Congratulations to Mayor-elect Gerard Lundquist as well as Trustee Robert Rothschild, Trustee-elect Nicholas Episcopia and Trustee-elect Thomas Lamberti on their election March 15. Also congratulations are due to Village Justice Allen Mathers, also voted in as village justice for the next four years.

As indicated at the March 3 board of trustees meeting I intend to leave this public hearing open until all feedback is received and the board of trustees has time to discuss the feedback. It is strongly suggested that the feedback be sent to the board of trustees in writing. I appreciate the Estates POA President Thomas O'Rourke writing to the board of trustees on behalf of his directors. It is clear from their letter and other comments made that the public needs a clear understanding of the rationale for these proposed changes, which three critical boards/commissions of the village, Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), Architectural Design and Review Board (ADRB) and the Planning Commission (PC) as well as executive staff recommended to the board of trustees.

I recommend that an educational forum be held so that village-wide participation be possible and that the experts on this matter present the information and answer the public's questions. I also recommend that the board of trustees consider the two additional recommendations of Trustee Segerdahl's Trustee Committee on this matter - recommended to the board back in December 2002.

There are many reasons why the Village of Garden City is such a desirable community to live in and to raise a family. One of these is our outstanding schools. Congratulations are due to the Garden City Public Schools for the excellent test scores that were released by the New York State Education Department last week.