(Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to the Hicksville Board of Fire Commissioners from Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman Rose Marie Walker.)

On April 14, you voted in favor of moving forward with plans to renovate Station 2 at its current location and against forming a community committee. The formation of this committee had been discussed at both of your community meetings. I am asking you to reconsider your decision regarding the formation of a committee.

During both meetings and in all of your letters to the residents, emphasis was placed on the need to work together. The residents were certainly led to believe that a committee would be formed.

I am well aware that this issue has created a divide in our community. Will a committee solve this? I don't know. But failure to form one will only create a greater divide. Don't go back on your word to all of Hicksville. Form a committee and let's hope it brings about a positive resolution.

I would also like to thank you all for all you do for our community. Hicksville is blessed with the best volunteer fire department there could ever be.

Rose Marie Walker,

Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman

The recent decision by the Hicksville Board of Fire Commissioners to go forward with the renovations at Station 2 is the right decision. I've attended several meetings designed to address the concerns of the residents living closest to the firehouse as well as those of the surrounding community.

These meetings allowed all sides to express their views on the proposed renovations. The original design would not have fit our community, however, the current one does. The current design addresses the improvements needed to ensure the continued safety of the members of the Hicksville Fire Department and, ultimately, the residents of Hicksville.

Diane Oliva