At the Jan. 4 North Hempstead Town Board meeting, the first board meeting of the historic year of 2000, Councilman Angelo Ferrara voted against amending the Franchise Agreement between the Town of North Hempstead and Cablevision. The Franchise Agreement already in place has a franchise fee of three percent. The amendment called for an increase of the franchise fee to five percent.

The franchise fee is a charge that is included in your Cablevision bill. All of the revenues collected by Cablevision as a result of this fee are then transferred to the town. Knowing full well that hardworking North Hempstead residents and business owners have enough to worry about with taxes and general expenses, Councilman Ferrara could not support this legislation.

At the town board meeting, Councilman Ferrara stated, "Although this is called a franchise fee, it really is a tax." Recognizing this as a tax, Councilman Ferrara noted his opposition to the initial three percent franchise fee and therefore, could not support the additional two percent.