could not get it through the Senate. But I'm asking all of you because

2487
04:16:37,020 --> 04:16:43,160
we need to. This is a community of working-class people. I did not live there. I did not

2488
04:16:43,160 --> 04:16:46,180
grow up there, but I know a lot of people, I have relatives who now live in Island

2489
04:16:46,180 --> 04:16:51,460
Park and it is a gem of a community and it deserves all the assistance that it can get

2490
04:16:52,280 --> 04:16:57,820
and I'm hoping that you'll join with me and I just asked for one thing, having been a

2491
04:16:57,820 --> 04:17:02,940
telephone worker and spending many years climbing telephone poles and responding to all sorts

2492
04:17:02,940 --> 04:17:07,040
of disasters, I just want to put on record because I think it's unfair to the workers

2493
04:17:07,040 --> 04:17:10,860
that do that work. When we say that you've been out of power, yes, when we don't

2494
04:17:10,860 --> 04:17:13,600
have power for three weeks, we don't have power for three months, we don't have

2495
04:17:13,600 --> 04:17:19,080
power. Unless you do that work and you know the constraints and you know that the safety

2496
04:17:19,080 --> 04:17:24,300
considerations that have to be made by people who do work out in the field, then you'll understand

2497
04:17:24,300 --> 04:17:28,740
sometimes why it does take a long time for your power to be restored. It's not just a

2498
04:17:28,740 --> 04:17:32,960
matter of flicking on a switch. A lot of times it's a matter of clearing debris, clearing

2499
04:17:32,960 --> 04:17:39,300
trees, trying to get access to rear poles, highway poles, poles that are down. And

2500
04:17:39,300 --> 04:17:46,380
And these workers, every time we always criticize them for not doing the job right, but unless

2501
04:17:46,380 --> 04:17:50,840
you climb a telephone pole, unless you know exactly what it is, what it's like running

2502
04:17:50,840 --> 04:17:56,300
cable in the most extreme type of weather conditions, then please, when you want to

2503
04:17:56,300 --> 04:17:59,820
say that we didn't have power, just say that we understand that the workers have

2504
04:17:59,820 --> 04:18:03,840
their constraints and they try their best, but sometimes it does take a long time.

2505
04:18:03,840 --> 04:18:10,560
Don't lump them in with the liper executives because they're a completely different jurisdiction.

2506
04:18:11,140 --> 04:18:11,300
Okay?

2507
04:18:14,800 --> 04:18:15,220
No,

2508
04:18:19,360 --> 04:18:26,100
I just want to point out that it's different because the workers are also the ones that

2509
04:18:26,100 --> 04:18:26,900
have been struck out.

2510
04:18:27,180 --> 04:18:28,380
I have nothing but respect for the workers.

2511
04:18:28,420 --> 04:18:29,280
I just wanted to be clear.

2512
04:18:29,900 --> 04:18:31,600
It's already clear coming from my mouth.

2513
04:18:31,760 --> 04:18:32,580
I never mentioned the workers.

2514
04:18:32,580 --> 04:18:38,320
workers, but that being said, the administration did a port Lypa administration, let me make

2515
04:18:38,320 --> 04:18:42,600
sure I'm clear, not the workers, but they did a very poor job, not just with Superstorm

2516
04:18:42,600 --> 04:18:48,300
Sandy but Isaias. There's multiple storms that they were unprepared. What I'm saying

2517
04:18:48,300 --> 04:18:48,480
is-

2518
04:18:48,480 --> 04:18:49,400
I'm not defending Lypa.

2519
04:18:49,940 --> 04:18:54,420
Okay, but it sounds like you just were to some degree, but what I'm saying is the

2520
04:18:54,420 --> 04:19:00,340
fact is that people went without power for weeks, but it sounds like we're talking

2521
04:19:00,340 --> 04:19:03,920
about a different Lypa. And I'm glad to see that you're going to vote no. I wish there

2522
04:19:03,920 --> 04:19:08,900
was somebody else on your side who was going to vote no. But that being said, people went

2523
04:19:08,900 --> 04:19:15,660
without powerful weeks. And here we are considering Lypa of all the public utilities, probably

2524
04:19:15,660 --> 04:19:22,940
the worst one. Here we are considering Lypa for a settlement today, which they consider

2525
04:19:22,940 --> 04:19:26,520
to be fair, which I can't believe that we would do anything that Lypa would consider

2526
04:19:26,520 --> 04:19:32,060
to be fair because that means they think it's to their benefit. I mean, think about what

2527
04:19:32,060 --> 04:19:35,200
the residents have went through that went without power. The workers, this has nothing to do

2528
04:19:35,200 --> 04:19:40,000
with the workers. It has everything to do with the LIPE administration handling and

2529
04:19:40,000 --> 04:19:46,860
poorly executing a plan for Superstorm Sandy. Everyone, the reason why we have PSEG today,

2530
04:19:47,000 --> 04:19:51,020
folks, is because they did such a shoddy job on Superstorm Sandy. So it's not just

2531
04:19:51,020 --> 04:19:55,160
me that's saying that. There's no one criticizing the workers. The fact remains

2532
04:19:55,160 --> 04:20:01,520
means, we're still going to vote for a settlement that gives shoddy work as well as somebody

2533
04:20:01,520 --> 04:20:06,940
an entity that raised rates for decades. I just don't see the logic in that. And look,

2534
04:20:07,040 --> 04:20:12,160
I understand the rather counties in the position they are in today. But that being said, from

2535
04:20:12,160 --> 04:20:18,180
our standpoint, I cast blame on both sides, nor do I cast any blame totally on one entity

2536
04:20:18,180 --> 04:20:22,900
in terms of demonstrations. But I think we can do better. And I think we should

2537
04:20:22,900 --> 04:20:26,980
go forward with doing better and challenge this up into the 11th hour.

