I'm very pleased to begin this message with some very welcoming news. Senator Mike Balboni and Assemblyman Thomas Alfano sponsored special legislation on behalf of Floral Park. The bill, which was recently signed by Governor George Pataki, grants our village a retroactive property tax exemption on the recently acquired Masonic Temple - now known as Centennial Hall. Normally, an exemption cannot be processed or granted until the next official taxable status date. We were given exempt status as of the date of closing on the property that saved us over $50,000 in school and general taxes we would otherwise have been obligated to pay.

I want to thank Senator Balboni and Assemblyman Alfano for midwifing this legislation into law. We make it a point to keep in the closest communication with our state officials. Over the years the village board has worked hard at developing relationships and forging bonds of friendships with elected officials throughout Long Island and New York State. These ties do not form overnight but are the result of mutual collaboration as much as they are of mutual trust and goodwill that had to be earned over time.

We are deeply gratified that the fruits harvested from these alliances have profited our residents so handsomely.

Our professional, volunteer fire department provides a critical service to our village. Each year they respond to over 1,200 calls. Last year they responded to 983 ambulance calls ranging from motor vehicle accidents to residents at home needing medical attention. In addition, they responded to 302 fire calls and mutual aid cases in neighboring communities.

I cannot help but think of the men and women in our fire department as our true and tried troops serving on the front lines of the domestic front. They are brave and dedicated and like the minutemen of old are ready to respond to a whole host of crisis in just a moment's notice. They are highly skilled volunteers who sacrifice time from their families to serve their neighbors and the residents of Floral Park. We are very proud of them.

In light of the above, I would like to take this opportunity to inform the residents of our village of a special referendum to be held on Sept. 27. The purpose of this referendum is to consider increasing the annual amount of funds contributed by the village on behalf of our emergency and fire fighting volunteers into the Incorporated Village of Floral Park Service Award Program.

A little background is in order. State legislation passed in 1989 permitted local governments to offer a service award program (a pension like plan) for local fire and emergency volunteers contingent upon approval of the residents in that locality via a public referendum. In 1993, the Floral Park voters approved a service award program for our fire department that went into effect in 1994. The approved plan authorized an annual contribution by the village of $450 on behalf of each volunteer who earned the required service credit points. Service credit points are earned by responding to calls, attending training seminars, drills and meetings. In order to qualify, each volunteer must earn 50 points a year.

The original legislation put a cap on the amount of the annual contribution at $480 per volunteer. Recent legislation passed in 2004 allows for an increase in this annual contribution of up to $700 per volunteer achieving the required points. However, like the original law, a public referendum is required before any changes can be made to the existing program. The village board adopted a resolution Aug. 16 proposing to increase the contribution in two phases, to $575 in 2006 and the maximum $700 in 2007.

Like all volunteer fire services in New York State, our most serious challenge is to attract and maintain members. An emergency responder is a very challenging job. It takes a truly dedicated individual to make their ranks. That's the way it should be but this service award program offers an added incentive. Since the service award inception in 1994, our fire department membership has increased from 134 members to 158. This is certainly progress, but we are still below our optimal level of membership and we're hopeful that this referendum will add members to our fire service's noble ranks.

To advise the public of the maximum costs that this referendum might entail, the following calculations have been based on full participation of all 158 volunteers: The current maximum annual contribution is 158 x $450 = $71,700. The proposed new maximum contribution for service credit points earned in 2006 is 158 x $575 = $90,850. The proposed new maximum contribution for service credit points earned in 2007 and thereafter is 158 x $700 = $110,600.

Maximum participation by our volunteers would increase the village budget by $19,750 each year for the next two years. To fund this increase, the tax rate would increase by 1 cent per year for the fiscal years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. The cost to the average taxpayer based on an assessment of $35,500 would be $3.55 each year.

In the interest of open government and participatory democracy, the village board has decided to have a special Election Day devoted to this issue. For the convenience of our residents and to avoid any confusion, there will be only one polling place for all election districts, which will be located at the Recreation/Pool Building. The polls will open from noon to 9 p.m.

Residents having questions regarding the service award and the referendum on Sept. 27 are invited to attend the village board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. at village hall.

Recently, I met with Deputy Mayor Kevin Greene, who is also the fire commissioner, Police Commissioner Michael Reid, Superintendent of Public Works Ken Tymecki and Jim Green of Four Village Studios about our Comprehensive Emergency Operation Plan that we are required to submit at the end of every year.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law, our village has the authority and responsibility to outline the steps and the procedures of all members of village government in the event of an emergency or a disaster. The meeting was extremely productive as we discussed how to make our procedures meet the requirement of the federal government as outlined in NIMS (National Incident Management Standards) in the event of emergency situations resulting from hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, railroad derailment or collision, airplane crash, terrorist attacks and other broad scale emergencies.

We have established timelines to meet these deadlines with dispatch and energy. As a full service village, we have resources at our disposal that many communities do not and we are seeking to maximize those resources if the need should arise. We are painstakingly reviewing and strengthening our ability to communicate with our public in the event of an emergency and are working with each of our departments to make certain that we will operate as one cohesive unit in responding to a full scale emergency. The paramount responsibility of any public official, rising all others, is to assure that public safety of those he has sworn to serve.

On a lighter note, I attended with Deputy Mayor Greene, Trustee Tom Tweedy, Trustee Gerry Bambrick and Trustee Jim Rhatigan the "Swim Awards" held at the Floral Park Pool. We distributed the many well-deserved trophies and medals to our young swimmers. Special congratulations to the Pirates swim team, who went undefeated this year.

This past Friday, on a beautiful moonlit summer evening, more awards were presented at the "Summer Recreation Award Ceremony" at our Recreation Center. It was not only great to see the many young athletes at this August occasion receiving their plaudits in competition, but also their immediate peers, those young men and women who just a summer or two ago were participants themselves. They are now back as counselors working hard with all the boys and girls. I hope this tradition of learning and then passing on this knowledge of play and good sportsmanship for others will continue for years to come.

I also want to thank Kurt Meyfohrt, our recreation superintendent, and John Michon for their usual superb job in running our summer programs. Indeed, the summer programs this year were among the best ever put together. The part was brimming over with activities and I have to especially commend Trustee Tom Tweedy for his involvement and oversight of the myriad events that took place on an almost daily basis.

Finally, this will be the last time I will be able to advise you that the official commenting period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding the 11.5 mile electrified track that will run from Queens Village through Hicksville will be ending Aug. 31. If you have not already done so, please go on the official record by forwarding your questions and comments about the project to the MTA/LIRR in care of Peter Palamaro, Public Affairs Department, Jamaica Station 1131, Jamaica, NY 11435.

The answers to our questions and comments must be responded to by the MTA/LIRR in their Final Environmental Impact Statement so please get your questions/comments in. We also encourage our residents to continue to correspond with our elected officials.