Letters To The Editor

Code Of Ethics Needed

To The Editor:

One of the first official acts promulgated by Governor Spitzer was the publishing of Executive Order No. One relating to Government Employment and the public trust.

This executive order was the first change in this area since the enactment of the 1987 Ethics in Government Act which applied to State Government employees. According to Channel 12 News, Nassau County is also updating its Code of Ethics. While this act did not apply by its own force to local governments (Village of Garden City) and School Boards (Garden City School District) the 1987 Ethics in Government Act enacted a Model Local Ethics Law which was written for adoption by school districts and local government because home rules and other requirements did not permit the State of New York to impose those ethical standards on these governmental organizations.

However, Section 806(l)(a) of the New York General Municipal law requires all counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts and others to adopt a Code of Ethics.

Since the 1987 the ethics in Government Act was considered by Governor Spitzer to be inadequate, the Executive Order referred to above was enacted to ensure the highest ethical and professional standards to prohibit the receipt of more than nominal gifts to prohibit against the use of state property, stamps, personal long distance telephone calls, vehicles, nepotism in hiring and contracts and lobbying state agencies.

Our school district, I am advised, does not have a Code of Ethics as such but various rules and regulations which cover the same areas. Our village has a Code of Ethics which was enacted on December 29, 1970 and which does not contain many of the prohibitions enumerated by the Executive Order especially the prohibition relating to nepotism.

It is recommended that the School Board revise its rules and regulations to include the pertinent ones in a Code of Ethics and to review the current regulations as required to ascertain whether any changes are needed to live up to the spirit of the new Executive Order. It is also recommended that the formation of an ethics committee be considered pursuant to Section 808 of the municipal law if one does not currently exist in accordance with Section 2037 of Model Law. It is further strongly recommended that the Village of Garden City update its Code of Ethics to include at least nepotism.

Joseph A. Calamari

P.S. On March 30, 1995 I drafted a Code of Ethics for the WPOA and submitted such code to it for enactment. To my knowledge no action was ever taken. I also made a request to serve on the Village of Garden City Ethics Committee. I was advised that as soon as there was an opening, I would b e considered. I have heard nothing in this regard for several years.

A Taste Of Garden City

To the Editor:

I attended the Taste of Garden City event yesterday evening at the beautiful Wingate Inn. As a member of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, this event provided a wonderful opportunity to meet local business owners and taste their flavorful creations. The harpist, Karen Strauss, added that extra special touch to the evening with her musical talents.

I had the opportunity to enjoy food from many of Garden City's finest restaurants including Caligero's, Sushi Ya, The Garden City Hotel, Ruth's Chris Steak House and more. 57 Main Street Importers also had a fine selection of liquors to quench anyone's palette.

I want to thank all the restaurants that participated in such a special evening, the Wingate Inn for being an amazing host and sponsor and Althea Robinson, the Executive Director of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce whose commitment to the Chamber is far greater than the 30 years she has already served.

Laney Liner,

President

PoeticPetals, ltd.

Small Businesses Need Help

To the Editor:

Congratulations to Garden City-based Seviroli Foods, the world's largest manufacturer of tortellini, for growing its business and creating jobs on Long Island. Fourteen months ago, New York State created an Empire Zone in Nassau County and helped keep Seviroli Foods from relocating to South Dakota where they could have saved millions in shipping and operation costs. Businesses that qualify for the Empire Zone credit can operate on a nearly tax-free basis for as long as ten years.

Long Island and New York are in a constant fight with other states and nations to keep, grow and attract businesses and improve our economy. That's why more must be done to keep and expand business on Long Island.

Recently, I voted in the Senate to cut business taxes by providing small businesses with a STAR Property Tax Rebate; to eliminate income and corporate franchises taxes on manufacturing; reduce corporate franchise tax rates; and to allow S-Corp businesses to pay their taxes through the owners personal income taxes. I also voted to help reduce business costs by providing energy cost assistance, to create a sales tax exemption for businesses located in academic incubator facilities, and to eliminate the Petroleum Business Tax (PBT) on nonresidential heating fuel.

Every dollar that small business owners save helps create jobs on Long Island.

Kemp Hannon

New York State Senator