Frank Ruggiero, a 12-year resident from the Eastern section, announced at the January 18th Resident Electors meeting that he will challenge Nicholas Episcopia in a primary run-off election for Village Trustee. The primary will be held on February 1st at Stewart School from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The winner of the run-off election will be the Community Agreement’s candidate in the Village General Election scheduled for March.

Episcopia had recently been interviewed and selected by the East Nominating Committee. “It was felt by the committee that Nick Episcopia represented the views of the majority of residents of the East, particularly in regards to St. Paul’s, other developments in the East and budget issues,” said committee chairman Dennis C. Donnelly. Ruggiero said he did not submit his petition in time for the interview process because he was not sure if he had the time to run for trustee.

In accepting the committee’s nomination, Episcopia said he wants to be trustee to make sure the Village stays fiscally responsible. He said he has seen many good things happen in Garden City since he became involved in the EPOA in 1997, including the revitalization of Franklin Avenue.

Episcopia commended the $38 million bond issued for school construction projects. “That money had to be spent,” he said. “It was spent, and everything has worked out very nicely.” He said the purchase of the fields next to the Middle School will cost $5 million and another million dollars will be spent to complete the renovation of the Stewart School field. Episcopia said the Village will have an aggregate debt of close to $50 million.

In regard to St. Paul’s, Episcopia said it was important to him to not make St. Paul’s a tax burden for residents and preserve all, or most, of the Historic Main Building. He said it would cost too much money to have an entirely public use for the building. Episcopia disliked the library proposal because, even though Garden City residents would be taxed for the renovation, it would be used by everyone in Nassau County. He has been very involved in the issue, and worked on the committee that organized the public opinion survey. Episcopia believes that it is not responsible to stabilize, or “mothball” the building and leave the decision as to its use to someone else. “We need to take back our government,” he said.

Episcopia criticized the recent resolution passed by the Board designating the property as parkland since the decision had the support of only four trustees, and was done without a legal opinion, public hearing, environmental studies or input from the property owners’ associations. “I personally believe that the motions that were passed have done nothing but put up further roadblocks to the proper analysis of what we can do to bring in private capital to St. Paul’s,” he said.

Episcopia acknowledged that trustees have a lot of responsibility. “If I am fortunate enough to be elected, and I serve in that position, I will promise you that I will exercise the utmost caution and care in spending your dollars.”

Ruggiero submitted a petition with more than 15 required signatures. He is a 12-year resident who currently works in the insurance business. Ruggiero spent many years in the garment industry and as executive director of a non-profit mental health agency. He has tried to organize community groups in the past and said he thinks he can bring “a breath of fresh air” to the Board. With regard to St. Paul’s, Ruggiero would not provide a definite stance. “It’s our community,” he said. “It’s our choice. What I stand for, basically, are the residents. I think I can make a difference here.”

The winner of the election will replace Jon Segerdahl on the Board of Trustees. This year Segerdahl was interviewed but not chosen by the Nominating Committee. He served on the Board for four years after holding several positions in the EPOA.

In February, 2003, he prevailed in a run-off primary election with T. Roger Eltringham. Out of 819 votes, Segerdahl received 557 and Eltringham received 262 votes. Segerdahl said he does not want to put his family through another election. “I feel very comfortable that I have left, in some respects, this Village a better place today then when I came in as a trustee four years ago.”

Dr. Nancy Fredericks, who serves on the Garden City Board of Education and presented the school trustee’s report at the EPOA meeting, announced that the district will not be using the auditing firm Miller, Lilly & Pearce of East Setauket after their contract expires in July. Earlier this month, the firm was the focus of a scathing report by State Comptroller Alan Hevesi. Hevesi charged that the firm did not meet nine Government Auditing Standards in its yearly audits for the scandal-ridden Roslyn School District.

Dr. Fredericks said the district has an internal auditor who checks their books twice a month. “We feel confident that things are the way they should be,” she said. She encouraged the public to attend 2005-2006 budget meetings beginning in March and to vote on the budget on May 17th.