As part of the ongoing initiative to bring Farmingdale Village Hall into the 21st century, the board approved a major rehabilitation project to remodel the Village Hall Administrative Office. This remodeling includes new employee workstations and a complete re-wiring of the internal electrical system. Our goal of positioning the village infrastructure for maximum use of current and future technologies will reap immediate and long-term improvements in employee productivity. The village has taken advantage of the plummeting prices in both computer hardware and software to create an efficient work environment, where employees' computers can now communicate with each other via a network of compatible systems. Additional money-saving technological advancements approved by the board are as follows:

* ADP employee time system - The installation of this system will tighten the auditing and monitoring of overtime.

* Village vehicle fuel monitoring system - Will monitor both the maintenance and fuel usage by vehicle.

* Automated wireless water meter reading system - Will significantly reduce labor costs while allowing the village to implement quarterly or semi-annual billing.

Your village hall is now well-positioned to reap the benefits of 21st century technology efficiencies that will deliver productivity gains for years to come.

The village hall structure itself is undergoing roof and interior wall renovations, as years of neglect have led to leaks and structural damage from seeping rainwater. The ultimate goal of the village board's ongoing commitment to repairing and upgrading the village's infrastructure is to free future boards to focus their attention on serving resident concerns, without getting bogged down managing the rehabilitation and repair of neglected facilities.

The board recognizes that the cost of these one-time repairs and purchasing initiatives are significant. To this end, your elected officials have embarked on an aggressive campaign to reduce waste, eliminate unnecessary positions and correct inefficient purchasing procedures. We have also improved the village's financial position through a series of grants resulting in additional funds for the village. The combined effect of cost-saving measures and grant revenues has helped fund necessary repairs and improvements, and put the village in a great position for continued success and prosperity.