2538
04:20:27,180 --> 04:20:29,480
But if we can't get another vote to do that, then that's okay.

2539
04:20:31,260 --> 04:20:37,600
Disagree with one point that was made, the minority of Abraham's indicated that Leipzig

2540
04:20:37,600 --> 04:20:38,200
is on the hook.

2541
04:20:38,660 --> 04:20:45,680
That's exactly 180 degrees opposite, so if the county is on the hook, you litigate cases

2542
04:20:45,680 --> 04:20:48,980
and some cases are just, you're going to lose.

2543
04:20:49,540 --> 04:20:50,940
That is this case.

2544
04:20:50,940 --> 04:20:56,740
And we battled with Knifer, the county has, we get for the administrations, and this case

2545
04:20:56,740 --> 04:21:01,360
went on its way through the court, it was adjourned and public meetings were held.

2546
04:21:02,300 --> 04:21:07,500
But the county was always going to lose the case, they're on the wrong side of the case.

2547
04:21:08,820 --> 04:21:13,140
Because it comes down to what is the assessed value of those plants.

2548
04:21:13,960 --> 04:21:19,420
And when the county looked at those plants, it actually came up with lower values than

2549
04:21:19,420 --> 04:21:19,740
liper.

2550
04:21:19,740 --> 04:21:25,700
So this was a loser. We were going to lose this case and we are at the point now

2551
04:21:25,700 --> 04:21:30,680
We had to face that reality just as they had to face the reality in Suffolk County

2552
04:21:30,680 --> 04:21:37,700
The exposure to county taxpayers by all accounts is upwards of eight hundred million dollars

2553
04:21:37,700 --> 04:21:41,900
A hundred million dollars a year for debt service to pay this

2554
04:21:42,860 --> 04:21:45,430
more importantly for the residents of

2555
04:21:45,430 --> 04:21:50,130
of those districts, if we litigate this case and lose,

2556
04:21:50,630 --> 04:21:54,830
and we're going to lose because our appraisals are even lower than lipers,

2557
04:21:55,890 --> 04:22:03,130
the immediate reduction in assessed value for that plant will be either 81% or 94%.

2558
04:22:03,130 --> 04:22:07,950
That means that in October, in the Island Park School District,

2559
04:22:09,410 --> 04:22:14,610
liper will be paying 81% less than they were paying out on 94%.

2560
04:22:14,610 --> 04:22:18,870
Basically, they're going to wipe out almost the entire amount of money that Leipa is paying

2561
04:22:18,870 --> 04:22:22,210
into that district if we litigate this case, which we're going to lose.

2562
04:22:23,210 --> 04:22:25,410
So we have no alternative at this point.

2563
04:22:25,610 --> 04:22:26,730
We've battled this for years.

2564
04:22:27,270 --> 04:22:31,930
It's up for a vote now, and if we don't do this, we are going to do a grave disservice

2565
04:22:31,930 --> 04:22:35,550
to our county, to the residents, and it's time to vote.

2566
04:22:36,850 --> 04:22:37,590
Mr. Chairman.

2567
04:22:37,790 --> 04:22:39,670
So the message is today, I'm sorry, Senator DeMarco.

2568
04:22:39,690 --> 04:22:40,950
Mr. Chairman, may I make an observation?

2569
04:22:43,880 --> 04:22:44,140
Yes.

2570
04:22:44,140 --> 04:22:47,280
with your permission, and I appreciate your indulgence.

2571
04:22:48,940 --> 04:22:56,120
I didn't ask you to put it on after the court meets.

2572
04:22:58,060 --> 04:23:04,020
You have at least three weeks before the court meets, maybe longer.

2573
04:23:09,050 --> 04:23:21,030
What I'm asking is to give the court an opportunity to listen to our argument, because our argument,

2574
04:23:21,950 --> 04:23:30,550
if indeed, lipo violated the PACB law, which said every contract over a million has to

2575
04:23:30,550 --> 04:23:36,930
be approved by PACB. And it goes back to the cake in this matter, where they started

2576
04:23:37,270 --> 04:23:45,730
to bring in the power from outside, so these plants did not have to be utilized. So if

2577
04:23:45,730 --> 04:23:53,970
I said, put it on after the case is scheduled, you'd say, Senator, we have a settlement

2578
04:23:53,970 --> 04:24:01,110
the county. I'm not asking you to jeopardize that settlement. I'm asking you to give the

2579
04:24:01,110 --> 04:24:10,430
court an opportunity. And to some of the members on the board, I don't understand why you would

2580
04:24:10,430 --> 04:24:22,510
not give the court an opportunity to hear the Island Park town of Hempstead case before

2581
04:24:22,510 --> 04:24:29,670
before the court takes up your settlement. You still don't lose that, and if he wants

2582
04:24:29,670 --> 04:24:36,990
to settle on it, but why not give us the leverage to do better with the governor and

2583
04:24:36,990 --> 04:24:42,950
with Leipa by an adjournment? A journey for two weeks, a journey for two weeks.

2584
04:24:42,970 --> 04:24:49,590
You made those arguments eloquently before. But guess what? If they're so eloquent and

2585
04:24:49,590 --> 04:24:56,470
they fell, then they should be failing for a reason. Give me a reason. I'm not

2586
04:24:56,470 --> 04:25:03,530
excuse me. I'm not asking you to jeopardize the county settlement because

2587
04:25:03,530 --> 04:25:08,450
they've entered into an agreement already with the county. They can't rescind it.

2588
04:25:08,950 --> 04:25:15,790
What I'm asking you is to give the court an opportunity to listen, I think

2589
04:25:15,790 --> 04:25:25,810
is May 13th to listen to Island Park and to the town of Hempstead. It does not interfere

2590
04:25:25,810 --> 04:25:32,250
with the data, which I think is May 22nd. What do you lose? What are you jeopardizing?

