The Hicksville community came out in force last Thursday night to hear Frank Scalera, special counsel to Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, discuss the illegal housing problem in Hicksville, questions and answers were to follow. The Hicksville Public Library's new director Carol Ahrens was scheduled to stop in to say hello and Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Rose Marie Walker was also listed to be on hand to talk about town issues.

From what I understand, Rose never had the event on her calendar and her attendance was never confirmed. Carol Ahrens was in the audience but neither Stanley nor I knew she was scheduled to speak.

Over 100 frustrated Hicksville residents came to hear what the town is doing about illegal housing. At 5:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting, the town contacted the council informing them that due to a family emergency key speaker Frank Scalera would be unable to attend. Things happen and we sometimes forget that public officials have families and lives other than work. However, I still find it upsetting that no one was sent in Mr. Scalera's place.

Valerie Pakaluk, president of the Community Council, informed her board on the Sunday prior to the meeting that she would be unable to attend due to a last minute graduation dinner. Valerie who is an unpaid volunteer made sure that everything was in place and taken care of. She made sure that all the forms and fliers needed at the meeting were available and asked that Stanley Kobin, the council's new vice president, and I chair the meeting.

Stanley, John Budnick and I have been working on the council's Constitution and Valerie asked that I finalize it with the membership. This boring procedure turned out to be the best part of the evening.

As Stanley tried to keep the meeting moving with some local announcements the temperature began to rise. It was quite obvious that the people in Hicksville are fed up with the town's ineptness in properly addressing the illegal housing issue. One fellow walked out shouting "I'll take care of this myself tomorrow." I was able to get his name and number before he left but as I was doing so many others walked out in disgust.

Is this what the town thinks of Hicksville? Is this what our elected officials feel is a proper response to a community's growing concern regarding their ever diminishing quality of life? Why wasn't another town representative sent in Mr. Scalera's place?

I have had nothing but praise for the job that was being done in the illegal housing division of the town's Code Enforcement Bureau under the supervision of Code Enforcement Officer James Baudille. Under Mr. Baudille's supervision we were able to address and correct dozens of local code enforcement issues within the Hicksville Gardens Civic areas. The town has recently disbanded this unit and re-merged it with the town's Code Enforcement Bureau. We now see what that merger has done and I personally am appalled!

Some people took the time to give me their names and addresses and volunteered to join me in a separate forum to solely discuss illegal housing. I will attempt to secure one evening during the summer to discuss this issue as a community. If anyone is interested in volunteering their time to this community wide effort please feel free to email me at HGCA11801@yahoo.com.

If you don't have the time to volunteer you can write to the town supervisor and let him know how you feel. Letters can be sent to The Honorable John Venditto, Supervisor Town of Oyster Bay, Town Hall West, 74 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY 11771. The phone number is 624-6350.

We must unite the community against this growing malignancy that is destroying our quality of life. Get involved now!

Henry A Goessmann

Trustee, Hicksville Community Council

President, Hicksville Gardens Civic Association