Residents of the Village of Oyster Bay Cove will again be able to express their opinions on a proposed Local Law-1, on Feb. 16. It will be the second hearing involving a change in the way officials are elected in the village. The first meeting was held on Jan. 19 and involved making the term of office for the mayor and trustees four years instead of two. The next meeting to discuss Local Law-2, is to make elections every other year and not every year. Elections are held in June.

The Feb. 16 public hearing is to have elections every two years and not every year as now. Two board members, Tom Fitzsimmons and Richard Appell proposed the change in the length of the term of office. Trustee Appell said it was for the sake of efficiency and Trustee Fitzsimmons said it was for the sake of finances.

Two years ago, in a reaction against the Pulling Estate sub-division, voters came out in the hundreds where only a few dozen came before. The cost of running elections in Oyster Bay Cove has risen as a result. Now they hire voting machines, as per county law.

The board has a choice, after hearing from residents - it can vote to pass the two laws, changing the way elections are held in the village. If they do, the form of the law says that residents have 30 days to present a petition with the names of 25 percent of residents, requesting a referendum.

Another point of interest in the proposed changes includes a five year term, one time only, for those seeking office in the even number years. That will allow their term of office, and re-election, to conform to the state law of bi-annual elections being held in odd number years.

Village attorney Larry Cregan said if this June officials receive four year terms, then in the even number year, 2000, there will be a one time vote for five year terms, setting the pattern for future elections every two years.

Trustee Peter Schiff said the four year term makes sense but he wanted to know if a three year term, instead of a five year term, was possible to make things equal out. The mayor said the five year term was a state mandate.

Term limits were also mentioned as a possibility.

Rosemary Bourne said the electorate should make the decision on the length of office.

Reine Kidder said, the village needed to keep the present level of public involvement. Longer terms would mean fewer elections and that was not going to help keep people involved with the village.

Liz Townsend compared the two year term with two years in junior college saying "It keeps all of us on our toes."

Nick Manley said, "Just kill it." He said people were against the four year term and therefore, "kill it. Forget it." There was applause.

Scott Greenfield said the village was in political turmoil on the current issue. That turmoil drives a wedge in the community, the last thing it needs, he said to applause.

Chris Randolph said the decison was too important for the board to decide, "We the electorate are in a better position to decide if you are to go to four year terms or have term limits. They should be put before the electorate in June when the people are voting."

Harry Peltz said the trustees were volunteers and they should make it easier for them to serve, and it didn't make it easy when they have to start running for office again, after 18 months in office.

Edward von Briesen, a 21 year resident of the village, a current property owner (he resides in Mill Neck) and a 17 year employee of the village - he was the road commissioner, spoke next. He said in Nassau County there are 64 villages. Of them, 40 villages have two year terms, only 24 have 4 year terms. Of the villages that have four year term they have an average population of 47,000 residents while Oyster Bay Cove has only 2,300.

It might make sense to have a four year term when you have several departments to run but in a small village where there are volunteers, he said, it didn't. "In a small community, two years makes sense. Bring it to a public referendum and let the community decide." There was applause.

The mayor asked what villages in their vicinity had four year terms. They included Brookville, East Williston, Mill Neck and Bayville which Mr. von Brieson said had 7,000 residents.

Kate Sinnott took a different approach. She spoke softly, walking up to the table to face the board and thanked them for giving of their time to serve the village.

She said people in the community were fearful of change and said she was disappointed reading negative stories in the press about the village.

She wished more was made of the story of a local young person who contracted a special disease who was helped by village residents.

Mrs. Sinnott said the residents were very intelligent people with a lot of brain power and wealth and she thought the people should be able to get along together. "I wish there could be more cohesiveness among the residents here." She said as long as there were checks and balances in government, there was nothing to fear from the longer terms of office.

Ralph Penta said, he was one of the new guys in the village. "I want to thank all the old guys for giving me a fabulous place to live in. I feel blessed to be coming into the village."

He said, there is a fear of change. But, he said, in his business he tells his people, "If it's not broken, don't fix it."

He said he got pieces of mail coming from the opposition. He said he would have liked to have gotten information from the board itself telling what it was planning to do. It is important to communicate with residents, he said, which is another thing he does in his business to keep rumors from circulating.

He couldn't believe he moved into a village with political parties. He said the way to squelch the oppostion was to let people know what is happening. Just tell everyone everything immediately.

He also said there was poor communication about when and where meetings were held.

Former board member David Clark said the four year term was a good idea but urged that trustees be voted in each year and not all at once.

Maxine MacLean said prior to Mayor Peragine, there was apathy in the village. She said with four year terms, the village would go back to that apathy once more. She added, that the opposition has to conduct itself in a more mannerly way.

Bill Mills said he likes the two year term. He added, "We haven't been active because we are happy." He told a story of someone commenting that Oyster Bay Cove was run by a bunch of bankers and Laurel Hollow was run by a bunch of lawyers. That was why the tax rate in Laurel Hollow was $1.50 per $100 of assessed valuation and in Oyster Bay Cove it was $1 per $100 of assessed valuation.

He said he decided to live here when he was a teenager coming to celebrate Theodore Roosevelt's birthday at his gravesite when he was a Boy Scout.

