The stalemate in the negotiations between the Village of Great Neck and the Water Pollution Control District has been broken according to Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman. In a marathon meeting last Friday, Sept. 12, that lasted six hours and was attended by 20 people, the district's commissioners and the village's mayor and deputy mayor, bolstered by the mayors of the villages of Saddle Rock, Kensington, Thomaston and Great Neck Plaza, with input from various legal, engineering and financial experts, hammered out a line by line agreement, a "meeting of the minds," on the matter of combining the two sewage treatment plants on East Shore Road. The agreement, although not signed yet by the two parties, covers both alternatives, either expansion of the district's treatment area or a contract for service by the district to receive the village's sewage.

According to Mr. Kaiman, the process was "positive with plenty of lively debate and with everyone engaged." He added that he was very impressed by the "caliber of the people participating and their articulate, in-depth discussion of the issues."

Independent bond experts and financial people will review the document to assure that the eventual agreement is equitable and fair to all parties. Attorneys will meet to polish the language.

Major components of the agreement will be covered when the document is released.