The Oyster Bay Civic Association held an open discussion on information presented by President Bill Von Novak at its July 17 meeting. He has accepted a seat on the steering committee that is focused on working toward putting the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Museum on Firemen's Field. Mr. Von Novak sees it as important to be on the committee to take part in the decision-making although as a representative of the civic group he will not be able to make any decisions until he takes the information to his members to vote upon. The OBCA board spent a lot of time in its executive session earlier to test Mr. Von Novak's belief. Some members were concerned that being on the committee gave the appearance of being in favor of the museum being at Firemen's Field although in general - many members are not convinced that is the best location.

President Von Novak, reported to his constituent base on the first meeting of the steering committee formed as a result of the Dan Burden suggestion after his two-day event in Oyster Bay on March 14 and 15.

The Theodore Roosevelt Museum steering committee was formed by the three organizations that funded the visit by Dan Burden of Walkable Communities: the Main Street Association, Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce, and the Oyster Bay Civic Association.

Members of the three stakeholders were automatically on the committee, said Mr. Von Novak, meaning he, Alex Gallego, chamber president and Bill Sheeline, MSA president. The committee took the list of names submitted at the Canavan Center meeting. The names included: Chris and Claire Bellerjeau, Paige Dawson, Alex Gallego, Gary Drury, John Wallace, Ralph Fumante, John Bonifacio, Bill Sheeline, Bill Burke, Bob Basta, Helen Crosson, Art Koch, Rob Brusca, Michele Browner, Caroline DuBois, Walter Imperatore, Catherine Drabin, Peter Casparian, Barbara and Steve Pollack, Irwin Tantleff. Another list included: Yehuda Tamari, Joan Drury, Jamie Deming, Pat Devlin. [In fairness' sake, it should be mentioned that the meeting at the Canavan Center was on a Saturday and as a result few parents of school-age children attended.]

Mr. Von Novak felt it not appropriate to name the other committee members but said members chosen for the committee were not recommended if they were intensely for or intensely against the museum. He said they were chosen for their "reasonableness." That description was challenged at the civic meeting.

The steering committee met once, and there was to have been a second meeting on Wednesday, July 16, but it was cancelled because of scheduling.

Mr. Von Novak said, at the first meeting they discussed the scope of the committee, and the philosophy and objective of the group. Mr. Von Novak was interested in what he was able to bring back to the OBCA organization which he represents on the committee.

First, he said, the purpose of the committee is to discuss the conceptual proposal of the TR museum, but only at Firemen's Field. He said the TRA wants the approval of the committee before they make a proposal to the town, and after the studies are made. Then he said, the membership can vote yes or no on the proposal. Mr. Von Novak said, pending the outcome of the town's due diligence, the proposal will trigger an environmental study.

Mr. Von Novak said he asked for a copy of the conceptual plan but Mr. Bruns said there was only one copy and that it was a conceptual plan that he wanted to share and get feedback on. "By submitting the rendering he hopes to solve the problems that would cause people to vote against it. But he still has the same problems: the environmental study, the traffic study, the economic study... This is very unusual. He is sitting on a very narrow beam here. The committee can say yes but if the problems aren't solved - what then. He said he understands the problems of parking, and the athletic fields, the Little League, increased traffic, and environmental issues. He [Mr. Bruns] doesn't consider parking a big problem. He says, it's a walking problem not a parking problem. That there is parking in the area. I counted 277 cars in the parking lot for parents attending the Little League games in the athletic field."

Mr. Von Novak said, "If people are not in favor of having the museum in Firemen's Field, the TRA will leave Oyster Bay."

Mr. Von Novak said the option was difficult for the civic association. He said, "We've given the TRA 12 or 13 alternate sites but the proposal is only for Firemen's Field. If they are not going to get it, they are leaving. He has defined it and made it easier to object to since it is - only Firemen's Field."

Mr. Von Novak said, "It is still subject to an environmental report, a study on the amount of parking needed that is related to the number of people expected to attend the museum. Added to that, the local firemen have to be accommodated. They want their practice location to be located in the East Norwich-Oyster Bay area.

"It's a 50 foot wide raceway. That's a killer location to find elsewhere," he said.

Mr. Von Novak summed up the issue saying, "TRA President Jim Bruns has staked out a proposal that is conceptual in nature that he wants to take to the town. He has given a go-ahead for discussion of the proposal but it has a lot against it. This project of getting the approval of the steering committee before anything else is done - a rendering of the proposal and the needed studies."

George De Martino asked if there was a reason Mr. Bruns said no to any other site and Mr. Von Novak answered, "He's getting the property free. He said he looked into the Hallock property but the cost was too high."

