As some may have expected, Trustee Jon Segerdahl's Dec. 16 resolution - which, he said, builds upon the four-part resolution the board unanimously passed Oct. 21 and includes a needs assessment, an RFP and stabilization - was reintroduced at the Jan. 13 meeting and passed by a 5 to 4 margin. Mayor Barbara Miller, as in her power, voted "yes" twice. The resolution originally failed Dec. 16 because Trustee John Watras abstained. This time around, however, Trustee Watras voted in favor of it, along with, again, Trustees Peter Negri and Jon Segerdahl and Mayor Miller. Trustees Robert Rothschild, Peter Bee, John Mauk and Gerard Lundquist again voted "no."

The resolution read exactly the same as it did Dec. 16; however, any mention of the RFP was "temporarily" eliminated. Trustee Negri, in the "spirit of compromise," suggested part two of Trustee Segerdahl's original resolution - which requested village staff draw up an RFP for joint public/private use of the building - be removed for the sake of moving forward.

Trustee Segerdahl agreed, adding that trustees are obviously not in total agreement with his resolution and of his opinion won't be in total agreement on any resolution. "I stand by my resolution," he told fellow trustees. The latest version (with added words in italics) of his resolution read as follows: "With the intent of continuing to move forward with the St. Paul's issue and with the intent of further clarifying and delineating the four-part resolution on the future of the historic Main Building recently passed by the board of trustees, I offer the following resolution: needs assessment - a more expanded and thorough needs assessment be developed with community input and that a committee be immediately established.

"Stabilization: the board of trustees immediately authorize an expenditure of money from existing St. Paul's Building Maintenance Fund code, for the purpose of authorizing an architect to draw up the plans and specifications for the stabilization of the historic Main Building per Sullivan & Nichols cost estimate analysis. Village staff will immediately secure architectural estimates for the plans and specifications from EYP and Todd Harvey."

Trustee Bee opposed the resolution on two grounds: he (1) believes it calls for an RFP, which, in his opinion, is too restrictive, and (2) believes the receipt of an understanding from counsel as to the restrictions on public use should occur before any decision of any kind is made with respect to the St. Paul's property.

"From my perspective, the unanimous compromise resolution of this board - a brief moment in time we apparently won't see again for some time to come - was to pursue an RFP ... I urge this board, in the debate that will now follow, to remember at what cost personal attacks and divisiveness comes," he said. "We have a pretty good system of government in this village ... This issue, as important as it is, should carefully weigh whether it is worth the structure of our government." Trustee Lundquist, who also voted "no" to Segerdahl's resolution, added, "We started to embark on an 8-0 resolution. We had a resolution that was working. We should stick with it and make it work. Let's get the opinion of counsel ... We owe it to the public and ourselves to do that." Village Counsel Gary Fishberg is expected to render an opinion within the next two weeks.

Trustee Mauk, who appeared obviously disappointed with the meeting's outcome, does not believe the re-introduction of Trustee Segerdahl's resolution came about in the spirit of comity. "It's too skewed in one direction," he said.

Mayor Miller nominated former trustee and village resident Eileen Collins chair of a Citizens' Committee, which will seek input for a more detailed needs assessment. Collins, who accepted the honor, said, "I will do my very best for this village. I'm not an expert but I'm skilled at pulling people together." Residents like Manny Velez of Nassau Boulevard hope chosen committee members represent a cross section of all residents - specifically residents from the village's four sections - East, West, Estates and Central.