The face of the Massapequa Park Board of Trustees was dramatically changed Monday night, as the village's new mayor Camillo R. Giannattasio and new trustees Joseph Pinto and Robert Wilcox took their places.

As Retiring Mayor George Nussbaum, a long-time member of the Village Integrity Party, passed the torch to his successor, a Front Street Party member, he wished him well. "Have a good time," he said, in his characteristically amiable manner.

There was standing room only in the packed village courtroom, where residents gathered not only to view the historic swearing-in ceremonies, but also to honor Nussbaum for his 24 years of service to the village, 14 of which he spent as mayor.

In remarks following his oath of office, Giannattasio alluded to the dual purpose of the event. "This evening we come together as a people to honor George Nussbaum and to celebrate democracy," he said, expressing a sense of wonder about the peaceful transfer of power that transpired that evening.

He added that in order for the village to prosper, it will need the help of higher levels of government, but noted that, regardless of whether that help comes through, "This mayor and this board stand ready to protect and defend the political independence and fiscal integrity of this village."

He also pointed to the key role of the people to the village's success. "Like my predecessor, George Nussbaum, I will call on the strengths of the community volunteers," he said. "While political power matters, community spirit is far stronger, and much more important."

Several other realignments were made during the installation/organization meeting. Not only was John O'Brien, a familiar face at village board meetings, sworn in as special assistant to the mayor; the new mayor appointed Trustee William Van Wagner, who endorsed Giannattasio for election, as deputy mayor, replacing Trustee Scott Wiss, who was the unsuccessful Village Integrity Party candidate for mayor. In addition, Robert Leff, who had retired from the role of village attorney only months earlier, was returned to the position. He was sworn in for a one year term, replacing John M. Kraft, who had been appointed by Nussbaum to fill the spot vacated by Leff.

Pinto, a Village Integrity Party member, and Wilcox, of the Front Street Party, were elected to fill the seats vacated by Lucy Agovino and Marvin Guberman.

Several elected officials representing higher levels of government attended the event, both to welcome the new mayor and trustees and to honor the retiring Nussbaum.

For example, said Peter Schmitt, Nassau Legislator, "George Nussbaum is obviously embarrassed by all of this attention. That is just a measure of the intellectual honesty of the man who has led the village of Massapequa Park for the past 14 years." He added, "He has always, always, always put the interests of the people he represents before his own."

Nassau County Executive Gulotta commented, "This is kind of rare for a public official, but I have never heard anyone say a bad word about George Nussbaum."

Assemblyman Steve Labriola added, "George, I say to you, and on behalf of all the residents of the 12th Assembly District, congratulations and enjoy your retirement."

"The doors to Town Hall in the Town of Oyster Bay will always be open to the Village of Massapequa Park," said Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto.

Following the ceremonies, Giannattasio said his first order of business as mayor is to review the 1999-2000 budget proposed by Nussbaum. Although he described it as a solid "banker's budget," he said he plans to "tweak" it to try to bring down the tax rate, and hopes to get it passed on April 26.