It is unfortunate that the recent election for fire commissioner, Hicksville Fire District was determined not by the qualifications of the candidates, but by the vilification of Hicksville families. These are families who for the past five years have been worried that they will lose their homes through eminent domain. They have a right to be worried, because these are the facts.

I fully support the renovation of Station 2. The renovation is required to provide additional and much-needed apparatus and storage space. Showers for the members' safety to remove contaminants after a response must also be provided. Other improvements will be made to bring the station up to modern day standards. I would be against moving the station to another location. Now for the problem. The renovation will increase the station to 6,439 square feet. To be town, county and federal permit compliant to obtain an approved Certificate of Occupancy (C. of O.), additional parking spaces for the station must be provided due to the increase in station size and for compliance with the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act. There is no room for additional parking spaces at the station. If the district cannot comply with the parking space requirements, an approved C. of O. will not be given by the Town of Oyster Bay.

At our November meeting, I asked a commissioner this very question about permit compliance and was told we can build without them, it is a courtesy that we apply for them and we are a public service. It is true. We can build without them, just like any homeowner can renovate their home without permits if they desire. However, try and refinance or sell your home later without an approved and valid C. of O. Should the district ever be sued for an injury or death that may be connected to the Station 2 building, the first documentation the judge will ask for is the building's C. of O. Without one it is an illegal building and the Hicksville taxpayers and the commissioners, who approved the construction, will be held liable; the commissioners personally liable.

When Station 3 was constructed, a New York State code enforcement official told the board of commissioners that to be in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and receive a C. of O., an elevator had to be installed in the building. Due to the high cost factor, the board ignored his advice. Two years later, so that a C. of O. could be obtained, an elevator had to be installed in the then completed building at now double the original cost.

I have spoken to a number of people, who were and are now involved in the building approval requirement process. All of these people, without exception, state that the proposed Station 2 renovation without additional parking provided, will not be permit or C. of O. compliant. There is only one way of meeting this parking space requirement. Home(s) will have to be obtained to provide parking spaces within the immediate vicinity of Station 2.

There will be a public meeting to present the plans sometime in January or February. The plans will then be forwarded to the Town of Oyster Bay for consideration and approval. Hopefully, all the experts in plan approval are wrong and the required permits, variances and the certificate of occupancy will be granted. If not, then the board of fire commissioners will have a very difficult choice to make. The eminent domain resolution passed this previous June and so highly touted during the campaign can be rescinded for the "good of the community" by the simple majority vote of three of the commssioners.

Bob Manson

Commissioner, Hicksville Fire District