2591
04:25:32,670 --> 04:25:38,670
Why not put some pressure on Leipa? If they were the little choir boys, if they did everything

2592
04:25:38,670 --> 04:25:45,170
properly. If they were fine. But I'm going to tell you, Billy Gaylord, I don't understand

2593
04:25:45,170 --> 04:25:52,710
why you wouldn't vote to give us an opportunity before the court. Not jeopardizing the county

2594
04:25:52,710 --> 04:25:58,050
settlement. Give us a chance. Why don't you put the pressure on life before it change?

2595
04:25:58,770 --> 04:26:06,530
You like being blackmailed? That's what's going on. You're marching to a drum. Some

2596
04:26:06,530 --> 04:26:13,530
political drum? What the hell drum is it? Why won't you vote the right way? That's to

2597
04:26:13,530 --> 04:26:20,110
give us an adjournment for three weeks. I don't understand it. So you go ahead and

2598
04:26:20,110 --> 04:26:26,410
vote. Well, let me tell you, if you vote not to give us an adjournment, you're

2599
04:26:26,410 --> 04:26:32,750
failing the taxpayers, certainly the taxpayers of Island Park by not giving

2600
04:26:32,750 --> 04:26:40,870
them an opportunity. I didn't say, back away from your agreement, I didn't say that. If

2601
04:26:40,870 --> 04:26:46,350
I said to do that, you'd say it's unreasonable. So I say to my Republican colleagues there,

2602
04:26:47,290 --> 04:26:52,470
you know, there's a time to act for what's right, and you don't just march through a

2603
04:26:52,470 --> 04:26:56,490
political drum. Thank you for your indulgence.

2604
04:26:56,490 --> 04:27:06,150
Thank you. Thank you. All right. It's time for a vote. All in favor sick. Yes, I'm going to request a roll call vote.

2605
04:27:06,350 --> 04:27:08,390
Sure. Thank you. Roll call vote.

2606
04:27:15,470 --> 04:27:20,970
Thank you. Roll call vote proceeding deputy presiding officer Howard

2607
04:27:20,970 --> 04:27:22,990
Calpell. Yes.

2608
04:27:27,220 --> 04:27:29,500
Alternate presiding officer Denise Ford.

2609
04:27:32,370 --> 04:27:35,510
Legislator C. Lobino. On the

2610
04:27:35,510 --> 04:27:41,690
motion, I'm going to vote no for the fact that I do think there's more time necessary

2611
04:27:42,190 --> 04:27:49,150
to make sure that the agreements between our special districts are baked and that they

2612
04:27:49,150 --> 04:27:54,070
make sure that they protect all the special districts. If even one is left behind,

2613
04:27:54,070 --> 04:28:01,890
it would be a crime. This is an opportunity for us to make sure that we're doing our very best as

2614
04:28:01,890 --> 04:28:08,570
fiduciaries to protect our special districts as well as the county. So I'm voting no. Thank you.

2615
04:28:10,090 --> 04:28:17,730
Legislated Carrier Salage. I'm voting no for the I want there to be a proper chance of due

2616
04:28:17,730 --> 04:28:22,990
process for the residents of Island Park and the Ten of Hamps had to be heard. It would

2617
04:28:22,990 --> 04:28:25,910
not heard anyone just also to grant the adjournment. I'm voting no.

2618
04:28:27,070 --> 04:28:37,810
Thank you. Legislated W. Muley. I will be in no vote also for the reasons stated. We have

2619
04:28:38,090 --> 04:28:48,050
the time. It doesn't make sense to me to not allow that process to go through. We still

2620
04:28:48,050 --> 04:28:58,450
have the opportunity to protect the people who live in Island Park, in particular, and

2621
04:28:59,250 --> 04:29:04,990
still protect the taxpayers in all of New York County, and I'm voting you.

2622
04:29:05,470 --> 04:29:06,070
Thank you.

2623
04:29:08,730 --> 04:29:10,810
Legislators, C. William Gaylord III.

2624
04:29:12,150 --> 04:29:17,750
All right, so it's a difficult decision, and the senator brings up some very compelling

2625
04:29:17,750 --> 04:29:22,390
and arguments, so is Councilman Diaz-Posito, as well as everybody else.

2626
04:29:23,530 --> 04:29:28,350
Looking at the overall bigger picture to the county, we've got a certain fiduciary responsibility

2627
04:29:28,350 --> 04:29:36,130
that we're charged to uphold, an obligation to preserve the taxpayers' precious resources

2628
04:29:36,610 --> 04:29:37,370
where we can.

2629
04:29:37,810 --> 04:29:39,730
That's all the taxpayers in Nassau County.

2630
04:29:42,370 --> 04:29:45,070
This agreement is really a revocable agreement.

2631
04:29:45,430 --> 04:29:46,910
It could be pulled by light, but tomorrow.

2632
04:29:46,910 --> 04:29:51,710
tomorrow. It could be pulled by the county tomorrow. I don't know. It's here before us

2633
04:29:51,710 --> 04:29:57,990
to be ratified, and it gives us some certain assurances of a resolution to a matter that's

2634
04:30:00,370 --> 04:30:08,190
In contentious for a decade, a matter that's been discussed, debated, in the courts, out of

2635
04:30:08,190 --> 04:30:11,970
the courts, in one administration, in the second administration, in the third administration

2636
04:30:11,970 --> 04:30:19,390
now, for ten years. But it still comes back to what's best for all of the residents of

2637
04:30:19,390 --> 04:30:25,110
Nashville County. And in this case, I think it's best if I vote yes in the affirmative.

2638
04:30:25,110 --> 04:30:26,670
Yes, let's move on.

2639
04:30:27,070 --> 04:30:27,490
Thank you.

2640
04:30:28,050 --> 04:30:29,750
Legislator John Tuprey?

2641
04:30:32,000 --> 04:30:32,960
My vote is yes.

