The 40 residents attending Concerned Citizens Association of Farmingdale meeting at the Allen Park Community Center on May 20 were able to address new Mayor George Graf with any questions or concerns they had regarding the village.

CCAF President Mike Grello opened Thursday's meeting by discussing recent accomplishments of the non-profit, non-partisan neighborhood organization dedicated to representing Farmingdale residents. One continuing issue has been the Liberty Superfund site and the cleanup of the 15-acre land adjacent to Allen Park towards Main Street.

"You will see changes like the fence that is up around the Liberty site now," Grello said. "Councilman Macagnone helped to expedite that fence and now he is trying to stretch it the rest of the way to the park."

The town has been in court many times trying to take care of some problems over there as well as completing some custodial work.

"We're trying to get it so that everything is legal over there," Oyster Bay Town Councilman Anthony Macagnone said. "I live in Farmingdale and I'm a Farmingdale guy and we want to just keep it beautiful."

Macagnone's office then made a brief presentation, awarding the CCAF a citation for their continuing efforts in resolving neighborhood challenges and preserving a suburban atmosphere.

"This is a wonderful group that we have here," Macagnone said. "It is a shame that it wasn't started 40 years ago instead of only four. In four short years you guys have rivaled groups that have been around 50 years."

Upon accepting the award, Grello mentioned that although the Town of Oyster Bay was presenting it to CCAF, it was achieved as a group. He wanted to include all those who have participated in CCAF's efforts.

"It is all about building relationships," Grello said. "We come here and we build a relationship together and we build it with the politicians who live in our own community and should have the same pride as us."

Mayor George Graf began by giving the group an update as to what his office has been up to for the first six weeks they've been in office.

"For those living in the Village of Farmingdale, there will be a 10 percent reduction in the water rate," Mayor Graf said. "On top of that the gazebo project is on schedule to be completed during the month of June."

Demolition of dilapidated buildings was another first on the mayor's list of things to do. The big white house on Conklin Street has already been demolished and the building behind 7-11 will also be coming down. Three other abandoned homes on Conklin Street should be bulldozed within a month or so.

"A 12-house cul-de-sac has been approved for Conklin Street," Graf said. "But they will be coming in from Dale Drive, so we won't have to worry about additional traffic on Conklin Street."

Mayor Graf also said his office has been looking into the expenses and revenues and will continue to be making new enhancements. They are in the process of hiring two additional code enforcement officers.

"We want them to work flexible hours, helping keep things the way they should be during off hours," he said. "We are continuing to look into ways to providing a service that everyone is expecting at a reduced cost."

Mayor Graf then opened the floor to questions. Issues brought to his attention included the day laborer situation on Conklin Street and parking on and near Main Street.

"We will be increasing the fines on the contractors that pick these people up and also expanding the times that code enforcement officers are on duty," the mayor said. "Certain enhancements are being put into place. This is a step-by-step process that has to be done in logical steps."

When addressing the parking issue, the mayor's office mentioned the construction of a parking lot being constructed behind Moby Drugs in June. They will be placing handicap parking spots in all different areas to make them accessible from all points of the street.

"We have a laundry list of things and we will be knocking them down one by one," Mayor Graf said reassuringly.

CCAF will be meeting again on June 17 at 7:30 p.m. Elections of two positions of the board will be taking place at that meeting and CCAF is also still searching for a recording secretary. Membership is open to all residents of school district #22. For more information or to fill out an application people can visit the organization's new website at www.ccaf-civic.org.