Mr. Von Novak said there are booklets put out by the TRA including a Donor's Guide to the TRPM and RC. There is also a journal giving the history of TR and why a museum should be here. It includes information on the cost of the building and what they perceive will be the community impact. He said, "This poses a difficult problem. The steering committee has taken a concept on how it should be run but there is some consternation on the ground rules which include confidentiality and consensus. They are not real. In discussing confidentiality they said, 'If the TRA was to buy property and told the committee and word gets out it might not be available. That sounds reasonable." But he added, "It was a little problematic."

Cat Colvin said it is important to encourage free speech in meetings. "On a consensus, as a civic leader, that is something you can't agree to because you can't say you would agree without checking on your members. As an individual you can but not as a civic leader. And - if you never reach consensus, what happens. Ask them at the next meeting," she said.

Caroline DuBois of the Citizens to Save Firemen's Field said she couldn't understand how the civic association president could be on a committee that is "defacto approving Firemen's Field by being on the steering committee." She said while the choosers said no one on the committee should be strongly on one side or another but, "The OBCC and the MSA are both rah, rah, for the museum at Firemen's Field."

Mr. Von Novak disagreed and said, "They are not strongly in favor of the site. If it is not environmentally OK we are asking if we can agree to disagree."

Ms. DuBois said being on the steering committee says, "You are against the Little League parking at Firemen's Field; the Bluefish Tournament parking. My premise is that the field is all for parking for commuters and for all the current uses. The deed of intent of 1950 when the War Memorial Committee gave Firemen's Field to the town - it was to be solely used for parking for the train station and athletic field parking." She said at the ENCA meeting the month before that attorneys who had looked at the letter of intent, felt it could be brought to the Supreme Court and she predicted the project could be held up in the courts for five years.

OBCA board member Rob Brusca said, "Bill can't represent the organization as willing - until we have a vote and we are not willing to vote yet. I asked Bill to speak to the committee about this. He and we an't commit. It is subject to a vote. Bill needs to go back to the committee and express that waiver."

While Mr. Brusca was invited to join the committee, he declined to do so, he said.

Mr. Von Novak expanded on the issue saying there are committee members who have not made decisions as yet. He added there are 10 to 15 different issues to be looked at. [The committee was originally talked about as having 14 members and now it appears there are 12. Mr. Brusca being one of the decliners.]

Chris Bellerjeau, who is a member of the steering committee said the team is to discuss the opposition issues.

Mr. Von Novak explained further about the concept presented by Mr. Bruns. He said, "Jim Bruns came to the meeting with a conceptual sketch of what they are working toward. It is located on the western side of Firemen's Field. Traffic will come down Larrabee Avenue. There will be a 32,000 sq. ft. first floor and a 38,000 sq. ft. upper level with an overhanging section to be a covered entrance for buses to come in. The proposal he wants us to contribute to, are rough plans he has for the building. The committee is not 100 percent for the plan. They were definitely concerned about the large structure. He said it will be architecturally designed to fit into the community saying it won't be like the Rallye Motors building off Jericho Turnpike [that is near B.J.'s Warehouse]. The architect suggests that the building will resemble some phase of Oyster Bay style such as the Queen Anne period. He said there was a comment from committee members that the sketch he presented was not acceptable. There are a few architects on the committee," said Mr. Von Novak, "and they are weighing in heavily. They want to be sure the building will fit into the community. This is still a very large building for this town," said Mr. Von Novak.

He described the building as Mr. Bruns told the committee, the 32,000 sq. ft. portion will be almost near the houses on Larrabee Avenue. There will be a park on the second level of the parking lot on a 32,000 sq. ft. footprint. There will be a covered walkway from the parking lot to town hall, next to the post office; there will be a small ampitheater by Maxwell Avenue. There will be 248 spaces for parking on the level under the park plus 60 additional spaces along the fence by the school as well as more diagonal parking on the street by the museum.

The park above the parking lot will be for community use for picnic, games and health-walks. The Firemen's training track will not be there. That's where the planner gets extra parking spaces. When the museum is closed there will be 24-hour security.

Mr. Von Novak was asked if all the parking was for the museum and he said, "In a sense it is. There will be no gating of the parking lot. The spots along the LIRR right of way will remain."

Mr. Brusca said he had understood the plan called for the 32,000 sq. ft. section to be underground but Mr. Von Novak said, "no."

Mr. Von Novak said there are funding mechanisms in place for tax rebates if a building is "green." They plan to use re-processed water for the park and the building. He said originally they planned to have a wind turbine on the roof but the committee members said, "No way."

Caroline DuBois asked when "Mr. Bruns will decide to pack up and go out of town." Mr. Von Novak consulted the timeline in one of the TRA brochures. It said the approval should happen in 2007 to 2008; the funding goes from 2008 to 2013; the design process happens from 2008 to 2009; the construction is from 2010 to 2013.

