Oyster Bay Town Councilman Angelo Delligatti inducted the new officers of the Oyster Bay Civic Association on Thursday, Jan. 17, at the opening of a joint meeting of the OBCA and the East Norwich Civic Association for a panel discussion on the proposed Theodore Roosevelt Museum and Research Center held at the Italian-American Citizens Club on Summit Street.

Mr. Delligatti said it was good to know neighbors were talking to neighbors. He said sometimes you find that neighboring groups don't know what is happening in each other's area and sometimes they hold differing opinions. He was pleased the ENCA and the OBCA were working together.

Mr. Delligatti said he knew the topic for the evening and said, "On behalf of the town, on the topic: the town has made no decision, so whichever side you fall upon, be confident, assured that we want to hear from you in the community before we make our decision. I speak for the supervisor and my town board colleagues."

He said Town of Oyster Bay Commissioner Jack Liebert of the Department of Planning and Development and Oyster Bay Town Historian John Hammond were both there and would bring back good information to the board. He added, "We will learn along with you."

Mr. Delligatti greeted Marie Knight who he called a long-time friend. "I say that because some of the civics don't like us, and Marie and I have a really good rapport. Marie [OBCA president emeritus] has been a good 'eyes and ears' of the community and I look forward to working with [new president] Bill Von Novak."

Mr. Delligatti introduced the officers: Vice President Stan Spiegelman, Ms. Knight, Judith Barnett, Treasurer Louise Rea; and directors Rob Brusca and George DeMartino and Secretary Jane Montgomery.

He asked them to raise their hands and say: "I solemnly swear to support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of New York and the rules and bylaws of the Oyster Bay Civic Association. I further promise to perform the duties of the office to which I have been inducted to the best of my abilities." He then inducted Bill Novak, separately.

"Now we are legal," said Mr. Von Novak as the town photographer gathered the officers and Mr. Delligatti for a group shot.

Mr. Von Novak introduced the panel discussion being held so that the members of the two civic associations can make a decision on the proposal for a two-story 100,000 sq. ft. museum and its two-story parking garage for about 320 cars set in Firemen's Field. He said the idea is to represent multiple ideas about the museum and its location to the community concerning Firemen's Field, downtown business and the impact of the museum on the local economy.

Mr. Von Novak said, "We don't have all the answers and no decision will be made until the proposal goes before the town and the board has all the information available. Then we will make a decision.

The principal speakers, Brad Warner, Oyster Bay Historical Society vice president and Caroline DuBois of the Coalition to Save Firemen's Field, presented differing views on the proposed TR Museum. While Ms. DuBois' group does not want the museum to use a community resource for its site, Mr. Warner said the Oyster Bay Historical Society has no position on the location, size and environmental issues involved in the museum. Their focus is on the value of the museum to the historical group and its mission.

A free flow of information occurred with Ms. DuBois discussing the opinions of her group and Mr. Warner speaking about the great interest the OBHS has in working with the proposed TR museum in what he called a synergistic relationship.

At the meeting Oyster Bay Historical Society Director Thomas Kuehhas said, "We have a larger collection of TR related books than Sagamore Hill has according to [the late Dr.] John Gable [executive director of the TRA]". It is not as large as the collection at Harvard, he added. "Dr. Gable did the comparison when he was on our board. He knew our collection."

Mr. Kuehhas said Mr. Gable said that while Sagamore Hill was the site to visit to see where TR lived, there was no place there for interpretive exhibits telling what he meant to the world. The new museum would be the space for that, said the director.

Mr. Kuehhas said the researchers who come to the Earle Wightman House, 20 Summit Street, usually stay in New York City or at a large hotel and come to Oyster Bay for the day.

During the meeting the audience openly discussed their varying opinions with passion and a willingness to let each other speak.

Historical Society member Yvonne Cifarelli, a resident of the hamlet, was much in favor of having the museum in town. She said it was most important to keep the economy going. She said the perception was that hoards of people would be coming to the museum but she doubted that since she is involved in the art world and has curated exhibits at the Historical Society. She suggested the museum be thought of as having a footprint of 50,000 sq. ft. instead of being referred to as a 100,000 sq. ft. building.

ENCA President Matt Meng added that there would also be a 50,000 sq. ft. parking garage.

Another gentlemen commented on the recent comparison of the size of the proposed museum as having a footprint comparable to the Roosevelt Elementary School - only with two stories. The man added that the school is on 10 acres and the museum and parking garage will sit on 3.5 acres. There were questions on what setbacks would be required in the zoning.

As the evening ended, Commissioner Liebert said, "This one is a tough one."