Sitting in the first row at Christ Church, it was easy to see the glow in the eyes of Theodore Roosevelt Association President James Bruns as he heard the suggestion of Marie Elizabeth (Pat) Devlin to look at the north end of South Street to find a location for the proposed TR Presidential Museum and Research Center. She said to consider the area from Commander Oil to the lumber yard - which she called dead space and is waterfront property. She said, "Five years ago Commander Oil was supposed to leave. We had walkable communities here and nothing happened. We have dead space on the eastern waterfront that is the most valuable space of all. Clean out all the stuff and there is room for a hotel, motel and restaurants. You can arrange for a car at the station to take people to the museum and to then open up the east harbor area."

Mr. Bruns said, "She makes me tingle." He appeared very interested and suggested she get two or three people together to form a committee and said "let's look at it."

He said, "If it is a most spectacular site to make a first class museum on a first class site, we'll look at it."

During the evening the topic of the location of the museum kept coming up. Rob Brusca also had a suggestion. He said there is a 10.8 acre site in Oyster Bay Cove adjacent to Sagamore Hill overlooking the water, that is available.

The Rev. Peter Casparian of Christ Church was the moderator of the first Theodore Roosevelt Association public meeting to discuss the proposed TR Museum and Research Center, on Thursday, Jan. 10. [On Jan. 17 the Oyster Bay Civic Association will host a panel of pros and cons for the 100,000 sq. ft. two-story museum and two-story parking garage with 350 spaces as proposed at Firemen's Field.] Most residents are in favor of the museum, and are questioning the location on environmental and community space issues. The meeting planned for the parish hall was relocated to the church itself because over 200 people attended.

Rev. Casparian welcomed residents and indicated TR's pew with an American flag noting where he sat in the 303-year-old Christ Church.

TRA President James Bruns said he was interested in hearing ideas and solutions "for all of us together to make things happen." Town of Oyster Bay Environmental Consultant Hal Mayer reported that earlier that day Mr. Bruns met with town representatives to share his concerns about problems being raised about Firemen's Field and said that he needed their help. Mr. Bruns added that a lot of the issues have been here for decades, such as the parking problems. He said, "We need a dialogue to solve the problems." It will continue at their Feb. 21 and March 27 meetings. "It will be an open dialogue. There are no good or bad ideas, only best answers," he added.

Mr. Bruns said Oyster Bay was chosen as the place for the TR Museum because of something Archie Roosevelt said - to bury his father among the people with whom he lived. "Those people are your ancestors," he said. The museum will tie together Youngs Cemetery, where TR is buried; the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum that he traveled to and from; the TR Bird Sanctuary set up in his memory, and TR Memorial Park. Mr. Bruns said the TRA gave the park to the community, and in today's money it would be a $29 million gift.

Mr. Bruns said there would be benefits from having the museum in Oyster Bay which include: an economic boost from tourist dollars; the employment of local people - the museum needs from 55 to 70 employees; it will be an anchor tenant; the museum will be a LEED-certified "green" building; and a catalyst to solve the parking and traffic problems. There will be civic benefits: distance learning classrooms with well-known speakers. Presentations will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. for older audiences; at 7 p.m. for the general public and for distance learning classes. "School children can ask questions of the speakers," he said. He plans on weekly lectures and seminars in the museum that will cost about $100 million to build. It will have a $20 million endowment to ensure its continuation. The money will be set up in a fund as it comes in: $35 million from corporations; $10 million from the federal government; $15 million from foundations; $30 million from individuals; and $5 million from the Roosevelt family. Additional funds will be solicited from the international community since, "Theodore Roosevelt was loved throughout the world," said Mr. Bruns.

The museum will support itself through admissions, shop sales, licensed products, program revenue and membership fees.

To start off the question period, Mr. Bruns answered a letter he had received from Peter Carter that brought up the question of increased concern over child safety with a great number of people coming into the community. Nassau County Police Officer Steve McCoully (available at 573-7960) works with sex offenders and said there are two in Oyster Bay he monitors. One was just told to move to conform to a new law that prohibits sex offenders from living 500 feet from a park or 1,000 feet from a school. The person was living within 1,000 feet of Oyster Bay High School. He complied with a written notice within the allowed 60 days. The officer summarized his work and said today children and parents are more informed about predators and that the predators today prefer using the Internet as a source of victims.

"This is a red herring issue," called out Cat Colvin; "This is a distraction from more important questions." "It's a waste of our time," said another voice.

Mr. Bruns went on to a second letter asking the impact of parking on the homes bordering Firemen's Field. Mr. Bruns said the garage could be used by those neighbors. He said he recently checked Firemen's Field and there are typically 20 cars parked there. A woman called out "That's not in the spring, summer and fall."

Mr. Bruns offered 50 spaces to town employees, out of the 350 required for the museum.