He said the only mistake the old board made was not publicizing the Pulling Estate subdivision two years ago.

"Change is not a four letter word," said Marlene Glass. "Change is a good thing, not a bad thing. I haven't seen as much change as I have since Mike became mayor. I have met neighbors and have friends I didn't know I would be friendly with."

She said she was in favor of the four year term to allow the trustees to do their jobs and believed that having to begin campaigning after 18 months didn't work as well. "To have it every two years is a terrible mistake," she said.

John Bralower said it was illogical to go to four years from two years when everything is going to term limits. He said having elections is not a burden, it is what a democracy is all about. It is the only way the people can express themselves. It is the only indication elected officials have of the voters approval.

He said, "This is good. This issue brings everyone out." His view was that two years works. There was loud applause. He added, "If it's not broken don't fix it."

Another resident said at the last meeting Tom Fitzsimmons brought up the issue of the four year term and Richard Appell seconded it. He said he received a letter that said Mayor Peragine was the one who brought it up.

The mayor said, "I was told, as mayor, everything is directed to you."

Then the board explained why they were considering the four year term.

Oyster Bay Cove Mayor Michael Peragine asked residents of the village to express their views on the proposed local law - one which would change the tenure of office from two years to four. Then he the board to explain why they were considering the change:

Trustee Richard Appell said his reason for wanting the four year term was effectiveness. "You have to realize how much time the board meets." Meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month (the same day the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School board meets) for a three hour meeting. That means 24 meetings in two years which translates into 72 hours for a two year term. "How much can we get done for you," he asked. He said they want to change the efficiency of the village. "A lot of us put in time besides that," he said, adding that the mayor has turned it into a 40 hour a week job. "We proposed two meetings a month but some board members were against it."

As for turmoil, he said a small group creates the turmoil, on both sides. He indicated the mayor saying "He's the man who makes it move. I don't agree with him always," he added.

Trustee Tom Fitzsimmons said "I don't have deep pockets. I work for every dollar I have," establishing his commitment to fiscal responsibility.

He said police costs are down (they have signed a new five year contract), the cost of refuse removal is down, they are reviewing insurance. He said elections cost the village tens of thousands of dollars. The money goes to the law firm, the court reporter, the deputy clerk, for renting the machines from the county and for police overtime. He called it frivolous, silly and uncalled for.

Trustee Peter Schiff said maybe it is not a trustee decision. He said he was not sure about the four year term. He did agree that elections are not fun, but rather pain and suffering. If there was a change, he was in favor of term limits so a person could serve for eight years, be off for two and run again if they wish.

He quipped about the four year term saying, "In Washington, maybe they wish they were shorter."

Trustee George O'Neill agrees OBC was a great place to live. The village has done well, considering the changes, and it still is a great place to live.

"We are here to serve the public. It is premature to vote on it at this time. The House of Representatives is a two year term. It is not a great burden on us to have an election every two years."

Mayor Michael Peragine said he was moved by a couple of the speakers - not the least of which was former trustee David Clark who was in favor of the four year term.

He said Mr. Mills said the village had been run by bankers and now it was being run by businessmen who are trying to run the village in a business-like manner.

He said the Humes and Wagner law firm billed the village for over $50,000 for the last two elections. The police were paid overtime and there were other costs, he said.

He said as stewards of the village's money, it is the right thing to do. "A lot of people feel strongly against it," he said, but added, "We ran on the promise that we would have a spine and stand up and vote regardless of how many tomatoes are thrown at us."

Mayor Peragine told of his relationship with the village garbage man and how they have developed a relationship that resulted in the man being concerned about not being able to collect refuse in freezing weather.

He said the village was bringing water to the northeast corner of the village. "When the water district said they would not consider it until we acquiesced to putting a cellular tower on Berry Hill Road, one of the trustees went to the meeting and without litigation, has put it back on track."

He said "I am not prepared to vote tonight. I thought I was. We should have another hearing."

Several residents had questions for the board.

Resident Patrick Jones asked to see a complete financial report from the village and was told the budget was at village hall and could easily be seen.

A woman questioned the board about the cost of the election and Mr. O'Neill said the last two elections were contested. The figures were less when they were not contested.

Mayor Peragine said previously there was only one slate of candidates and only 25 people voted so it was hard to make comparisons.

Resident Ira Smith said the last time he saw a group like this was when they were voting for Mayor Peragine, when the planning board was considering the Pulling subdivision. That was the core of your message he said to the mayor: that people had a right to be heard. "They want to be heard. An election is not a commodity like garbage - we want to have our feelings heard - we should put it in a referendum."

Rosemary Bourne said for each election, the cost was only $7 per person for democracy with a small "d".

She added to the mayor, in regard to his rapport with the garbage man. "That is just what Charlie Morgan (the previous mayor) would have said."

Several people suggested finding out why the elections cost so much.

Nick Manley said get three boxes and write in ballots and count them. Make the announcement of the winners a week later. Why bring in lawyers, he said.

Mayor Peragine said it was mandated by state law.

The next meeting will be on Feb. 16, the third Tuesday of the month, at East Woods School, starting at 7:30 p.m.