The 30-day voting period about whether a Business Improvement District (BID) should be created for Farmingdale is in its final moments.

Aug. 31 is the last day that property owners within the proposed district may submit objections to the entity, which, if approved, would be a mechanism by which the owners fund enhancements to the area. The approximately $60,000 budget for the proposed BID would be derived from fees collected from the owners based on a property assessment. In accordance with state law authorizing BIDs, if at least 51 percent of the owners in the district file objections, the proposal fails. Those who support the measure need not vote; silence is their sign of approval.

Also in accordance with state law, a 30-day voting period has been in effect in Farmingdale since a July 30 public hearing about the matter. Property owners may vote against the plan by submitting an objection form to Farmingdale Village Hall - either through mail or in person - by this Monday's deadline (if via mail, it must be postmarked by this date), and many have already done so, according to village officials.

The Chamber of Commerce first began working on the BID idea about a year and a half ago, and using $18,000 of its own funds, hired a consultant to help them. The consultant conducted a business survey, which according to Chamber President and BID Steering Committee Chairperson MaryAnn Paras, formed the basis of a proposal to the village earlier this year. The proposed BID budget would be spent on the marketing and promotion of downtown Farmingdale, as well as supplemental sanitation services and administrative costs. The district would comprise a central retail area of the village - both sides of Main Street from Melville Road to Fulton Street, and Conklin Street from Secatogue Avenue to the intersection of Fulton and Conklin.

Citing a concern about storefront vacancies in the central business district, Paras said last week that the effort was started by local people because, "All of us had the concern that Farmingdale is not going in the right direction." She added, "The vision is to fill the vacancies with the proper retail mix, to create an identity for Farmingdale, to market it beyond its boundaries."

Paras noted that the aim is to enhance the grant-funded revitalization efforts that the Village of Farmingdale has completed, such as the installation of new street lighting, benches and brick sidewalks. Acknowledging this work, she said, "But, if you don't market downtown Farmingdale - if you don't get people to come to downtown Farmingdale - then what have you got?"

Opponents of the BID have cited such concerns as the reported ineffectiveness of other BIDs on Long Island, the proportion of administrative costs in the budget (about 30 percent), and a possibility of debt which they say could stem from borrowing.

Richard Goldhaber, a local attorney who has maintained an office on Conklin Street since 1981, believes the proposed Farmingdale BID is designed to help Main Street stores, not professionals in the district. "I think the whole thing was ill-advised from the start," he said. "There is no way that this BID is going to help the professionals on Conklin Street." He noted that the village government should do more to attract new businesses, and that Main Street storekeepers should collaborate to solve Main Street's vacancy issues. Of those local people involved in proposing the BID, he said, "I think the people that acted, acted in good faith, but without full information and input, and that if they had to do it again, they would do it more intelligently."

In response to the opposition, Paras noted that BIDs have dramatically reduced storefront vacancies in other areas, such as Port Washington. The administrative costs, she added, are not uncommon, as they comprise 30 to 40 percent of most BIDs. She also ruled out the possibility of debt. A BID of this one's proposed size, she said, like its Long Island counterparts, would not have the ability to borrow, because it does not have the assets that the multi-million dollar BIDs of New York City have. "The BID is to use the funds that it gets, and try to secure other grants that are available," Paras said, adding, "We can do corporate sponsorships, and work with the village and chamber."

The final count on the proposed BID will be announced at the first village board meeting of September, when the board will vote on whether or not to pass a resolution to authorize it, according to Farmingdale Village Clerk-Treasurer John Giordano. "That decision is based on the number of objection forms filed, and/or whether the board feels that it is in the best interest of the village," he said Wednesday, noting that, according to state law, the board has some discretion on the matter. However, he added that if the 'no' votes total at least 51 percent, the board is obligated to deny the measure.

Throughout the voting period, Giordano noted, the village has taken no position on the BID. "The only role that the village has with this BID [vote] is to administer the count," he said.

"We do not take a position. However, the village board does have a consensus that something should be done to market the central business district of Farmingdale," he added. "That's not to exclude other marketing which may be financed by other grants or village funds in lieu of collecting money from businesses on Main and Conklin Street."

Giordano noted that the village has undertaken a slogan contest for Farmingdale, and plans to work with the chamber on Operation Downtown, a project funded by Nassau County. Operation Downtown is a program through which the village and chamber are receiving free strategic marketing advice from Hofstra University experts.