For the second straight year, Mineola Mayor Jack M. Martins delivered the state of the village address. Speaking in front of members of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce and the public as well as the village board of trustees Larry Werther, Linda Fairgrieve, Paul Cusato and John DaVanzo, Mayor Martins focused on the village's finances and upcoming projects. The mayor also touched on the possibility of Mineola having its own police force.

"We all have a stake in the village," said Mayor Martins as he spoke about the importance of open government.

It is through open government that the mayor has made the public aware of the village's finances. It was three years ago the village had a $33 million debt that was accumulated through various projects and by borrowing funds for such expenses as tax repayments to those who successfully challenged their property assessments. Now, Mayor Martins reported the village is projected to end the 2004-2005 fiscal year with a projected surplus of over $100,000.

It is through open government that the mayor feels the village's elected officials are accountable to the taxpayers. For the second year, the mayor pointed out, the village has not added any long-term debt.

"Gone are the days when vehicles who's usefulness is five to 10 years and bought over 20 years. We still buy equipment but when we do, it's paid off over five years. I refuse to leave unnecessary debt for the next board and the next generation of village taxpayers to deal with," Mayor Martins said.

Two years ago, the village's debt was $33 million. As of this coming January 1, the village's long-term indebtedness will be $28 million, said Mayor Martins as he explained that the village has stuck to its debt management plan during its journey back from debt.

Mayor Martins also spoke about budget pressures that must be dealt with each year. Such pressures include rising insurance costs and a municipalities' pension contributions. The mayor spoke about the importance of looking for alternative revenue streams to ease the burden on property owners. One alternative revenue stream would be sales tax revenue. Although much sales tax revenue is generated in the large business community in Mineola, the village doesn't receive its proportionate share of sales tax revenue. "The residents and business owners of Mineola and our sister villages are subsidizing the unincorporated areas of the town [of North Hempstead]," the mayor said. "That money is sorely needed here. We must do our part to make sure we get it."

Mayor Martins also spoke about the village's infrastructure. The village continues to provide resources toward revitalizing its downtown area. The village has obtained money through HUD and hopes to have a streetscape project done by the end of the year between Willis Avenue and Jericho Turnpike.

The streetscape improvement project on Mineola Boulevard is scheduled to continue between First Street and Second Street and from the south side of the bridge to Old Country Road. The area south of Mineola Boulevard to Old Country Road will feature a center median.

Of course, two major projects upcoming are the Roslyn Road grade crossing elimination and the intermodal center, a 1,000-car parking garage that will be built near the railroad station on the south side of the tracks.

Though the village will lose tax revenue from the Roslyn Road grade cross elimination project, the village will gain a north to south flow of traffic as well as parking. The Allied property on Second Street will eventually be converted to a parking lot. The intermodal center combined with the parking the village will gain from the Roslyn Road project will help the downtown area.

Mayor Martins went on to say that it would continue to be a focus of his administration to fight illegal housing and to maintain the quality of life in the village.

Speaking of quality of life issues, Mayor Martins commissioned a committee to study whether it is feasible for the village to have its own police department. Mayor Martins said that the committee would be issuing its report over the next few weeks. The public will then have the opportunity to study the information and there will be hearings scheduled. Mayor Martins made it clear that the public would have the ultimate say in a referendum.

Later, during the Mineola Chamber of Commerce meeting, a question came up about the recent rash of graffiti in the village. Mayor Martins said he believed those responsible for the graffiti took their time with no fear of getting caught, perhaps another case for more patrol in the village.

The mayor thanked the Mineola Chamber of Commerce for once again hosting the state of the village address. He also thanked Mineola's volunteer organizations - the Mineola Fire Department, the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Mineola Auxiliary Police - for all they do to help keep residents and businesses safe in the village.