2642
04:30:33,940 --> 04:30:34,840
Thank you.

2643
04:30:36,220 --> 04:30:37,600
Legislator Mazyp Ali?

2644
04:30:38,880 --> 04:30:42,500
I will vote yes in order to protect the entire resident.

2645
04:30:43,660 --> 04:30:44,340
Thank you.

2646
04:30:45,260 --> 04:30:47,040
Legislator Delia DeRitchie Whitten?

2647
04:30:49,520 --> 04:30:52,400
I want to just give like a quick story of what happened.

2648
04:30:52,560 --> 04:30:53,680
I think it was two years ago.

2649
04:30:53,840 --> 04:30:57,720
I was asked to go on a Zoom meeting with Leipa

2650
04:31:00,460 --> 04:31:04,820
President Norton, everyone on the phone was on the call and everyone introduced themselves

2651
04:31:04,820 --> 04:31:10,040
and it was the mayor of CECLIF at the time and I was sitting in my backyard and it was

2652
04:31:10,040 --> 04:31:13,540
during COVID so my husband and my daughter were home.

2653
04:31:15,960 --> 04:31:21,600
I had already met with the administration and expressed my concerns and was questioning

2654
04:31:21,600 --> 04:31:24,880
about the pilot and questioning about the fact that this settlement is going to affect

2655
04:31:24,880 --> 04:31:30,140
Our residents for decades for the rest of the rest of the time they own their homes. It's a major major major

2656
04:31:30,740 --> 04:31:31,260
decision

2657
04:31:32,540 --> 04:31:34,660
And mr. Falcone said to me legislator

2658
04:31:34,660 --> 04:31:42,400
I want you to really consider what you're doing by going against the settlement because if you continue to do so I

2659
04:31:43,100 --> 04:31:43,680
I'm gonna

2660
04:31:43,680 --> 04:31:46,360
Take everything out of the

2661
04:31:46,940 --> 04:31:50,300
North Shore, you know glenwood landing plant and bring it in through

2662
04:31:51,120 --> 04:31:52,700
Northport and you'll have nothing

2663
04:31:53,580 --> 04:31:55,520
And I said, are you threatening me?

2664
04:31:55,740 --> 04:31:59,140
Because I've been threatened a couple of times, even in the last week or so.

2665
04:31:59,660 --> 04:32:03,340
And usually when somebody threatens you, it's because they feel an insecurity.

2666
04:32:04,460 --> 04:32:07,360
So at that moment, some other person came on the phone.

2667
04:32:07,820 --> 04:32:08,920
And that's the problem with Zoom.

2668
04:32:09,200 --> 04:32:11,940
Especially back then, you didn't always know who was on the phone.

2669
04:32:12,600 --> 04:32:14,980
And he said, no, no, no, Legislator, you're not being threatened.

2670
04:32:15,140 --> 04:32:16,160
Life is not threatening you.

2671
04:32:16,280 --> 04:32:16,980
No, no, no, no, no.

2672
04:32:17,360 --> 04:32:18,960
I said, no, I think I was just threatened.

2673
04:32:19,180 --> 04:32:21,060
I said, you just told me if I don't agree with it,

2674
04:32:21,060 --> 04:32:26,520
you're going to take everything away from the North Shore. So to make a long story short,

2675
04:32:26,700 --> 04:32:31,580
I finished the meeting because I hung up on them and I walked into my house and my husband

2676
04:32:31,580 --> 04:32:36,500
said, I don't know who you're yelling at but I'm glad it wasn't me. So like, that's

2677
04:32:36,500 --> 04:32:41,900
how they were. I mean that's how they were with me. They are bullies. And look, I know,

2678
04:32:42,180 --> 04:32:49,060
I see how nervous the deputy county executive is right now. This is a checklist to help

2679
04:32:49,060 --> 04:32:54,840
us get rid of NYFA. I get it. We have to get rid of this liability. I get it. But do

2680
04:32:54,840 --> 04:33:01,460
we have to give them everything they want? No. And I agree with Senator DiMato. It's been

2681
04:33:01,460 --> 04:33:07,540
a pleasure to see you again. And I'm so impressed with how sharp you still are and how strong

2682
04:33:07,540 --> 04:33:11,780
you are and how you don't back down to people that tried to bully you right 15

2683
04:33:11,780 --> 04:33:18,900
minutes ago and I appreciate it from my district and from Island Park because

2684
04:33:18,900 --> 04:33:24,580
again we're gonna go home today and it's over and oh great you know but it's gonna

2685
04:33:24,580 --> 04:33:31,140
impact these families for generations to come and I'm sick about it because

2686
04:33:31,140 --> 04:33:37,960
again I feel like this is a company's making more money than ever and you know

2687
04:33:37,960 --> 04:33:43,660
We just it's just it's just a real shame that we're I feel like we're kind of we're bowing down

2688
04:33:43,660 --> 04:33:48,940
And I'm a fighter and I was raised by a fighter and I would I would I would fight

2689
04:33:48,940 --> 04:33:55,120
I would definitely fight this and I appreciate you taking your time to try to motivate it

2690
04:33:55,120 --> 04:33:57,740
But unfortunately, it's very hard to get any

2691
04:33:59,260 --> 04:34:01,420
Anyone to break the ranks

2692
04:34:02,660 --> 04:34:03,220
so

2693
04:34:03,980 --> 04:34:10,000
You did a good job and you tried, but I haven't seen it happen before, so the odds were against you.

2694
04:34:10,500 --> 04:34:13,660
So I vote no for the settlement.

2695
04:34:14,840 --> 04:34:15,740
Thank you.

2696
04:34:18,530 --> 04:34:20,430
Is James Kennedy available?

2697
04:34:24,640 --> 04:34:26,080
Legislated Thomas McKevitt.

2698
04:34:26,480 --> 04:34:26,640
Yes.

