At the last Williston Park Village Board meeting Mayor Ludwig Odierna and Deputy Mayor Ann Marie Smith paid tribute to Nassau County Police veteran of 35 years William Handworth. Thirty of those years Handworth has been assigned to Williston Park and East Williston.

Handworth said, "I took a temporary assignment back in 1978 which was considered a special post in Williston Park and East Williston. I grabbed it for one year to see if I liked it and 30 years later I liked it, it was good."

Odierna added, "He found out it was an easy job and he met a lot of nice people because we are the nicest people on Long Island and he said I want this job. So, for your 35 years of service and for your example and for your dedication towards keeping our neighborhood safe and for bringing knowledge and service to our village residents and being involved in many community events and functions over the years, on behalf of the board of trustees and the people of Willison Park we present you with this proclamation."

Smith added, "We're also presenting you with the Key to The Village because you were a lifesaver with Neighborhood Watch. And, let me say, 35 years of service is an accomplishment."

Handworth added that his term would officially end on Sept. 8 and he would be gone to Florida on Sept. 9. He said, "It's been a great run and thank you."

The mayor then went on with the rest of the meeting which involved reading the current bills (abstracts) and asking for them to be approved by the board for payment.

In opening up his portion of the meeting Mayor Odierna suggested that everyone take advantage of a book written by audience member and resident Rudy Rosenberg entitled, Somehow We Survived. Since Rosenberg was in the audience he got up and thanked the mayor for the kind words.

Nassau County will hold a Sept. 11 Sunset Ceremony at the Eisenhower Park Memorial on Sept. 8 at 6:45 p.m.

At the next meeting of the village, to be held on Sept. 15, there will be a revision of the garbage regulations to put out garbage the night before garbage pickup, to adjust to the darkness at 8 p.m., for senior citizens.

The Annual Williston Park Street Fair will be held on Sept. 21 when the street will be closed from Willis Avenue, east for the fair.

Mayor Odierna gave the report of the clerk, in his absence, announcing the following block parties: Sept. 6 on Syracuse Street from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Also on Fordham Street.

The Williston Park Library requested to use the Village Meeting Room for a lecture about Megan's Law and the request was granted.

Deputy Mayor Smith opened her report with further praise for Police Officer Handworth. She said, "We appreciate all that you have done to keep us safe and 35 years is a lot, so kudos."

Smith also announced that the Nassau Pops Concert was well-attended and she thanked all for attending.

Smith also said that this year the Halloween parade will be on Oct. 31, which is a Friday and the parade will be on Park Avenue and she thanked the Kiwanis Club for sponsoring that event.

Smith said, "We have had a wonderful season at the pool this year. We thank the manager, the assistant manager and everybody from the staff to the gatekeepers to the concession workers to the ladies behind the counter. We have just had a wonderful season. Membership is up in all categories family, couples, singles, seniors and nannies. She thanked the Chamber of the Willistons for donating the blue bags and she said that some bags are still available at village hall.

Smith ended her report by cautioning everyone to drive carefully since school was opening on Sept. 3.

Trustee Dunn announced that Justice Reardon heard 291 cases resulting in $15,390 and Justice Kirby heard no cases.

Dunn also announced that the STOP program run by the Town of North Hempstead would be held on Sept. 6 at Tully Park, on Evergreen Avenue, off Denton Avenue in New Hyde Park. A chance to throw out paints and any other pollutants. He also announced that all e-waste including cell phones, DVDs and computers may be disposed of on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. also at Tully Park.

He also proposed Alyssa Going as a member of the Williston Park Fire Department and the board all voted yes.

Trustee Dowd reported that there is a big water tank inspection set for Sept. 15 and 16. Members of the water board and the Mayors of East Williston and Mayor Odierna will be present at the inspections. She said, "I anticipate after the inspection takes place and there are results we will hold some additional Water Board meetings." She also announced that JD Bakery has taken over the German Bakery and she added, "That's one less vacant building in the village." Trustee Darmstadt announced that the library has installed a new drop box to accommodate videos and DVDs. Attorney Reers said that on Oct. 20 at the regular board meeting there will be a public hearing regarding cell tower replacement at Williston House.

Burnell announced that due to the strong thunderstorms there were three emergency tree jobs. Thirty-one water meters were installed which brings a total number to 1,000 that have been changed. He reported, "The department took care of eight tree complaints, two sign complaints and had eight equipment programs, repaired seven street lights, six miscellaneous highway details, replaced one hydrant on Winthrop Street, three sidewalk complaints and currently we are in the process of storm drain cleaning and have done 75 so far. We have also done line stripping on the road throughout the village. Further, we had a water main break and it has been repaired.

"Probably the most important is the water tank inspection on Sept. 15 and 16 so we will be hydrant flushing right after Labor Day through the 14th. So, residents please beware that there might be some discolored water after we do the flushing."

Collins announced that he issued four building applications for residential improvement, seven plumbing applications, one electric licensing, one sidewalk replacement and two Board of Appeals applications for a total of $8,120. Collins added, "In speaking to other building departments there has been a slowdown in the last month of building applications throughout Nassau. It appears there will be more activity as soon as the banks give our money again."

Residents praised the work of Kerry Collins regarding his work on clearing the water lines on Foch Boulevard to Liberty. They said if it hadn't been for his swift work they would be "swimming." The mayor said Walter Moloughney, who was also on top of the problem, was to be thanked as well.

