During the opening of the Aug. 4 Farmingdale Village Board Meeting, Mayor George Starkie presented Donald Glascott with a proclamation for 50 years of service and dedication to the fire department.

"The Board of the Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Farmingdale and colleagues and on behalf of all of our citizens are truly pleased to honor Don Glascott for his 50 years of service and dedication since 1958," said Starkie.

"That is something I respect because I am 51 years old," he said jokingly. "That is my life as a fireman."

During the meeting, the Farmingdale Board approved to increase the cap from $10,000 to $13,500 for a homeowner's funding for the Residential Rehabilitation Program. This program provides the low-income family homeowners with the funding from community block grant money to renovate their homes.

For any low-income homeowners who need renovations, there is still $50,000 left in this program's budget and they should fill out the application at the Village Hall to see if they qualify for these home improvements. Renovations under this grant are determined individually by case and may vary from each situation.

The board also had appointed several new alternates to the Planning Board for their architecture and design expertise. Nicholas Varlotta, Nicholas Parisi and Laura Colletti raised their right hands and took an oath, while Starkie swore in these new members.

Colletti, a licensed architect, said, "I was proud" as she reminisces on the moment she was sworn in to the Planning Board. "I hope my professional experience can bring a uniform look in a language that the village wants to express," she added.

Parisi, an art adjunct for Molloy College and Adelphi University, said, "I feel honored" and "I would like to get involved in the architecture" as he reflected on his new job position.

"We have a new revitalized planning board that is going to be taking on architectural review and responsibilities," said Starkie. "We need to appoint more alternates because we need a quorum. There have been times when we just don't have enough people to vote."

He later continued to explain their duties, "If anyone steps down from the board or can't make a meeting these alternates then can step in. They are very involved with all the processes up until vote time and then if the regular board is seated, they would sit aside."

The next village board meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 8 p.m. at the Village Hall. For more information visit www.farmingdalevillage.com.