2699
04:34:33,830 --> 04:34:35,130
Legislated Laura Safer.

2700
04:34:35,530 --> 04:34:36,550
I vote yes.

2701
04:34:37,610 --> 04:34:40,230
Thank you. Legislated John Ferretti.

2702
04:34:40,870 --> 04:34:42,230
Sorry, I'm going to be a little bit longer.

2703
04:34:43,910 --> 04:34:49,990
I think there's been an attempt today, specifically by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle

2704
04:34:49,990 --> 04:34:58,470
to paint this picture that somehow the administration has negotiated a deal where the county is

2705
04:34:58,470 --> 04:35:02,230
bowing down, I think that's what was said, where the life is getting everything they

2706
04:35:02,230 --> 04:35:02,430
want.

2707
04:35:02,550 --> 04:35:03,630
It's just not reality.

2708
04:35:04,630 --> 04:35:09,810
The reality is that the evidence submitted by the county, by the previous administration,

2709
04:35:12,850 --> 04:35:21,970
At best, at best, they will get an award, I believe Mr. Vincelette said, between $500

2710
04:35:21,970 --> 04:35:23,050
million and $800 million.

2711
04:35:24,310 --> 04:35:28,610
At best, that's if they agree with the previous county administration's numbers.

2712
04:35:30,950 --> 04:35:35,450
Every one of our residents, with the exception of two legislators, will be on the hook for

2713
04:35:35,450 --> 04:35:35,910
that money.

2714
04:35:36,890 --> 04:35:41,130
Now, the minority talked about rates, the high rates of lipa.

2715
04:35:41,750 --> 04:35:42,050
I agree.

2716
04:35:42,050 --> 04:35:46,690
rate. Nobody wants to pay high rates. Isn't it possible that because they've been overpaying

2717
04:35:46,690 --> 04:35:50,750
on these plants for X amount of years that they increase their rates as a result and

2718
04:35:50,750 --> 04:35:54,410
that all of our constituents in every district are paying higher rates because of that?

2719
04:35:55,010 --> 04:36:00,330
So when you talk about, you know, blipers rates, you know, and then vote no on the

2720
04:36:00,330 --> 04:36:05,130
settlement, it's a contradiction to me. If you, you know, it's very, could very

2721
04:36:05,130 --> 04:36:09,050
well happen that in the event that this does not pass, that the rates will get

2722
04:36:09,050 --> 04:36:16,150
even higher. So, I don't really understand that. I respect and I understand the complaints

2723
04:36:16,150 --> 04:36:20,930
about life as an entity and I agree with them. But I didn't hear anybody on the other side

2724
04:36:20,930 --> 04:36:24,150
of the aisle going after the state when those things were happening. The state utility.

2725
04:36:26,530 --> 04:36:33,090
And that's the reality of that. So, again, I just want to kind of drill home the fact

2726
04:36:33,090 --> 04:36:35,770
that this is not a winnable case.

2727
04:36:38,260 --> 04:36:39,920
Every one of our residents will lose.

2728
04:36:40,820 --> 04:36:47,800
Island Park and Glenwood Landing, and I know, look, I don't love the term glide path either,

2729
04:36:48,300 --> 04:36:53,820
but talk about a cliff. If we are to lose, it will be more devastating than it is now.

2730
04:36:54,140 --> 04:36:58,340
Nobody wants to pay higher taxes. I have compassion for both of those communities.

2731
04:36:58,340 --> 04:37:04,060
attorneys, we have to go to the state and get more money for them to mitigate this disastrous

2732
04:37:04,060 --> 04:37:08,900
outcome. But we also have to do what's right for the entire county and that is why I am

2733
04:37:08,900 --> 04:37:09,560
voting yes.

2734
04:37:12,280 --> 04:37:15,800
Thank you, Legislator. Legislator Arnold Drucker.

2735
04:37:19,310 --> 04:37:26,150
Thank you. You know, my colleagues who are attorneys, I'm so impressed that you have

2736
04:37:26,150 --> 04:37:30,250
a crystal ball and you can predict the outcome of every single trial because I wish I had

2737
04:37:30,250 --> 04:37:32,430
that crystal ball every time I went into court.

2738
04:37:34,910 --> 04:37:37,850
You know, I, as I said, I'm an attorney and

2739
04:37:37,850 --> 04:37:42,530
I believe in the rule of law and I believe in democracy and I want to thank Senator D'Amato

2740
04:37:42,530 --> 04:38:00,230
for educating me on the procedural defects that life of faces that could be, that could

2741
04:38:00,230 --> 04:38:05,410
not necessarily as the senator said about waiting till after the court hearing but

2742
04:38:05,410 --> 04:38:09,710
at least to give us a few weeks time to just pump the brakes a little bit I

2743
04:38:10,130 --> 04:38:16,150
think the rule of law is important and we have to respect that and you know

2744
04:38:16,150 --> 04:38:23,470
also Leipzig is this behemoth that I don't know this this particular offer on

2745
04:38:23,470 --> 04:38:28,530
its face also does nothing for the rate payers are they offering any sort of

2746
04:38:28,530 --> 04:38:33,210
reduction to rate payers to compensate them for what has been going on for, as the minority

2747
04:38:33,210 --> 04:38:41,690
leaders said, decades. Decades of ineptitude, decades of perhaps abject corruption. You know,

2748
04:38:42,050 --> 04:38:48,230
and I for one believe that there shouldn't be a rush to judgment here. Stranger things

2749
04:38:48,230 --> 04:38:55,670
have happened in pre-trial conferences. And maybe something can come out of this

2750
04:38:55,670 --> 04:38:58,510
that's a little bit better for Nassau County taxpayers.

