Letters To The Editor

CPOA Unresponsive

To The Editor:

In your December 10 issue’s story about the December 2 Village Board of Trustees meeting, you quoted very extensively from an E-mail sent to you after the meeting by CPOA President Jane Simpson. Ms. Simpson, who was not in attendance at the meeting, attacked comments I had made at the meeting and in a September 29 letter I had sent to the Trustees as “without merit or substance.” I am responding because my credibility and integrity have been challenged. And, in the process, she and her board have disenfranchised the residents of St. Paul’s Place.

In fact, Ms. Simpson has a problem with the truthfulness of some key aspects of her version of the story. And in an attempt to absolve herself, and the CPOA Board, of poor procedures and behavior she has conveniently altered the facts and attacked me and besmirched my name.

The theme of this letter is how Central’s representatives went about the process of approving the proposed walking path on the perimeter of St. Paul’s Field. In the end, residents whose homes abut the field were betrayed by their CPOA representatives.

First, Mr. James Furey, Central’s representative on the Recreation Board, voted “yes” on June 1 for the path; and furey even made the motion at the June 1 Rec meeting to approve the path. Before that meeting, Mr. Furey never met with, or asked for input from, the St. Paul’s Place residents. At that June 1 meeting, about 20 St. Paul’s Place residents were vociferous in their opposition to the path. How Mr. Furey arrived at his affirmative vote is not known because he did not give his rationale. And he voted in defiance of gathered residents who have the most at stake in the path debate. No one from central spoke in favor of the path.

Apparently, Mr. Furey’s opinions weighed heavily with the CPOA board which met on June 8, 2004 and overwhelmingly approved the path by a 13-2 margin.

I was the only resident of St. Paul’s Place in attendance at the June 8 CPOA vote. I was there because Ms. Simpson called me the night before and said “you might want to attend tomorrow’s meeting, we will be debating the fence and walking path.” She did not distribute literature to any residents indicating that a vote would be taken. And if she would have told me to bring my neighbors, I certainly would have. And why didn’t the CPOA board defer the vote until St. Paul’s Place residents were heard? Ms. Simpson’s claim that she strongly urged me to bring residents to the meeting is absolutely untrue. And why didn’t she communicate with my neighbors? That’s her job, not mine. I am an active resident, but not elected to any representative role in the village or on my block.

Sitting by myself at the CPOA meeting was a strange and awkward feeling. It was me against 15, mostly predisposed, directors. After the vote on the path, I did not “storm” out (as Ms. Simpson states), I simply left before the meeting was over.

Yes, I did question whether the vote on the path was legal, because residents affected were not heard. It certainly was disgraceful, undemocratic, irresponsible and an embarrassment to Garden City’s (or any town’s) form of government.

Ms. Simpson complained that I didn’t send her a copy of my September 29 letter to Village trustees opposing the path. Is she kidding? Do I trust her or her board? We residents of St. Paul’s Place are going to have to go-it-alone without our Recreation and CPOA “representatives.” I must hope that our two Central trustees will realize that the CPOA vote to approve the walking path was arbitrary, biased and a betrayal of the desires of abutting homeowners concerned about the potential crime risks that the walking path could bring, among other reasons.

Finally, at the December 2 meeting, Police Chief Ernest J. Cipullo seemed to express reservations about the path, stating that: 1) his patrol cars could not monitor some parts of the route of the path and 2) the path increases the odds for “crimes of opportunity.” Is the CPOA board in favor of voting against Garden City’s police chief and for plans that will endanger those using the path and the playing fields, as well as residents of abutting homes? Perhaps they should reconsider their ill-advised action.

George M. Salem

Thank You

To The Editor:

The Garden City Post Office would like to thank all of our customers who contributed to “Operation Phone Home”. This program has enabled our troops overseas to phone their loved ones here in the states. Please continue your support: your donations are greatly appreciated.

Reena Varghese,

Customer Support

Supervisor

Garden City Post Office

Holiday Greetings

To The Editor:

At this time of the year, we reflect on the many good things about life and consider our dreams for the future. As we continue to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Adelphi’s move to Garden City, we are grateful for a wonderful community, friendly neighbors, and our ability to both serve the Village and welcome its citizens to our campus. From all of us to all of you, we extend greetings for the New Year.

Robert A. Scott

President

Adelphi University

Status!

Printed By Request:

Dear Mayor and Board

of Trustees:

At a recent Board of Trustees’ meeting a resident stated that St. Paul’s 48 acre were “dedicated parkland” and that is why the Village Board could not use St. Paul’s main building for private use. I was very surprised to hear Mr. Fishberg answer that it wasn’t “dedicated parkland.” Please clarify for me if any part of the 48 acres at St. Paul’s was designated “dedicated parkland” by the Village. Honestly, I thought the entire 48 acres was “dedicated parkland.”

Wayne Muscarella

New Year’s Greetings

To The Editor:

At this time of the year, we reflect on the many good things about life and consider our dreams for the future. As we continue to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Adelphi’s move to Garden City, we are grateful for a wonderful community, friendly neighbors, and our ability to both serve the Village and welcome it’s citizens to our campus. From all of us to all of you, we extend greetings for the New Year.

Robert A. Scott

President

Holiday Greetings

To The Editor:

With the holiday season upon us comes the time for peace, reflection and for giving thanks. Writing on behalf of all the employees of the Incorporated Village of Garden City and our families, I extend to each of the residents of Garden City and your families our very best wishes for a Merry Christmas.

We look forward to a fruitful, productive and Happy New Year in the hope that 2005 will bring peace to the world and good health and happiness to each of you and your loved ones.

Robert L. Schoelle, Jr.

Village Administrator

Bring Back Manger

To The Editor:

My family husband, one son, one daughter, moved to beautiful Garden City 52 years ago. We moved here because of the wonderful school system (which it still is), the friendly people, well kept clean village.

We were most impressed by the many beautiful churches. The way holidays were celebrated.

I remember the beautiful manger setups at Stewart and Franklin Avenue. All the stores on Seventh Street had baby Jesus in their windows. Christmas Carols were song and played. This all to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Something has happened to Christmas “Jesus is the reason for the Season.”

I would like so much to see the manger scene once again.

With love and concern!

Gloria Tassone