Deputy Mayor Hecken led the Thursday, Aug. 13 Board of Trustees meeting in the absence of Mayor Tauches. The meeting began with the Oath of Office taken by Firefighter Arthur J. Burdette, who was sworn in by Trustee Jenkins. A graduate of Freeport High School and SUNY Oneonta, where he was a meteorology major, he and his fiancée Nicole reside in Westbury. His father is an active chief in the Freeport Fire Department, where Trustee Jenkins also serves as a firefighter. Burdette, a.k.a. "Artie," has been assigned to the Headquarters Company of the Garden City Fire Department, having completed his basic training in firefighting in May. Also in firefighting news, Trustee Jenkins explained that Chief Ridgway and the Garden City Fire Department were hosting the Nassau County Fire Chiefs Association meeting at the same time as the Board of Trustees meeting, and thanked Ridgway for taking a moment from his meeting to attend and congratulate Burdette.

Trustee Torino reported that during May the Garden City Police Department had participated in Buckle Up America and congratulated the Department and Commissioner Ernest J. Cipullo on the Village's over 80 percent compliance rating. Torino also noted that the National DOT and NYS Traffic Safety Committee, among others had commended the Village on their enforcement of traffic safety laws.

Trustee Asselta noted that the BID for the Franklin Avenue Beautification Program would go out Aug. 24, with a vote by the trustees to select a contractor planned for Sept. 18. The award would then be given by Oct. 1. She also reported that the paving and curb repair project in the Village has been completed and the sidewalk project is winding down. Between Stewart and Ninth Street the parking lot side has been worked on and lighting will be installed when the Beautification Project is under way.

Trustee Hecken then gave the following reports:

"The New York Sunday Times and Newsday recently ran articles concerning the Village's attempts to maintain our Village identity by asking for a zip code change. I have received a number of calls on the subject, because as Deputy Mayor, I was quoted several times in these articles.

"What we are really asking for is to have the area to our east, which is in our current postal zone separated or renamed in such a way that they can not use Garden City as an address. The establishment of postal zone 11530 goes back many years, when there wasn't much in the way of business to our east. Now, with the growth of businesses located in Roosevelt Field, Mitchel Field and along Stewart Avenue, the implication is that they are part of the Incorporated Village of Garden City.

"We have pointed out that small and large businesses to our east, using the Garden City address have cost the Village of Garden City lots of money. These businesses using the Garden City address and, in some cases, the Garden City name in their designations, do not pay Village of Garden City school taxes.

"While it can be argued that we do not have to provide Village services to these companies, they are directly competing with businesses located within the Village boundaries. Office buildings on Franklin Avenue, for example, have trouble finding tenants when businesses seeking the 'prestigious' Garden City address can get that address at locations outside our Village, often in newer buildings at lower rents without paying Village taxes.

"The direct cost to our residents is a reduction in the share of Village taxes paid by the business community both in the form of office, and in some cases, retail vacancies and in an overall reduction in commercial assessments.

"Additionally, while we do not receive taxes from the area, because of the use of the name Garden City, we do get all of the negative publicity associated with crime, traffic and air pollution that occurs because of the extensive shopping complex to our east.

"To end on a more positive note, while we will continue to pursue a postal zone change, our main emphasis will be to move forward with the Franklin Avenue beautification and business revitalization programs initiated by the mayor."

"We have just received our first look at The Nassau Hub Study, a copy of which was dated Nov. 21, 1996. This study was commissioned by the Nassau Planning Commission and the Office of Housing and Intergovernmental Affairs, at the request of the Nassau County Development Review Committee and Environmentalists. It is interesting to note that one of the participants was the Nassau County Planning Commission. As you will recall, when we reported on the Village's response to the Nassau County Planning Commission request for comments on the Nassau County Draft Master Plan, we expressed our concern that the Hub Study was missing, except for the footnote: 'Recommendations from the Nassau Hub Study will be added, as appropriate, when the report information has been finalized.'

"The referenced Hub Study report is the latest that we know of and one of many dating back over 40 years. Thus far, there has been criticism for lack of leadership in moving forward with an action plan. The Town of Hempstead has the actual zoning authority and the County owns a great deal of the land. To quote Newsday: Transportation is the key: 'Pushing a transportation system and zoning to increase the Hub's viability presents a myriad of political problems. Who wants to decide what land would be condemned for a transportation system? Who wants to convince Hempstead Village, Carle Place or Garden City to give up land to forge connections between the Hub and the Long Island Rail Road? Who wants to decide which community gets a Hub station and which does not? Who wants to push for streets and parks development that civic groups fear will pull business from local downtowns?'