Another letter, from Joan Baron Drury, asked, why do the 10,000 residents of the hamlet have to pay for the museum's services out of their taxes to make 400 merchants richer? Mr. Bruns said the museum will not have food service since 18 percent of the local businesses serve food. He added that small shops that cater to tourists will be helped. Later, Mr. Bruns said the museum will give the town payments, in lieu of the taxes they are engendering, for public services such as water, sewer, and fire out of their revenue, although as a not-for-profit they are exempt from paying.

A letter from Gary Drury said, there is already a TR museum at Sagamore Hill, why another?

Mr. Bruns said Sagamore Hill was given to the National Park Service. He said the Old Orchard Museum is 1,500 sq. ft. with a theater for 18 visitors. "We need a bigger space," said Mr. Bruns.

Caroline DuBois, leader of the Citizens to Save Firemen's Field, was the first speaker. She said, "I'm not taking a position on whether or not there should be a TR Museum in Oyster Bay. My interest is in saving Firemen's Field." She summarized her reasons as: traffic, environmental, aesthetic and the current uses for all local groups as well as for future uses. She asked Mr. Bruns if it was "All or nothing at all. If the museum is not at Firemen's Field, are you going away? Firemen's Field is too much of a community asset to give it away."

Mr. Bruns said, "If any of you can come up with a better site, more spectacular, with grandeur that will not be taken off the tax rolls, we'll look at it." As for the Hallock site, he dismissed it, calling it a second-class setup for a first-class president. He said, since the original suggestion of Firemen's Field by a resident, they have been looking at it. "If a resident has a greater idea, I will listen, the association will listen."

She asked again, "Is it all or nothing?"

"If we are willing to look, that's not all or nothing. If you have a suggestion, come forward. You all know this community."

That was when Marie Elizabeth (Pat) Devlin brought up the suggestion of the Eastern Waterfront. After Mr. Bruns told Ms. Devlin that he was interested in seeing the waterfront property, the next speaker was Jamie Deming, the WaterFront Center treasurer who asked about fundraising. She said with the TRA expecting to raise $30 million from individuals from the local Oyster Bay area - "Will it raid the other nonprofits? They are desperate now," she said.

"The TRA is an international association and is looking for corporate donors around the country and around the world." As for the other nonprofits, Mr. Bruns said he will ask nationally for funds for other TR sites, such as Youngs Cemetery which he said could use a face lift. Some funds could go toward TR Park.

He said he would get the other local organizations to join him in making presentations to make it better for all of them and the community. He said they have already contacted Coca-Cola, Home Depot and some airlines for funding, adding, "TR was president of the United States, not Oyster Bay."

Frank Tortora said, "I came to Oyster Bay for the ambiance." He said he was asking the same questions he asked about AvalonBay Communities: Once the doors are open and changes are made in the zoning, will the roads need to be widened; will land be taken by eminent domain to widen them, and added, it is a slippery slope toward losing that quality of life here and Avalon is next door waiting. "Is this going to make it open season on the hamlet for development?"

Mr. Bruns said, he hoped the museum would have a good impact on the community, citing his plans for a LEED-certified building. He said when he first came here he was told the East Norwich Inn was going to close but then decided to remain open. He suggested the area could use some B&Bs. He said, "There are impacts for the community to look at."

He added that there would be a design competition for the new museum.

Oyster Bay hamlet resident Catherine McConnell said she moved here in 2000 because of the greater public access to the waterfront. She is a member of the Sagamore Rowing Club, the Long Island Greater Running Club, Friends of the Bay and the WaterFront Center. She added that Firemen's Field is just about at high tide level; the land is porous; and asked what studies he had done on the land.

Mr. Bruns said before the 2006 Oyster Festival it rained for eight days, and while Mark Fox of Canterbury Ales had water in his basement, Firemen's Field didn't flood. He added, "I want studies done to see if it is stable enough to support a building." He said at future meetings experts would be speaking.

Patsy Randolph, speaking for no organization said, "We haven't been able to move the ball to the next level. Yes, I'm in favor of the museum. Is it the right size? There are issues we can resolve. My question is can the community do it and come out smarter and better?"

"I can't answer that," said Mr. Bruns, "In time we may. I will do what I can. The building will reflect Oyster Bay. It will be a monument to Theodore Roosevelt. It is long overdue, we've waited nine decades for a museum."

Peter Brown asked Mr. Bruns to summarize the approval process. Mr. Bruns said the TRA would approve their plans and then bring them to the Town of Oyster Bay for approval.

Fred Corsentino said he was a huge fan of TR, however: "Why not Sagamore Hill. I'd love to have it there. Why not?"

Mr. Bruns said they tried to work with the federal government in Washington D.C. and had a brochure, "The Process Associated with the Possible Use of Federal Property for a Museum Highlighting Theodore Roosevelt," available to explain the problems. He called it "an uncertain and lenghtly process that is not worth our time."

Frank Robilotto asked if there would be a referendum - public vote on the issue. Mr. Bruns said the town board would make the decision. Hal Mayer, the town's environmental consultant said there would be a public hearing before the board decides.

