Mineola Mayor Jack M. Martins expects within the next three weeks to begin to appoint a commission to study the feasibility of the village forming its own police department.

The mayor has gathered some numbers from villages that do have police departments and so far, the numbers justify looking into the prospect further.

Since Mayor Martins has been meeting with representatives from the 3rd Precinct, he has noticed more police presence in Mineola. However, the question still beckons - Is the village getting its monies worth when it comes to police protection?

At last Wednesday's meeting of the board of trustees, Deputy Mayor Larry Werther gave a report on the number of tickets the 3rd Precinct has issued in Mineola.

In the year of 2003, the 3rd Precinct has issued 2,104 tickets in the Village of Mineola including 1,463 traffic violations, 597 parking violations and 44 appearance tickets. While the 3rd Precinct's primary function is not to write tickets in the village, it does raise concerns as to whether the village is getting enough police presence for the $6.1 million it currently pays for patrols of the village, which include three and a half patrol cars assigned to the village.

"I think that we desperately need a police department. I think that if the numbers break even that we should definitely go with a police department because of the coverage issue," said Werther. "The lack of respect that the Nassau County [government] brass have for Mineola is evident in the fact that they pulled a police car from our village to write tickets in the Village of Garden City returnable to the Garden City courts."

Mayor Martins learned earlier this month that a police car assigned to the village was used to go to an area around the county office building to issue parking tickets. The area was considered a part of the Village of Garden City.

It has been the position of Mayor Martins that the police do a fine job in the village, but there just aren't enough of them to adequately patrol the village.

"I love the rank and file cop. I think they're doing a phenomenal job. I think they are doing a super job in light of the fact that Nassau County decided to cut the police force from 2,500 to 1,700 officers. You're not going to get the quality of policing," Deputy Mayor Werther said. "We're taking the best officers in the nation and we're putting them under a huge handicap."

One of the villages that Mineola has used as a point of reference for a police department is Garden City, which employs 55 officers and 22 civilians for a cost of $6.7 million for its own police force. The Village of Garden City has five to seven cars on patrol.

In reviewing the 2003-2004 budget, Mayor Martins expects the village to close the fiscal year with a $200,000 surplus. When the village closed the 2002-2003 fiscal year with a deficit, part of the reason was because $134,500 from the sale of land to the MTA that was put in the budget as a revenue was never paid. Mayor Martins said the money should be coming within the next few weeks. The mayor said the state has also agreed to pay interest on the money because there was a delay in payment. In addition to the $134,500, the village expects to receive an additional $19,000. The village hired Elena Koch, a Mineola resident, who may begin in mid-March. The village justice court for the month of January disposed of 109 moving violations, 29 village ordinances exclusive of motor vehicles, 52 housing violations, 2,413 parking violations for a total of $96,916. The next business forum with members of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce and the mayor will be April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at village hall.

* A resident of 257 Wardwell Road complained of flooding in his basement, which he believes is due to the roots from two trees. If the trees are taken down, the village will most likely replace them with new trees. In fact, village residents can contact the village if they are interested in having trees planted by their homes.

* The proprietor of Tres Belle hair salon expressed concern about the new parking meter fees. The fees were changed in the parking lot on Banbury Road from 25 cents for two hours to 25 cents per half hour. So employees do not have to keep feeding the meters, the village has made it possible for businesses to purchase parking permits for $250 a year, which entitles an employee who holds the permit to park in a spot designated for permit parking. In the Banbury lot, there will be 13 spaces allotted for permit parking.

Mayor Martins said the idea is to get cars off the street and keep spots on Jericho Turnpike open for customers.

There will also be meters put on Jericho Turnpike, Willis Avenue and Mineola Boulevard where there currently are no meters.

Mayor Martins said he would try to work with the local businesses to address concerns.

* Sal Cataldo voiced his objection to the rental registration law. He also expressed his concern that the MTA will take over properties that are on the village tax rolls for the Roslyn Road grade cross elimination project. Mayor Martins said he estimated that the village would lose $50,000 to $60,000 per year off the tax rolls as a result of the properties being taken. Among the properties are the meat company on Roslyn Road, Allied and the former Kozy Shack property, which is currently the home of New York Ravioli, as well as two or three houses. The village board will need to come up with a way to offset the loss in tax revenue.

Cataldo also expressed his concern over the Mineola Boulevard Bridge and wondered whether emergency vehicles could get through the narrow street on the side of the bridge, which leads to the train station. Mineola Fire Department 1st assistant chief Scott Holliday said the fire department could get its trucks through.

Cataldo also expressed his concern over situations he says are occurring where some village employees when they go to a residential home and see something that could be construed as a housing violation are reporting the possible violation to the village. Mayor Martins said during the course of their travels if a village employee sees something that could be construed as illegal, that they would report in to the village.

Cataldo also expressed disappointment in Channel 18, the Cablevision channel that shows the village board meetings. Sometimes the meetings are cut off by other programming. The village is working on getting an insertion point for the channel at village hall so the village could control the programming.

Cataldo expressed a sentiment that had been expressed before. Any borrowing by the village over a certain amount should go to a taxpayer vote. Mayor Martins said it would be appropriate for items or $1 or $2 million.

* Chaminade High School purchased the Koeppel Ford property both on the north and south sides of Jericho Turnpike. Since Chaminade is an educational and religious institution, it is exempt from paying taxes. Some residents expressed concern about the property coming off the tax rolls.

* Walter Crosby of Maple Place raised concern about cars being abandoned on Maple Place. He noted that there was a car in front of his neighbor's house with the trunk wide open and the window smashed. A car has to sit for 96 hours before it is considered abandoned. Then the police can take it. Meanwhile, residents have to live with the eyesore of an abandoned car in their neighborhood.

* John Carroll brought to the board's attention some places in the village where there is graffiti. One place was between the animal hospital and the travel agent on Jericho Turnpike across from Kentucky Fried Chicken. Public phones seem to be a target for graffiti. Mayor Martins said he would review whether public phones in the village have been licensed.

* Paul Cusato pointed out that the village's centennial anniversary with take place in 2006 and asked if there were plans to have a committee to plan a celebration. Mayor Martins said he would appoint a committee in April or May.

* A resident pointed out that there is an untapped resource in the village. Retired residents who have a lot of experience in construction could be helping to oversee or review construction projects in the village. This would help the village save money and involve residents who have a vested interest in projects that are paid for with taxpayer money.