Rosemary Colvin asked when the Environmental Impact study will be done for things such as the traffic.

Mr. Von Novak said, "Interestingly it requires us to take a good account of the museum first, before the proposal is passed on by the TRA to the town and Supervisor Venditto." Here, said Mr. Von Novak. he thought - this is where the town might say to themselves, - they could have someone who will pay for the cleanup at Firemen's Field instead of paying for it themselves. He said Mr. Bruns is looking for a place to put part of the museum and that he approached the owners of the Hallock property but the cost was prohibitive.

George DeMartino said he wants to have a 30,000 sq. ft. space for offices and the research center.

Mr. Von Novak said he thought it was important to remain on the steering committee to represent all side of the issue.

Chris Bellerjeau said, "The TRA wants to be sure we people are happy with the plan they bring to Supervisor Venditto."

A woman in the audience asked if the plan calls for the widening of Route 106 and Larrabee Avenue and Audrey Avenue, if they are looking at buses coming in to the area. Who would pay for the infrastructure improvements?

Mr. DeMartino said it might be cheaper for the town to fix Firemen's Field than have to do a road-widening project.

Cat Colvin said the TRA would only pay for the building of the museum and would not pay for the infrastructure costs.

Mr. Von Novak said, "The committee has input. The committee said no to the turbines. Someone said it would look like Glen Cove."

Mr. DeMartino asked how they will replace the parking spaces they are taking away. He said the ball field at the Roosevelt School and the parking lot for the cars are a joint resource for the community. He asked where will the town be able to find the seven and a half acres the resource offers. [Currently the town is being pushed by sports leagues all over the township for more playing fields.]

Mr. DeMartino said instead of having to replace the current sports complex (that is the playing field and the parking facility) the town should find someplace else to put the museum.

"If we say no to Firemen's Field they will go elsewhere," said Mr. Von Novak.

Rosemarie Colvin said, "It's just a threat. Call his bluff. That's what he's doing." She added, "There are no secrets in Oyster Bay. We know who is on the committee. When they say they want no one intensely interested in one view, I know of five people of the 12 on the committee who are strongly committed to Firemen's Field."

Mr. Von Novak said, "He's a salesman. He's selling and going to use pressure."

"It's bluffs and threats," said Ms. DuBois.

"That doesn't scare me. The question is - is the concept sound," answered Mr. Von Novak. "Mr. Bruns said he has $275,000 invested in the project, but, he's a public relations guy."

Grace Searby asked what happens if they have insufficient funds to complete the project. "My concern is the size. If it doesn't fly we're left with an albatross," she said.

Mr. Bellerjeau said he will be bringing special events to Oyster Bay - for instance the historian Doris Kerns Goodman. He added, "Mr. Bruns has to raise sufficient funds to sustain the museum."

Someone else brought up Sagamore Hill as a location for the museum but someone else said, "It wouldn't be free land at Sagamore Hill."

Mr. Von Novak said, "There are bad feelings between the TRA and the National Park Service."

Ms. DuBois asked Mr. Von Novak to request that the Steering Committee hold an open meeting on the suitability of Firemen's Field; the plus and minuses, for a museum; or for the firemen and the Little League to use Firemen's Field." There was applause. She said, "See if there is a groundswell that will say the town has vetoed the location- then we won't need the State Environmental Quality Review."

Mr. Von Novak said the town is required to have an open meeting.

Ms. DuBois said, "With no design, just a location, you are re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."

Mr. Von Novak said the OBCA has taken a neutral position. Not until there is a vote will the group take a stand.

A woman in the audience asked if they could do what they did with AvalonBay and march to town hall with signs. She said people should start writing letters and marching outside town hall. "We all can do it ourselves."

Ms. DuBois said, "People come secretly and say, 'I can't write a letter. I work for a merchant or I work for the town', or 'I might lose my job' or - I'm in the fire department and saying - its controversial because the firemen depend on the town. People are afraid of repercussions."

A woman commented that with the makeup of the steering committee, the game is loaded to begin with. How fair is that? she asked.

Chris Bellerjeau said, "There is no vote yet. It will happen somewhere down the line." He said, "The mission statement is to see if there are ways to engage the community to find ways that Firemen's Field can be used."

Mr. DeMartino expressed one of the last thoughts of the discussion. He said, "Since Firemen's Field is in the 100-year flood zone it needs to follow federal guidelines. That can cost 10 percent more or $10 million. There is plenty of property in Oyster Bay that is not on the flood plain." There was applause.

Matt Meng had the last word. He said, "In my personal opinion, you don't build a world class presidential museum on a flood plain."