Former civic leader James Altadonna has launched a campaign for the office of mayor of the Village of Massapequa Park, challenging incumbent Camillo Giannattasio, who was elected two years ago.

Presenting his campaign platform in a recent interview, Altadonna cited discontent with current village administration as the impetus for his mayoral run. "I felt that the village was going in a direction that did not benefit the residents," he said.

Specifically, he said he believes tax increases have been excessive, that the recent $1.5 million salt storage facility land purchase was faulty, and that the village's cellular tower land lease does not protect the health of the public. He also cited opposition to a local law passed under the administration that loosens restrictions of retirees' medical benefits. "There was a seventeen-and-a-half percent tax increase in two years. There were some local laws passed pertaining to medical benefits, the salt storage facility land purchase, and the final act of erecting a cell tower disguised as a flag pole in front of village hall," said Altadonna. While Giannattasio explained the last year's 10 percent tax increase as a necessary way to ensure an adequate surplus in the budget and fund needed village projects, Altadonna said, "It's easy to raise taxes. The hard thing is to be fiscally responsible, and still provide the quality of service that we all deserve."

The money spent on the salt storage facility, said Altadonna, would have been better spent on drainage and road projects. He said he is also opposed to a new law regarding retirees' medical benefits that lowers the requirement for receiving lifetime coverage, from age 55 years old and 15 years of village service to age 50 and 10 years village service. "That's for lifetime medical services, which will be very costly to our residents," the candidate said. On the cellular tower issue, Altadonna said, "To put a cell tower in front of village hall, I felt was not a proper location. It's supposed to be away from residents."

He added, "And we still don't know what the effects of these low-level emissions are," citing a cancer cluster near the cellular tower at the Massapequa Water Tower. He was also part of the opposition that led to the village's cancellation of a similar cellular tower land lease deal slated for village property near Massapequa High School.

Altadonna also criticized the $4 million borrowing project initiated by the current mayor, which includes the $1.5 million for the salt storage land deal, saying that it was undertaken "without letting residents know of the debt ramifications."

The candidate then outlined his goals if elected mayor. For example, he would like to address traffic flow. "We need to look at the explosive growth of traffic we get through the village," he said. "I would like to find a way to manage that - to slow cars down, and to make it less inviting to use our road as thoroughfares." He would also like to set up a senior citizen bus service. He said he would also either disassemble the cellular tower that is currently on village property, "or relocate it to a much safer environment." He also wants to explore options for the land purchased for the salt storage facility, including selling the land and paying down the debt incurred from the purchase.

A theme emphasized in the Altadonna campaign has been "to restore open government" in the village. "When there are big decisions that have to be made, the residents have a right to know," he said, citing the land deals for the salt storage facility and cellular tower as two matters about which residents were not adequately informed.

In addition, he wants to set up a committee to recruit retail businesses into the local business districts, as well as explore solutions to the Canadian geese problem at local parks.

In conclusion, Altadonna said that his campaign is based on his vision for the community of Massapequa Park. "It's my feeling for community, and to bring the community together, so we can all go forward," he said. He added, "It could be a better place, with better parks, better roads, better traffic flow, and more community-sponsored events."

Altadonna, who is running with the Village People's Rights First Party, is president of a mid-size printing firm. He has been a resident of the Massapequas for 14 years, and of Massapequa Park for 6 years. He and his wife, Susan, have three children. He is a member of the Massapequa School District's Buildings and Grounds Committee, a parishioner at St. Rose of Lima Church, Massapequa, and member of the local Lions Club. The election is March 20.

Village of Massapequa Park Mayor Camillo Giannattasio is seeking re-election to a second term, in the village elections set for March 20.

The incumbent, who is being challenged by James Altadonna, was elected two years, ago, succeeding former Mayor George Nussbaum. In a recent interview, Giannattasio expressed pride in the accomplishments of his term, and his desire for seeing his initiatives to completion.