"The core area of the Hub is defined as a 2.9 square mile triangle of retailers, offices, colleges, and recreation, which, while partially developed, generates just under three quarters of the $7 billion in business done in Nassau County each year. A large portion of the Hub runs from Hempstead Turnpike to Old Country Road and from Clinton Road to Merrick Avenue. The peripheral areas include portions of Garden City, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury, Salisbury, East Meadow, Uniondale, and Hempstead. Most of the current planning includes Adelphi University and the Mineola Complex as integral components of the Hub.

"Current planning for the Hub includes creating a distinct downtown center for the County and strengthening existing business districts within the Hub. The recently released Third Plan for the New York - New Jersey - Connecticut Metropolitan Area, the Regional Plan Association (RPA) calls downtown areas the 'center for the next century.' The RPA has expressed interest in the Nassau Hub area as a future regional downtown and full-service center for Long Island. The possibilities are great. The downside for Garden City is also enormous.

"Included in the commentary are intersection improvements to Clinton Road/Glen Cove Road and Stewart Avenue, re-examination of the Clinton Road - Stewart Avenue Bypass Improvement project. Examination of the possibility of reuse of abandoned railroad rights-of-way for light rail, including bringing light rail into the center of the area from the west using an existing rail freight spur that runs parallel to Commercial Avenue. Although a major vehicular route, Stewart Avenue could also function as a corridor for a non-vehicular traffic linking.

"It is interesting to note in the report's 'Action Plan' Garden City gets mention as an affluent residential community which has a stable economic base, although recent changes to the character of its commercial center, concentrated in the area of Franklin Avenue and Seventh Street, have caused concern among residents. The report goes on to say that to maintain a mix of commercial uses that will complement other commercial areas in the Nassau Hub, Garden City could attract uses geared to the specialized market of its affluent local customer base as well as guests of the Garden City Hotel.

"As we have been doing, we will continue to monitor developments of the Hub Study as well as the Master Plan and to look out for the interests of Garden City residents and business owners.

"Incidentally, we have been advised that the next public work session for the Master Plan is tentatively scheduled for the Hempstead High School on Sept. 24."

"Twelve residents, including Mayor Norbert Kastner, of our Sister City, Coburg, Germany, were visitors to our Village for two days last week.

"They were participating in a bicycle tour of their two Sister Cities on the North American Continent, Garden City and Coburg, Ontario, Canada. They also have other sister cities in Europe and in previous years have bicycled to those cities in Italy and France.

"Nine of the Germans stayed at the Floral Park Motor Lodge, while two stayed with Muriel and Al Urban and one stayed with Mary and Marriott Dowden.

"On Thursday last week, the group arrived by air and bicycled from their motel to Garden City. A brief orientation was held at Village Hall and then the group participated in a reception arranged by the Village at 660 West restaurant.

"Following the reception, the group returned to Village Hall and retrieved their bicycles. Incidently, they were wearing very attractive, imprinted racing uniforms. They then proceeded to the Gazebo and were introduced by former Mayor Dick Benack and myself to the crowd attending the Thursday evening concert. Tom Wagner and his Merrymakers serenaded them as they rode off to return to their motel.

"On Friday, some of the group went into Manhattan, while others toured the Island. In the evening, a reception and barbecue party were held for the group at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dowden.

"Participants also included Trustee Judith and Mr. Joseph Asselta, Trustee and Mrs. Don Jenkins, Trustee and Mrs. Peter Bee, Village Administrator and Mrs. Robert Schoelle, former Mayor and Mrs. Richard Benack, former Trustee and Mrs. Al Urban, Mr. and Mrs. John Lenhardt, Village Clerk Joan Gallear, and myself.

On Saturday morning, they disembarked on their planned thousand mile trip to their Canadian Sister City, Coburg, Canada. Planned stopovers included The Princeton Club in New York City, the show Titanic, and West Point Military Academy.

"We certainly want to thank the Dowdens, the Urbans, and the Benacks for helping make the visit such a success. Also, special thanks should go to Joan Gallear and Bob Schoelle for making the arrangements and seeing to our guests' needs."

After Hecken gave his reports, Eileen Murphy asked about agenda item #4, "Tax Certiorari Settlement." Council Fishberg explained that the settlement was with Bloomingdale's, that received a settlement of $900,000, to be paid by the Village of Garden City.

Murphy also questioned if the Village officials were planning to organize an effort with regard to the zip code issue. She commented that she felt many people were seeking "something they can jump behind if the Village takes a leadership role." Hecken said that during Executive Session after the meeting he would poll his fellow trustees (Kettner and Lewis were absent) and find out if they would support a request to the mayor upon his return to initiate an official effort. Former Mayor Benack had written a letter to the postal service and the zip code committee of the Chamber of Commerce that has been active in soliciting the aid of Congresswoman McCarthy (who commented on the issue as noted in the interview with her on page one). Murphy encouraged the trustees to take an active role that interested residents could support.