The mayor said the problem has existed since 1943 and they are now researching what has to be done to solve it. Inspector Collins said that they will work correctly as long as they are properly maintained and yearly cleaning which is very costly. At this point Mayor Odierna interjected that the cost of renting the cleaning machine was $9,000 and to dispose of what was accumulated was $2,500.

Burnell added, "So far we have done 75 of them and we have about 120 to do."

A resident, Mr. Mitchell, commented on Local Law 19 of the Village. He said, "Apparently, the village passed this law to regulate corporate entities who have no connection to the village from owning these properties. That is not the truth. I have lived in the village for 41 years, my wife is a lifelong resident, my father-in-law was the village engineer. For most of us investment in property is our life-savings. In the preamble of the law I feel is unfounded and utterly false premise. It says that the village has serious conditions because of housing units in the village that are sub-standard. I don't see any sub-standard houses. The few I know of are actually occupied by owners. You guys have done an excellent job of keeping this village under control. I don't see any sub-standard units. Maybe in the Town of North Hempstead where you patterned this law, but that does not exist. You already have the power from the zoning laws and from a 1967 ordinance that prohibited any more two-family houses and you already have laws that allow you to curb such abuses. I don't understand the reason for another law. The probable effects of this law are that you will further remove affordable housing from the village. When you are looking for a place for your children, your grandchildren or maybe your parents, you should think about this situation. If you make it more and more unbearable for property owners to invest in a place like this, it's not going to happen. For most of us, this constitutes our life-savings. It's almost as if someone stole your 401-K. The idea of implementing criminal penalties in regard to this is worthy of Communism. This amounts to regulatory confiscation, which will cause serious depreciation of property values. Obviously, we should be able to get a fair return on the investment on these properties or at least be 'grand-fathered' into a non-conforming use. Nevertheless, I don't have any argument on the concept of regulation. I believe that many aspects of what you are trying to do is commendable. Certainly, an idea that there has to be carbon monoxide detectors and off-street parking isn't too difficult. It is curious that you don't have that regulation for 'owner-occupied' houses. Nothing stops an owner from buying a house and filling it with 30 people and charging them rent. My neighbors all have five cars, these same things that are targeted in the ordinance go on otherwise and you will have no power to check that under this ordinance."

Mitchell continued, "The specific things in the ordinance that we bring into question are your requirement that we divulge the names and date of birth of the occupants and the number of persons allowed to reside in the unit are stated and we should have to tell you the insurance companies that cover the property and you also request a survey and site plan. Now, the village already has property records. I bought mine from Kerry Collins and it shows a diagram of what the thing is like. My guess is that you are probably going to demand a new survey."

Odierna answered, "Not necessarily. You have a lot of questions that you are asking."

Mitchell said, "I would like to finish my statement. Now, some of these things the landlord would have no control. There is already a section of the law 237-F of the New York State Property Law, which is commonly called the "roommate" law. If you are a property owner and rent out to tenants, all my leases say that the only person that shall live there are those named in the lease." This law states that once they get on the premises they can basically bring anyone they want to live there. It's a terrible thing. I don't want to rent out a place where I'm going to have 10 or 15 people that will wreck the place. Also, you are not allowed to discriminate against families with children. I feel that this has a discriminatory effect. If you have rental occupants that have to give their names and dates of birth, but not those who live in owner property.

"In general I feel that this law was to institute exclusionary zoning. We would like to see a compromise in order to alleviate some of the effects of this law."

The mayor then turned the comments over to village attorney Richard Reers who said, "Properties that have no inspection, no fire detectors, no smoke detectors and no carbon monoxide detectors are dangerous. When you talk about putting people out of business because of the high cost of these inspections, we are talking about $250 bi-annually for every two years, per unit. Unfortunately, village clerk Moloughney is not here to address the many questions you proposed to him.

The resident said, "The fact that you will charge that is not a problem because I will pass that on to the tenants, but the other aspects of the law are difficult. Why should you require us to divulge the names of the tenants. I don't understand that. You don't demand to know the names of those in non-rental houses nor their dates of birth. I would like to see some alleviation of some of the worst aspects of this law. And, I would be willing to compromise with the village. I would like the village to consider the immediate enforcement of this law until a further study can be made."

Reers said, "We appreciate your expertise on this matter and we would like to sit down and talk to you about this. I have your number and I will give you a call."

Paul Ehrbar said, "I am here on behalf of former Williston Park Mayor Doreen Ehrbar. She wanted to wish officer Bill Handworth good luck on his retirement and to thank him for all his service during the time she was in office."

Resident Heary wanted to know how the pool finances turned out. Deputy Mayor Smith said things went really well this year and the pool made a profit, but the exact figures will be given to him.

The same resident wanted to know about the Water Board situation and trustee Swendensen-Dowd said that she has been in touch with East Williston and they are shopping around to buy other water. She said, "Unfortunately, they have not signed an agreement and I can't make them, but we are trying. Good sense prevails for both villages if they buy our water, but I can't make them do that. But I am hopeful. I have invited their mayor Nancy Zolezzi to attend the water tank inspection and I am hoping that we receive good news from that inspection. Right now we are supplying them water and they are paying for it as they go. It's a problem."

Since there were no further questions, the mayor adjourned the meeting. The next board meeting will be held on Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. at Williston Park Village Hall, 494 Willis Avenue, Williston Park.