2751
04:38:59,470 --> 04:39:03,110
Yes, you know, many times we were asked as legislators

2752
04:39:03,110 --> 04:39:05,530
and we go into executive session and approve settlements

2753
04:39:06,050 --> 04:39:07,950
that we, all of us, both sides of the aisle,

2754
04:39:08,010 --> 04:39:10,070
we don't like but sometimes we gotta hold our noses

2755
04:39:10,070 --> 04:39:12,130
and say, yeah, we're gonna have to vote for this

2756
04:39:12,130 --> 04:39:14,590
because it's better for Nassau County

2757
04:39:14,590 --> 04:39:16,690
to have to pay this than pay something

2758
04:39:16,690 --> 04:39:18,350
a lot larger later on.

2759
04:39:18,470 --> 04:39:19,890
That makes a lot of sense sometimes.

2760
04:39:20,550 --> 04:39:22,390
This is one of those cases where

2761
04:39:23,070 --> 04:39:24,650
I'm not one to hold my nose on.

2762
04:39:24,650 --> 04:39:32,510
I want to give it some more time to percolate and maybe some better results can come out

2763
04:39:32,510 --> 04:39:32,770
of this.

2764
04:39:32,930 --> 04:39:33,770
So I'm going to vote no.

2765
04:39:35,490 --> 04:39:36,670
Thank you, Legislator.

2766
04:39:37,950 --> 04:39:39,350
Legislator Rose Marie Walker.

2767
04:39:41,600 --> 04:39:47,740
And I guess I would have to say, and I don't have a crystal ball either, but I look on

2768
04:39:47,740 --> 04:39:51,360
the other side that Legislator Drucker was looking on.

2769
04:39:51,360 --> 04:40:03,540
And I think the result that it wasn't beneficial to us that it would hurt the residents so much more,

2770
04:40:03,660 --> 04:40:08,160
hurt all of our residents and certainly hurt the residents in both of those districts very, very much.

2771
04:40:09,380 --> 04:40:13,920
I'm going to vote yes, but I'm also going to say that I will do everything in my power

2772
04:40:13,920 --> 04:40:19,120
and continue to do everything in my power along with the rest of us to petition the state,

2773
04:40:19,120 --> 04:40:23,840
to petition the governor to do what is right to for both of these school districts.

2774
04:40:25,040 --> 04:40:28,860
Thank you, ma'am. I'm glad you say it to Joshua Lafazan.

2775
04:40:30,890 --> 04:40:35,170
Thank you, and I appreciate all who came down to speak today so passionately.

2776
04:40:35,650 --> 04:40:41,250
This is something that legislator Derigy Whitten and I have been working together on for a number of months, if not years now,

2777
04:40:41,610 --> 04:40:48,270
to protect the residents in Island Park, to protect the residents in Glenwood Landing, and to do the right thing, I vote no.

2778
04:40:49,890 --> 04:40:50,830
Thank you.

2779
04:40:54,810 --> 04:41:00,730
Legislative Stephen Rhodes. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. We do have, I guess, different

2780
04:41:00,730 --> 04:41:05,890
opinions on what doing the right thing is, and I guess that's a question of our own individual

2781
04:41:05,890 --> 04:41:15,010
perspective. This is not a rape case. This is not a case about the quality of service.

2782
04:41:16,070 --> 04:41:35,250
This is a tax certiori case. This is a case like so many others that come before us where we have to look at facts, look at evidence, look at what we anticipate the court is going to see in terms of evidence, and make a decision as to what's in the best interest of the county.

2783
04:41:35,990 --> 04:41:41,930
What we know, and I don't have a crystal ball either, but what I do know is that I've handled

2784
04:41:41,930 --> 04:41:44,190
a ton of cases where you have experts on both sides.

2785
04:41:45,010 --> 04:41:51,630
And what I do know is that when you hire an expert who gives you an opinion that not only

2786
04:41:51,630 --> 04:41:57,970
agrees with the other side, but in fact says it's worse, there's a great chance you're

2787
04:41:57,970 --> 04:41:58,350
going to lose.

2788
04:41:59,190 --> 04:42:00,030
That's what I know.

2789
04:42:01,010 --> 04:42:04,650
And that's the situation that we're in, in this particular case.

2790
04:42:05,230 --> 04:42:05,750
I agree.

2791
04:42:06,230 --> 04:42:07,170
Leipa is terrible.

2792
04:42:07,850 --> 04:42:13,510
I agree that the Public Service Commission does very little, if anything, to protect

2793
04:42:13,510 --> 04:42:14,110
rate payers.

2794
04:42:14,690 --> 04:42:18,510
I've been fighting with the Public Service Commission over New York American water and

2795
04:42:18,510 --> 04:42:22,090
Liberty water for the last, well, how long have I been here?

2796
04:42:22,210 --> 04:42:22,630
Seven years.

2797
04:42:23,670 --> 04:42:25,930
Four years ago, they gave them a rain increase anyway.

2798
04:42:26,150 --> 04:42:28,370
I asked the governor to change the Public Service Commission.

2799
04:42:28,490 --> 04:42:29,090
It never happened.

2800
04:42:29,090 --> 04:42:31,650
We changed the governor before we changed the public service commission.

2801
04:42:32,330 --> 04:42:34,630
That fight needs to happen up in Albany.

2802
04:42:35,790 --> 04:42:41,210
But what's before us here is a situation where if this settlement isn't approved today,

2803
04:42:42,350 --> 04:42:46,910
Leipa could walk away from that settlement tomorrow.

2804
04:42:48,130 --> 04:42:54,490
Until both sides sign on the dotted line, and effectively what we're doing today by

2805
04:42:54,490 --> 04:43:00,830
ratifying the agreement is signing on the bottom line, that agreement is fully revocable.

2806
04:43:01,810 --> 04:43:07,570
And if Leipa walks away from that agreement, then Nassau County taxpayers are likely on

2807
04:43:07,570 --> 04:43:12,570
the hook for between five and eight hundred million dollars in liability.