"We had a lot of goals when we started," said the incumbent, describing his efforts with fellow members of the Front Street Party. "And I think we went a long way in this first term in achieving those goals."

Throughout his campaign, Giannattasio has pointed to several accomplishments with the board of trustees. For example, he said he has stabilized the tax base through an historic, four-year contract with employees that has enabled officials to identify one of the biggest expenditures for the next three years, and to budget accordingly. He also points to a $4 million dollar borrowing program as a strategic financial move to fund needed village projects, at a time when interest rates are low. Among those projects, he noted, was installation of a new computer system in Village Hall, an $800,000 endeavor that has aided in the annual budget process. "I believe in investing in the future. That's why I took out the $4 million bond."

Another project funded by the bond is the $1.5 million purchase of land to build a sand and salt storage facility, so that the village can use its own sand and salt to clear the roads during snowstorms, rather than depend on Town of Oyster Bay crews. Giannattasio noted that the village plans to build that facility, and that the project is pending county health department approval. "That was one of my campaign promises, that I will improve snow removal, and by next year it will be accomplished," he said.

A major win of the administration came when the village successfully lobbied for $1.8 million in state grants for downtown revitalization programs, which, according to Giannattasio, will help preserve the business districts and their tax base, in order to keep village taxes at the lowest possible rate.

"The way you stablilize the tax base is by obtaining state and county funds to improve the business district," said Giannattasio. He added, "Also, in reference to taxes, we have been very aggressive in terms of investment," citing the four-year contract with village employees.

The administration has advocated for senior citizens, he notes, for example through the approval of the Whitewood Landing 48-unit golden age housing project this year. They have increased the maximum tax exemption for seniors to $28,900 and passed legislation allowing seniors to pay their village taxes in halves, semi-annually. The Gold Star law gives exemptions to parents of children who died while serving in war.

With regard to taxes, Giannattasio acknowledged that this is a major concern for residents. "The biggest thing that people are concerned about is taxes," he said. He noted that last year's 10 percent increase was necessary to ensure an adequate budget surplus and fund needed village projects, and that he is working on keeping the increase to a moderate percentage this year. An increase of about 3 percent is likely in order to achieve a surplus of a million dollars, he noted. "I'm going to stay the course despite the election, because I've got to get the tax surplus back up to a million dollars," he said.

Giannattasio also pointed to an improved village drainage program. He noted that a program has been instituted to clean out all catch basins, monitor all sumps on a weekly basis, and clean them out as necessary.

To address the issue of traffic flow, he noted that he has arranged for the Planning Commission to develop a Master Plan for Traffic. A six-month study of traffic, speed and stop signs is expected to be finished by the end of April.

Using the state grants, as well as anticipated Nassau County Operation Downtown funds, and money allocated under the $4 million bond, Giannattasio also hopes to refurbish the local business districts, block by block. "Our theme has been to modernize the village from Point A to Point B," he said.

Although his opponent has criticized him on the issue of cellular towers, Giannattasio said he felt the erection of the tower in front of village hall was in the best interest of the community. The tower, which is encased in a flag pole to improve aesthetics, brings three cellular communications carriers to the area - Nextel, Sprint, and Verizon - and guarantees the village more than $25,000 a month in lease revenue for 25 years, he said. Furthermore, he said the federal government has deemed the towers harmless to the public, and has therefore precluded local municipalities from barring them on the basis of health concerns.

Asked to comment on his goals for a second term, Giannattasio said, "I pushed my trustees and I pushed this village hard for two years. What I want to do is make sure these projects look as good as they do when they're done as they do in my mind's eye." In addition to completing revitalization projects for the business districts, he said that he would like to develop a master plan for the village, address the issue of two-family housing, complete the Bell Tower firefighter's monument project, and install an elevator in village hall using state grant money.

Giannattasio, a partner in a law firm located on Broadway in Massapequa, has been a resident of Massapequa Park for 46 years. He and his wife Nancy have four children.