By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

The Garden City Board of Trustees voted to hire government relations and public affairs consulting firm Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, LLP to research current transportation proposals and those in development by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Long Island Railroad.

In May, after interviewing several firms including Whiteman, the Board hired Bolton-St. John's, LLC. The job included making sure the Village's opposition to the proposed Nassau County Hub Plan was heard. However, eventually the relationship soured for reasons conveyed to Village staff in a confidential memo.

At the Dec. 4th Board of Trustees meeting, Mayor Peter A. Bee asked the Board to engage Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, LLP, which he claimed was the Board's second choice. Trustees Thomas Lamberti, John Watras and Donald Brudie voted against hiring the firm.

Watras made an official motion to invite Whiteman and Bolton-St. John's, to make another presentation before the Board made a decision. The vote was 6 against and 2 (Brudie and Watras) in favor of his idea.

Lamberti said he does not remember deciding as a Board that Whiteman was their second choice. He questions why he was not made aware that there was a problem with BSJ until Nov. 25, when the mayor sent trustees an e-mail. He responded that he wanted to discuss the matter in an executive session, but the mayor denied his request.

"Now folks, I understand that criticism is not what you want to hear, but it's your government," Lamberti said. "I'm telling you absolutely that nothing happened in six months. Who's responsible?...In my judgment, this is not a government that serves you well, that acts in this fashion."

Lamberti had voted against hiring BSJ in May, saying he was "saddened and disappointed" that the Board was not including the Village of Mineola in the decision to hire and pay for a consultant. Seven months later, he still called upon the Board to form a task force with Mineola to deal with the Hub issue. He said the entire issue "came below the radar screen" for months due to St. Paul's.

Mayor Bee responded to Lamberti's comments by saying he intends to make this a multi-village issue, but believes Garden City should enter into this contract alone because it will be impacted the most by the proposed transportation link. Mayor Bee said he has received support from Mineola Mayor Jack Martins. The mayor also said he would have liked to have hired a new consultant sooner, but added it is time to move forward now.

Trustee Gerard Lundquist agreed. He said he is comfortable with entering into an agreement with Whiteman because there is no retainer involved and the firm will be employed at an hourly rate, which was unavailable at press time because the contract had not been finalized. BF&J was paid an hourly rate of $175 to $400 per hour, depending on the level of counsel.

Trustee Nicholas Episcopia supported the Mayor by adding that he believed that Garden City's interests in the Hub are not the same as Mineola's because the proposed light rail system is slated to run through Garden City.

Deputy Mayor John Mauk also offered his support to Mayor Bee while addressing his comments to Lamberti. "You find fault and look to scold when I think what the rest of us are looking for, and certainly what the Mayor is doing here, is trying to look for a solution."

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna is an Albany-based law firm that according to their Web site, "maintains a diverse practice, providing a broad range of services with a special emphasis on matters relating to the intersection of the public and private sectors. Much of the firm's work involves the representation of entities that are regulated or otherwise affected by public policy and public bodies."

The Hub plan calls for a transportation link in the center of Nassau County connecting Long Island Rail Road train stations with activity centers. The technology being considered for the transportation link includes a Bus Rapid Transit system, Light Rail Transit system or an Automated Guideway Transit system similar to the Airtrain JFK at John F. Kennedy Airport.

The Hub includes the EAB Plaza, Nassau Coliseum and Eisenhower Park on the southeast side, and the Source Mall to the north. It encompasses Nassau Community College, Hofstra University and Roosevelt Field, and extends west to the Nassau County Government offices in Mineola. Hempstead Village and Mineola are also included because of their Long Island Rail Road lines.