2808
04:43:13,230 --> 04:43:19,130
That is money that will be paid by every single taxpayer of Nassau County.

2809
04:43:19,130 --> 04:43:24,170
money, that is money that the residents of Island Park and the residents of Glenwood

2810
04:43:24,170 --> 04:43:31,290
Landing, who I could not be more sympathetic towards, but if they win that judgment, there

2811
04:43:31,290 --> 04:43:32,330
is no five-year phasing.

2812
04:43:33,450 --> 04:43:34,550
It happens immediately.

2813
04:43:36,620 --> 04:43:44,720
An 80 was an 87 or 94 percent, whichever was, increase immediately in their tax liability.

2814
04:43:45,440 --> 04:43:51,600
So the reasonable thing to me to do and the responsible thing, in my opinion, to do is

2815
04:43:51,600 --> 04:43:58,460
to vote for this settlement today for the assurance that one, we're avoiding this liability

2816
04:43:58,460 --> 04:44:03,060
on behalf of all Nassau County residents, but providing a path even for the residents

2817
04:44:03,060 --> 04:44:09,300
in those individual districts to have at least some phase in and at least some relief

2818
04:44:09,300 --> 04:44:15,880
instead of the threat of being immediately impacted by a case that we are pretty confident

2819
04:44:15,880 --> 04:44:16,740
we're not going to win.

2820
04:44:17,340 --> 04:44:18,600
So I vote in the affirmative.

2821
04:44:19,340 --> 04:44:20,560
Thank you, Legislator.

2822
04:44:22,220 --> 04:44:24,200
Minority Leader Kavan Abraham's.

2823
04:44:24,740 --> 04:44:25,340
Thank you, Mike.

2824
04:44:26,640 --> 04:44:31,120
I've heard a lot of justification for votes today, which I guess it is what it is.

2825
04:44:31,780 --> 04:44:33,300
We have to justify why we vote yes.

2826
04:44:34,180 --> 04:44:38,720
At the same time, we have to justify that this is a different entity than the entity

2827
04:44:38,720 --> 04:44:42,600
that has been hurting rate payers for the last god knows how many decades.

2828
04:44:43,840 --> 04:44:49,520
That being said, your voters and your constituents don't see the differentiation.

2829
04:44:50,220 --> 04:44:53,540
They don't see the examples that you're trying to make.

2830
04:44:54,280 --> 04:44:58,600
At the end of the day, this is the same liper that has given them shoddy service and has

2831
04:44:58,600 --> 04:44:59,120
raised their rates.

2832
04:45:00,000 --> 04:45:04,080
We understand that that's not the force. Today, it's a tax-sertiorary case, but the little

2833
04:45:04,080 --> 04:45:09,320
guy had a chance to score a victory today. And you guys voted with the big entity. That's

2834
04:45:09,320 --> 04:45:13,400
the fact, that's the fact. The little guy could have won something today, could have been 1-0

2835
04:45:13,400 --> 04:45:17,520
for the little guy, finally gets a chance to stick it to the big guy. And in agreement

2836
04:45:17,520 --> 04:45:23,520
to Senator DeMotto, no, everyone knows this case has to be settled. But we don't have

2837
04:45:23,520 --> 04:45:29,380
to settle it today. We're settling it because LIPA, LIPA said that we have to settle

2838
04:45:29,380 --> 04:45:35,060
it today. Oh, we're back in a way. You just, that's placating to Lypa. That's the point

2839
04:45:35,060 --> 04:45:41,980
that I'm making. That if Lypa says jump, you guys are asking how high. So, what, clearly

2840
04:45:41,980 --> 04:45:46,980
what's happening today is that rape payers don't matter. Constituents don't matter.

2841
04:45:47,420 --> 04:45:52,280
School districts, library districts don't matter. Lypa matters. That's the entity

2842
04:45:52,280 --> 04:45:56,900
that matters. And that's where we're going wrong. And that's where we're losing

2843
04:45:56,900 --> 04:46:03,640
in the message that the same entity that hurt your constituents during countless superstorm

2844
04:46:03,640 --> 04:46:10,630
after after left them in the dark literally left them in the dark is getting what they

2845
04:46:10,630 --> 04:46:17,070
want not just what they want but when they want it what kind of messages I say about

2846
04:46:17,070 --> 04:46:24,010
you guys not a good one I vote no for the right pair thank you legislator for dining

2847
04:46:24,010 --> 04:46:27,870
over to Richard Nicolillo? Our voters and the residents of Nassau County are a lot more

2848
04:46:27,870 --> 04:46:33,390
intelligent than you give them credit for. They understand the fact that there's a potential

2849
04:46:33,390 --> 04:46:38,170
exposure to the county of a billion dollars. You know, it's money that they have to pay,

2850
04:46:38,410 --> 04:46:44,070
tax payers have to pay. Even the residents in the districts that are most prominently

2851
04:46:44,070 --> 04:46:50,470
affected, they have more intelligence than that. They can understand the numbers. You

2852
04:46:50,470 --> 04:46:56,070
We talked generally about experts, but let's look at what the experts are saying and this is an assessment case

2853
04:46:56,070 --> 04:46:58,090
What is the value of those plants?

2854
04:46:59,390 --> 04:47:06,230
Leipa says for the Barrett plant the value is $28 million would be a 94% reduction in the taxes they pay

2855
04:47:06,730 --> 04:47:13,790
Necessar County well, they say it's 94 million dollars, which is an 81% reduction in the taxes that they have to pay

2856
04:47:13,790 --> 04:47:21,370
Glad with landing, Leipa says that the plant is worth $40 million, 72% reduction in taxes

2857
04:47:21,370 --> 04:47:23,590
that Leipa will be paying to that school district.

2858
04:47:24,290 --> 04:47:27,290
Nessau County was less, $35 million.

2859
04:47:27,930 --> 04:47:33,830
So under Nessau County's numbers, a 76% reduction in taxes that we pay to those school districts.

