Following a proposal for the Village of Great Neck Plaza to disassociate itself from the Great Neck Co-op and Condominium Council, Plaza Mayor Jean Celender told the Great Neck Record that she and her board of trustees had been looking at the "practices" of this council for some time now, far in advance of this month's upcoming contested trustee election. Stuart Hochron, president of the council and a candidate challenging the mayor's choice for trustee (Sheldon Goodman), told the Record that he would "respond in time."

The proposed resolution, read at a Plaza board meeting last month, first explained the council, which began in the 1990s "by individuals working in conjunction with and with the full support and cooperation of the Village of Great Neck Plaza." The council, according to the resolution, "was conceived to organize, network and share concerns of shareholders and unit owners ... to promote their interests, and identify common concerns and issues ..."

For a period of time, according to the village, the council functioned as a committee of the Plaza, but was subsequently formed as an independent, private, not-for-profit corporation, which collected dues, and opened its membership to co-ops and condos and homeowner associations on Long Island.

The Plaza resolution did also state that the village "believes that there continues to be a public perception that the council is in some way associated with, or otherwise a part of, the village ..."

The village trustees, however, according to the resolution, "have become aware of certain aspects of the operation of the council that they believe are contrary to both the original purpose for the formation of the council, and not appropriate for the proper operation and functioning of said council ..."

The Plaza resolution lists the following as problematic areas of the council:

"1. Denying the co-op and condominium members of the council the right to vote, including the right to vote for the election of members of the board of directors of the council and the right to vote to amend the council's bylaws;

"2. Failing to provide all members of the council with adequate, meaningful financial reports on a regular basis or an annual report of directors;

"3. Making contributions in the name of the council from the council funds to outside organizations which have no relation to the original purposes of the council and without the consent, permission or prior knowledge of its members;

"4. Allowing the council to be used for certain political purposes;

"5. Conducting the general membership meetings of the council in such a manner which does not permit members to raise new business items from the floor without prior approval of the council leadership."

The resolution goes on to state that, "for the aforementioned reasons," the Plaza "formally disassociates itself from the Great Neck Co-op and Condominium council;" that no published village information "shall in any way identify the council as an organization that is in some manner related to, associated with, or otherwise supported or sponsored by the village;" and that "at such time as the Council's management may change its practices and amend its bylaws to resolve the concerns and issues raised herein, the mayor and the board of trustees will reconsider its position, including the possibility of rescinding this resolution."

Mr. Hochron told the Record that he had no prior knowledge of this meeting, that he was "blindsided." He had no further comment, but did say that he would eventually release a statement.

Mayor Celender told the Record that the village has, for quite a while, had some concerns about how the organization is being run. The problem is exacerbated, she said, by the fact that there is a perception that this Council is village sponsored. The mayor wants to be sure that it is clear to the public that this is not a village-sponsored group at all.

"We need to distance ourselves," she said, although she did acknowledge that the group had originally been one of the village's citizen based committees. However, she added that several years ago the council went out on its own as a non-profit.

Mayor Celender went on to state that the village had been looking at these concerns long before Mr. Hochron announced his intention to run for a board seat.

"I wish they would change their practices ... and then maybe we wouldn't have to do anything," Mayor Celender said. The mayor also said that she believes that many people in the condominiums and in the cooperative apartments do not know about these practices.

The mayor confirmed that this issue was not on the evening's agenda and she felt that Mr. Hochron was "caught off-guard," and that was why he left the meeting. She said that the resolution was tabled in order to give Mr. Hochron an opportunity to respond. The mayor also said that Mr. Hochron left the meeting before hearing any of the subsequent discussion.

"We are not attacking the organization," Mayor Celender said. She said that the council "does good" and she hopes that the organization will change and be "more open and transparent."

Deputy Mayor Ted Rosen, too, questioned practices such as voting practices within the council and political support of candidates from outside organizations' elections. The deputy mayor told the Record that he has been hearing complaints, on and off, for a long time, with more consistent complaints coming to the trustees by last spring. The issue of not being permitted to bring items up at a meeting without prior permissions is also a major concern, Mr. Rosen said.

"The council has done many good things," Mr. Rosen said. "Let them permit people to stand for election ... we want it run democratically, openly," he said. "If they had made changes, this would all be moot," Mr. Rosen added.

Mr. Rosen also stated that he is "absolutely not accusing anyone of any financial impropriety," but, he said there should be "adequate reporting."

Both Mayor Celender and Deputy Mayor Rosen said that village hall is still open, for a meeting place, to the council, as it is always open to public organizations.

Plaza Trustee Gerry Schneiderman also told the Record that the concerns regarding the Council were brought to their attention last spring, "maybe May or June." Mr. Schneiderman said that the mayor and the board heard complaints about the council "not being run properly" and the problem that residents could not bring items up from the floor, but had to have prior permission. He also stated that some complaints revolved around the claim that no one had seen a financial statement in two years.

Former council board member Marion Green stated: "We want to make this a better and more democratic body to represent our interests in a more open manner that includes the general membership."

No action has been taken, as yet, and the matter will be on the agenda and will be heard by the Plaza board again at the March 7 board of trustees meeting.