On Jan. 25, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor May Newburger gave her ninth annual State of the Town Address, which follows her resounding victory in the November elections when she won her fifth term of office as town supervisor. The talk was given at the League of Women Voters annual luncheon at the George Washington Manor in Roslyn. Amy Bass chaired the event.

The supervisor began her speech reviewing the success of her administration's financial initiatives: "We've continued to build on the town's strong fiscal performance," she noted.

Backing up her statement, she reported that for the third successive year all the town's major funds are in surplus. In addition, the town went from a negative fund balance in 1996 to a cumulative surplus this year of $7.7 million, representing 10 percent of 2002's operating expenses. This puts it at the top end of the 5 to 10 percent advocated by the New York State Comptroller, Moody's and Standard and Poor's. She was very proud to report that the fund balance increased by 39 percent from 2000 to 2001.

The supervisor then touted the fact that Moody's gave the town its second long-term bond rating increase within three years---from A2 to A1. "I can say with pride that we have brought this rating from its historic low to its historic high."

Another initiative, a debt management plan adopted by the town board in September of 2000, designed to reduce town debt by about $107 million in ten years, has also yielded positive fiscal results. "I am proud to report that our long-term debt level has already dropped in 2001 by 4.4 percent---or $11.9 million."

However, the rosy fiscal view of the town was darkened in 2001 by the Sumitomo judgement, which lost its last court appeal this past summer. The town taxpayers now must pay off a $33.25 million bond to cover that judgement. To alleviate the tax bite somewhat, the BAN (Bond Anticipation Note) issued in May 2001 for this amount only has an interest rate of 2.5 percent (thereby saving the taxpayers $600,000 in unnecessary interest payments).

Moreover, Supervisor Newburger informed the audience, that the town's A1 rating by Moody's was not affected, because the bond rating group stated that the debt issuance was manageable for the town.

Because the town came under fire for the Sumitomo judgement, the supervisor, in an effort to remove "any lingering, publicity-generated suspicious that remain," made a request, which the town board unanimously agreed with. "We retained Judge Milton Mollen to objectively evaluate every aspect of the handling of the case and report his findings," adding that the board is currently awaiting Judge Mollen's findings.

Despite this blot, and with the fiscal house pretty much in order, Ms. Newburger and her board and staff have had time to lobby the federal government for financial help with important environmental and development projects, she reported, noting that these efforts were "bipartisan."

To date, Senators Schumer and Clinton helped to obtain a $1 million grant which will be used to help acquire a four acre parcel adjoining the town's new Hempstead Harbor shoreline trail, the first section of which is now opened.

The town is also fighting vigorously to protect earmarked funds and to get funding through HUD's Economic Development Initiative for capital improvement and land use planning for New Cassel. However, the financial fallout from Sept. 11 threatens this funding, the supervisor regretfully advised.

She then went on to highlight some of the various town departments' recent achievements, and update some of the town's works in progress. Among those were the following:

* Capping and closing 30 of the 45 acres of the Port Washington L-5 landfill. (She noted that the town saved $4.5 million by doing the work itself rather than hiring an outside contractor.)

In 2003, the last field (Field 3) will also be capped and closed.

* Completing the first round of project selection for the $15 million Environmental Legacy Fund. By way of review, four million dollars will be reserved for ten projects for open space preservation; eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars was authorized toward design and construction of a town side trailway system and restoration of Searingtown and Ridder Pond Parks; and $1.5 million recommended for five projects under "coastal and waterways enhancement." The second round of nominations are currently under review and are expected to be received later this spring.

* In addition to caring for 38 Parks, Commissioner Olsen and his staff added many new programs last year, including Aqua Jogger, Arthritis Relief Aquacise, a summer rowing program, tennis instruction, line dancing and more.

* The second annual North Hempstead Soccer Cup Tournament attracted between two and three hundred teams from around the area.

* The 2001 Young People and the Arts series received both grant money and New York State recognition as a "cultural program of merit."

* In addition to resurfacing 40,000 linear feet of roads, the highway department worked to restore Webster Park in Port Washingtion, rehabilitate and beautify the Town Dock and complete the first portion of the Hempstead Harbor Nature Trail.

* The Building Department reduced its permit process time from seven weeks to one week and closed 90 percent of complaint cases registered in 2001

* The town's telecommunication was upgraded in several areas.

In addition to these and many other numerous achievements listed by Supervisor Newburger, Harbor Links is truly a tremendous source of pride for her and the town. She noted that after reporting rain-reduced revenues in 2000, Harbor Links rebounded strongly in 2001. And no one can understate this golf course's phenomenal designation announced this year: its inclusion in the pantheon of Audubon International Certified Signature Sanctuaries. It's only the 29th golf course worldwide---and only one of three municipal courses in the world---to boast this recognition.

Offering a few interesting facts about the town, Ms. Newburger reported that 5,800 births were reported to town hall this year, 41.60 tons of debris were removed from Sheets Creek and 70 percent of the dogs in the town's animal shelter were adopted. Also the town has almost one quarter of a million people, 31 villages and 300 miles of road.

What's on the 2002 agenda for the town? The supervisor stated that she wants to get the Moody's credit rating increased to AA, take strong concrete steps forward in the Brownfields cleanup and revitalization of New Cassel, see the completed construction of a clubhouse at Harbor Links and update and strengthen the town's Emergency Management Plan by May 1. She also wants to conquer an ongoing and frustrating issue for the town: to accomplish a project to create affordable housing for our Town's seniors and young working people.

She says she also plans the reconstitution of the town's Minority Affairs Committee and the completion of the Councilmanic District Commission's work.

Her new agenda covers the many and varied needs of, as she says, our "diverse town."

Her concluding remarks celebrated this enriching and vibrant diversity.

(Ed.'s note: The complete text of the supervisor's speech is available on the town's website: northhempstead.com)