2860
04:47:34,570 --> 04:47:35,590
Those are the numbers.

2861
04:47:36,370 --> 04:47:42,290
Again, we can rail about Leipa and none of us like Leipa and there were, you know,

2862
04:47:42,290 --> 04:47:44,330
a whipping boy that we could talk about and all that stuff.

2863
04:47:45,130 --> 04:47:46,390
But our residents are smart.

2864
04:47:46,570 --> 04:47:47,730
They understand the numbers.

2865
04:47:47,890 --> 04:47:50,570
They understand that they don't want to pay another billion dollars

2866
04:47:50,570 --> 04:47:53,930
in tax county taxes and get nothing for it.

2867
04:47:54,090 --> 04:47:55,750
And the residents in the school districts are smart.

2868
04:47:56,410 --> 04:47:58,150
They understand that at some point in the litigation,

2869
04:47:58,570 --> 04:48:01,050
you have to decide whether you're going to settle or go forward.

2870
04:48:01,590 --> 04:48:03,230
And in this case, they understand

2871
04:48:03,230 --> 04:48:08,670
that if you don't settle, the reduction in taxes

2872
04:48:08,670 --> 04:48:11,250
will be devastating and immediate.

2873
04:48:11,250 --> 04:48:16,090
So I have a lot of respect for the residents of the county apparently more than you do

2874
04:48:16,090 --> 04:48:21,170
And I think the residents will see this to be a good deal that it is for the county residents

2875
04:48:21,170 --> 04:48:28,430
In fact for the school districts is the best we're ever going to get I vote yes. Thank you final final count

2876
04:48:29,530 --> 04:48:31,310
Ten yes eight. No

2877
04:48:33,460 --> 04:48:37,440
All right. Thank you. Yeah item passes. We have two other items the agenda

2878
04:48:38,000 --> 04:48:43,740
Number one, a local law to amend Section 3-2.3 of the National County Administrative Code in

2879
04:48:43,740 --> 04:48:48,820
relation to the Special Revenue Fund created pursuant to this section in a motion to open

2880
04:48:48,820 --> 04:48:49,220
the hearing.

2881
04:48:49,400 --> 04:48:51,820
Legislator Schaefer makes that motion.

2882
04:48:52,040 --> 04:48:54,340
Legislator Walker makes seconds to motion.

2883
04:48:55,240 --> 04:48:56,520
So the hearing is now open.

2884
04:48:59,900 --> 04:49:01,140
Andy, you want to speak to it?

2885
04:49:03,880 --> 04:49:04,720
Good afternoon.

2886
04:49:04,720 --> 04:49:06,500
Andy Percival of the Management and Budget.

2887
04:49:06,500 --> 04:49:11,020
As I spoke before in the committee hearing meetings last week, two weeks ago, I'm sorry.

2888
04:49:11,480 --> 04:49:18,320
This just amends the special uses for the Special Revenue Fund to broaden its uses for what we can spend the money on.

2889
04:49:19,260 --> 04:49:20,740
And I'm here to take any questions.

2890
04:49:21,760 --> 04:49:26,800
Well, specifically, it will allow us to spend money with respect to the longevity payments.

2891
04:49:27,140 --> 04:49:30,220
It will give us monies to fund the longevity payments.

2892
04:49:30,400 --> 04:49:33,260
We have some other litigation out there that would open up the horizons.

2893
04:49:33,260 --> 04:49:37,980
who has some article 18 cases out there that are still looming, some other post-employment

2894
04:49:37,980 --> 04:49:42,240
benefits that we might be able to use the money for to, again, this will help us on

2895
04:49:42,240 --> 04:49:47,000
the glide slope to get us out of the control period is what the ultimate goal is by spending

2896
04:49:47,000 --> 04:49:51,100
down some of our or reducing some of the liabilities that are on the county's books that are

2897
04:49:51,100 --> 04:49:51,780
unforeseen.

2898
04:49:52,200 --> 04:49:52,640
Okay.

2899
04:49:53,380 --> 04:49:54,100
Any other questions?

2900
04:49:54,280 --> 04:49:54,540
Any questions?

2901
04:49:56,940 --> 04:49:57,200
All right.

2902
04:49:57,980 --> 04:49:59,000
Motion to close the hearing.

2903
04:49:59,480 --> 04:50:00,840
Motion to close the hearing.

2904
04:50:01,080 --> 04:50:02,340
Motion to close the hearing.

2905
04:50:02,560 --> 04:50:03,460
Motion to close the hearing.

2906
04:50:03,460 --> 04:50:04,620
Signified by saying aye.

2907
04:50:05,280 --> 04:50:05,800
That was opposed.

2908
04:50:06,100 --> 04:50:06,620
Carries unanimously.

2909
04:50:08,060 --> 04:50:13,260
Item 2, vote on the proposed local law to amend section 3-2.3 of the National County

2910
04:50:13,260 --> 04:50:16,820
Ministry of Code in relation to the Special Revenue Fund created pursuant to this section,

2911
04:50:17,780 --> 04:50:22,100
motion by legislator Chifrey, seconded by legislator Ferretti.

2912
04:50:23,060 --> 04:50:25,320
Any debate or discussion on this local law?

2913
04:50:26,260 --> 04:50:26,780
Giving none.

2914
04:50:27,000 --> 04:50:27,360
All in favor.

2915
04:50:27,620 --> 04:50:28,600
Signified by saying aye.

2916
04:50:29,180 --> 04:50:29,880
That was opposed.

2917
04:50:30,320 --> 04:50:30,840
Carries unanimously.

2918
04:50:38,900 --> 04:50:43,540
Oops, by Legislator Rhodes, seconded by Legislator Walker, all in favor of turning, signify by saying aye.

2919
04:50:44,200 --> 04:50:46,120
Aye, those opposed, carries the limits.