Joseph Skopek asked about the TRA website which does not include information about the proposed museum, and Mr. Bruns said it is being redone.

Mary Donna Kappell asked if the museum receives federal money - will it open TR Park to all U.S. residents?

Mr. Bruns said the museum will give the town payments out of their own revenue when they open, in lieu of taxes for services, and will ask that they be used specifically for TR Park.

Steven Walker, asked where the holdings of the museum would come, since TR's presidential papers are at the Library of Congress and his family papers are at two libraries in Harvard, the college he attended. "What's new to study of TR," he asked.

Mr. Bruns said they would offer digitized access to that material. "I don't have to have original documents. If you want the real thing you can go to the Library of Congress. We do have some 2-dimensional items and some 3-dimensional ones. Seven percent of the museum will be a regular museum. The museum will be high tech. There will be few objects, but the finest we can find. It will be experiential using technology and interactive exhibits."

Barbara Hadel asked if he could both reduce the size and eliminate the use of Firemen's Field?

Mr. Bruns said he is working with the architects to make the footprint as small as they can. The open competition will result in the top five designs for the board to consider.

Rob Brusca had facts to correct. He said the Old Orchard museum was 3,000 sq. ft.; that the mansion was 7,000 sq. ft. for a total of 10,000 sq. ft. of space at Sagamore Hill.

Mr. Bruns qualified his comment saying the Old Orchard had 1,500 sq. ft. - of exhibit space.

Mr. Brusca said the Oyster Bay Hamlet Plan called for development to be consistent with the current scale of the community. He said with the proposed location in Firemen's Field, it blocks the view of the water and takes away the public's use of the land. He added, "This is the biggest development to hit this community. We're not seeking to divide the community. We should find another site."

He said, "There is a 10.8 acre site adjacent to Sagamore Hill overlooking the bay at $8 million. There is a potential alternate site."

Mr. Brusca asked what the minimum size of the building was. Mr. Bruns said, "Not less than 80,000 sq. ft."

Mike Giardina asked, "How much money does the TRA have in the bank?"

Mr. Bruns said they have pledges of $1 million.

Mr. Giardina: "And in the bank?"

Mr. Bruns, "I'm not going to divulge that."

Mr. Gardina: "You have zero. You have no website. Come on." He added, look at the Town Build Out study, there are several intersections that are already in trouble at West Main Street and Lexington Avenue; and South Street and Lexington Avenue and Berry Hill Road. "How will you fix the traffic?" He added, there would be 1,340 flushing toilets and added a comment about raising taxes for residents.

[It appeared for a moment the meeting would be closed, but several other people spoke.]

George DeMartino, an Oyster Bay Civic Association board member said their membership is not against the TR Museum; they admire TR and are proud to live in Oyster Bay where he lived. It was the size of the building, the location and the potential for over development that concerned them. He said, "You stated in July that there would be 500,000 museumgoers per year." Mr. Bruns said he didn't say 500,000 visitors. He said that referred to the visitation at the Abraham Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Illinois. "I'm looking for 100,000 visitors." Mr. Bruns added, "TR is not Abraham Lincoln," whose museum has the largest Presidential Museum visitation in the country.

Mr. DeMartino said Mr. Bruns had changed his original statement. He asked which numbers would be used in the environmental studies.

Mr. Bruns qualified his answer saying, "I need 100,000 visitors to make it successful. But I am giving it a ceiling of 500,000 visitors as its potential." He said he had no crystal ball. "I have seen so many museums overpromise their visitation. Most communities want museums. But the visitors don't always come."

Cat Colvin asked, "How much of that 100,000 visitors revenue will go to help lessen the burden on the community? You are helping the TRS and Youngs Cemetery, but what about the hamlet parking problems and the infrastructure?" Mr. Bruns answered that not only would they make an annual payment to the town, but that they had endowed TR Park previously. She asked if a road needs to be widened, who pays, the taxpayers?

Mr. Bruns said when it is a state road, the state pays and when it is a town road, the town pays. Ms. Colvin added that she would love to see the museum at Sagamore Hill and added that with three children, she knows they like to see 3-dimensional objects.

Mr. Bruns said they do have artifacts, and that many are at Sagamore Hill, and the Smithsonian has over 143 million objects. He said, "Once you know the story you want to tell there are some tremendous objects we can have. Today," he said, "Iconographic objects are needed."

With that the meeting was over. Unfortunately, Dave Relyea of Frank M. Flower & Sons, Inc. was not allowed to speak, as were a few other people on line.

Interestingly, the man working the PowerPoint presentation was Les Schachter, the gentleman who created the "dueling" website to Caroline DuBois' Save Firemen's Field.com. He has also taken the website addresses Save Firemen's Field.com and Save Firemen's Field.net.

The next meeting of interest on the TR Museum will be held at the Italian-American Citizens Club on Thursday, Jan. 17. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m.