Several key issues of concern were discussed at the Hicksville Community Council's Feb. 2 meeting. At this time, New York State Assemblyman Rob Walker and Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman Rose Marie Walker were on hand to discuss state-wide and town issues, including New York State's extension of Megan's Law and beautification and commercial development within Hicksville.

At the start of the meeting, Council President Valerie Pakaluk announced that a bulletin board will be placed at the Hicksville Long Island Rail Road station to emphasize community highlights and history. According to Pakaluk, the board would have two components. Her ideal for one side of the board would be "to [highlight] history, hopefully something about Valentine Hicks who was vice president of the railroad and very instrumental in the railroad coming to Hicksville," she said, adding that the other side of the board would be open to postings by community groups and of events.

With the focus on Hicksville, Councilwoman Walker expressed her fondness for the area. "It's nice to speak all over the town of Oyster Bay and represent the town at so many different functions and meetings and occasions but when you come home it's extra special," she said.

According to the councilwoman, beautification under the Hamlet Plan has already begun from the train station up to West John. "We did one side of the street, the east side of the street ... with pavers and some landscaping, new lighting fixtures and benches. We worked with the county and we have new bus stops ... we've tried to keep that area looking better than it has looked," she said. According to the councilwoman, the opposite side of the street will be updated as well.

Various citizens expressed concern over the number of strip malls in town along with the large number that are either in the process of being built or being considered. There is concern that the town had no continuity of design among the various buildings. According to Assemblyman Walker an architecture review board would be required in order to have a say over what the buildings look like within the town.

"The architecture review board will actually do exactly what you are saying. Basically any time you are going to come in with a new development, or a new façade change, you would now fall under the architectural review board. It is something we should look into doing," he said.

According to the councilwoman, the town, unfortunately, does not have that much control over what can go in certain areas. "How many times have we come to a civic meeting and people will say 'well we really want this to be there' and we say 'well that would be wonderful' [but neither] you nor I own that property and the owner of that property wants to put in a strip mall," she said.

The assemblyman cited the great influx of development in recent years. "The Hamlet Plan is a great start ... here is our opportunity ... before it is too late ... there are going to be no places left to develop strip malls," he said.

Assemblyman Walker also discussed several statewide issues, stating that the 2006 budget, when passed, appears as if it will help with taxes in the area and include an increase in aid to Hicksville. The other issue he was concerned with was the passage of the Megan's Law extension, which forces sex offenders to remain on the registry for longer amounts of time, with the worst offenders remaining on the registry for life.

The assemblyman referred to the Megan's Law extension as "probably the best thing that has happened in the state of New York." "You put politics aside when you talk about doing what's right by the people," Assemblyman Walker said.