Town Attorney Appointed As Records Access Officer

By Margaret Whitely

At the last North Hempstead Town Board Meeting it was proposed and approved that Town Attorney Howard Miller be appointed Records Access Officer for the town.

The vote was taken after a complaint lodged by Republican Town Clerk-elect Linda Green. Green's complaint was that this has never been done before in the town and, although not officially named, the town clerk has always been the access officer for the town. Green submitted a letter written to her by the Executive Director of the New York State Department on Open Government, Robert Freeman, stating:

"The governing body and chief executive official where one exists, shall promote and support a program for the orderly and efficient management of records, including the identification and appropriate administration of records with enduring value for historical or other research. Each local government shall have one officer who is designated as records manager officer. This offer shall coordinate legal disposition, including destruction of obsolete records. In towns, the town clerk shall be the records management officer."

Freeman further commented in his letter to Green, "In my experience, due in particular to the satutory functions of town clerks, it is rare for anyone other than a town clerk to be designated as 'Records Access Officer'."

North Hempstead Town Supervisor May Newburger said that the board had chosen Miller since many legal questions were asked of his office regarding records so it seemed that he would be the logical choice and the board voted to agree.

Green, however, commented that she felt strongly that it was strictly a political decision.

The board also voted to form a new department to be called the Public Safety Department which would transfer various functions from existing departments to the Department of Public Safety. This department will be run by a new commissioner, as yet unnamed, with an annual salary of $60,000.

The board also approved the appointment of outgoing town clerk Deena Lesser as Commissioner for the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District. Prior to the meeting an announcement was made that Lesser will stay on at town hall as the deputy commissioner of Community Services under Commissioner Anne Croce.

Outgoing Town Councilman Fred Pollack was appointed as a member of the North Hempstead Housing Authority.

Prior to approving $14 million in bonds Councilman-elect Angelo Ferrara asked that the bonds not be voted on until after the new board members are sworn into office. Supervisor Newburger said that the new board would have jurisdiction over the money distribution but that the board was just voting to go out for bonding of the money. Ferrara said he was disappointed at the board's action, stating that it was just a 'political move'. The board then approved $14 million in bonds for the following:

$180,000 to finance the costs and reconstruction and improvement of town buildings.
$232,000 to finance the costs of the acquisition of motor vehicles for use and for the town. (The cars would be used for code enforcement.)
$500,000 to finance the costs of the reconstruction and improvement of the town physical activity center building. (It was reported that the steps are in need of repair.)
$125,000 to finance the costs of the reconstruction and resurfacing of parking lots at the town hall annex and the community center in Roslyn.
$130,000 to finance the costs of the acquisition of machinery and apparatus for use in the solid waste department.
$28,000 to finance the costs of the construction of a new storage and maintenance building for the Department of Community Services at the animal shelter.
$55,000 to finance the costs of the acquisition of machinery and apparatus for construction (for use in the Parks Department).
$1,100,000 to finance the cost of the acquisition and installation of a computer-assisted integrated financial management and account system for use in and for the town.
$440,000 to finance the costs of the acquisition of machinery and apparatus for construction and maintenance. (Highway Department. Payloaders and dump trucks, etc.)
$4,000,000 to finance the cost of resurfacing of various public highways, roads, streets and parkways in and for the town.
$3,000,000 to finance the cost of the construction, reconstruction, widening and repaving of various public highways, roads and streets in and for the town.
$300,000 to finance the cost of the improvement of public parks, playgrounds and recreation areas in and around the town.
$200,000 to finance the cost of the reconstruction and improvement of the town dock in and for the town at Manhasset Bay, Port Washington.
$400,000 to finance the cost of the improvement of the town nature walk pathway and facilities in Port Washington in and for the town.
$2,000,000 to finance the cost of an additional appropriation for the construction of utility services and a sewage pump station at the town golf course for use in and for the town.
$200,000 to finance the cost of an additional appropriation, construction or reconstruction of solid waste disposal facilities within the Town of North Hempstead.
$730,000 to finance the payment of compromised or settled claims or judgments against the town.
$300,000 to finance the cost of Phase I of the capping and closure of the Port Washington L-5 Landfill DPW Project No. 97-01.

On New Year's Day the newly-elected Councilmembers Angelo Ferrara, James O'Connor and Town Clerk-elect Linda Green and re-elected Town Supervisor May Newburger will all be sworn-in at a 2 p.m. ceremony at North Hempstead Town Hall, Plandome Road, Manhasset.