Theodore Roosevelt Museum Citizen's Advisory Team (TRMCAT) member Walter Imperatore, (of Renaissance Properties), talked about what the museum committee has been doing as he spoke to members of the Oyster Bay Civic Association at their Thursday, Sept. 18 meeting. OBCA members made suggestions that he said he will bring back to TRMCAT and the TRA. The suggestion was that a timeline be set for the Theodore Roosevelt Museum proposal or at least a sequence of events.

Near the end of the meeting, Eve Bernstein, of Century 21 Laffey Associates, and in favor of the museum, summed up the general feeling of the evening saying. "We should have no more meetings until we have the facts. We have all heard these things before. I think it aggravates people just talking until we have all the facts."

The meeting was hailed as having representatives of TRMCAT there to speak to members, but actually, only Mr. Imperatore came and discovered that he would be the speaker. OBCA President Bill Von Novak, also a member of TRMCAT, added to the dialogue. Mr. Von Novak said that TRMCAT members had emailed him saying they had other obligations and were not able to come to the meeting.

Mr. Von Novak said TRMCAT has been doing "household stuff," setting up how it will work and changing the way it was originally structured. The OBCA in a letter to TRMCAT expressed the changes which have altered the appearance of the group as first expressed. Instead of working in a "confidential" way, the committee is currently communicating what they know with the public. The original plan called for a "consensus" to be reached by the committee, but the OBCA said they could not vote in favor of the Firemen's Field location until all the facts were out in the open, and a ballot was taken of members' opinion. Their letter concluded, "We have long recognized the opportunity and honor it would be to situate a museum here in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich community. In the end, a proper balance should be the goal, seeking a museum that is an asset to our community, while also maintaining the lifestyle we cherish."

Mr. Von Novak said TRMCAT has formed three subgroups: Bill Sheeline's group is considering the mass and size of the building; Mr. Von Novak, Walter Imperatore and Alex Gallego are looking into parking and traffic; Bill Burke is in charge of communications with the public. "None of the committees have made a report as yet. The largest focus is on the design," said Mr. Von Novak. The TRMCAT committee functions with three co-chairs: Bill Burke, Chris Bellerjeau and Helen Corssen who is their liaison with town hall.

Caroline DuBois said unless the parking issues are solved - of where to fit all the existing groups that use Firemen's Field/Memorial Field into other spaces, things remain a "fuzzy mess."

She said the TRA plan for the 3.5 acres for the 70,000 sq. ft. museum and parking garage takes away the LIRR commuter parking spaces (about 30 spaces), and the local firemen's drill team practice area, as well as the area where overflow shoppers, postal workers, local residents from Maxwell Avenue and Audrey Avenue park - as well as some town employees park. Add to that the 400 visitors who use the two TR Park picnic areas who are told to park in Firemen's Field. Add the parking for the Ocean to Sound Relay which finished with a party in TR Park on Sept. 7; the Triathlon; the Junior Triathlon; the use by the Rough Riders Football league where a succession of five games were played on a recent Sunday; the Battle by the Bay Lacrosse event for 3,000 participants; the Oyster Festival; St. Rocco's Festival; the Bluefish Tournament. She asked, "How can you accommodate the ongoing activities that use Firemen's Field and still bring in an unknown number of museum visitors who will mostly come in the summer weekends when the TR Park recreation areas are most used?" She added comments about the LIRR future plans and that if town workers can't walk to work how will visitors walk three blocks to Wild Honey restaurant?

Mr. Imperatore said the TRA is required to answer the questions and to give a profile of the visitors expected but the information has not materialized.

Mr. Von Novak said, how can you support what you don't know. He added other questions: "Where will they park school buses; Where will the firemen's track be relocated; If they can't find a place, the museum is dead. All these items are under consideration."

Mr. Imperatore explained that the TRA is trying to see how the proposal is accepted by the community before they make any major studies. "We are trying to bring the facts together," he said.

When Rosemary Colvin objected to the TRMCAT committee members being chosen because they were not for or against the museum, but were open to listening to the facts about putting the museum in Firemen's Field, she said she would rather hear the facts and decide for herself. Mr. Von Novak said, "Jim Bruns is trying to sell his ideas. No one has bought it yet."

George DeMartino said the solutions offered by the TRA were a "Ponzi Scheme." "They say put the firemen's track in TR Park, the buses will use the park, current users of Firemen's Field should park in TR Park - so what replaces TR Park. It's a big Ponzi game," he said. His words sparked applause and shouts of approval from the group.

A woman suggested the community should decide if it wants the museum and Mr. Von Novak answered that the proposal was to use the town land - and it is free. He said, the town may not be able to support the taking of land that is used for recreational needs.

The woman added that she was not in favor of it; it's been a year of waiting for the studies; it's not advantageous to the town use of the land.

OBCA board member Rob Brusca summed up that TRMCAT was a sounding board for the TRA, rather than the TRA getting direct feedback from the community. That is all the committee is doing, but still there are no facts of the logistics about locating it in a flood zone. He asked, "Is there a timeline?"

OBCA board member George DeMartino added that although the research center was removed from the original plan, there has been no change in the plans. The museum was originally 70,000 sq. ft. and is still that size. "This is a Ponzi game of parking," he said.

OBCA board member Judy Barnett suggested a forum should be held by the town and to not have TRMCAT working as a buffer for the TRA. "It's a year and nothing has been done except we have 14 people on a bogus committee," she said.

One of the members present asked if the civic association could then have a vote on the proposal but Mr. Von Novak said, "There are members who want the museum. They have a right to hear all sides of the issue." He added, "The town is dying, we have to do what is best for the town. We have an obligation to hear all sides."

"We are going in circles and it has to end," said Grace Searby. "Even if we vote, we have to make it clear to others. We have to have our answers sooner rather than later. I don't want the town to change." She said with the magnitude of the museum, "It doesn't fit into this quaint little town. It's absurd." She suggested the board mail out copies of George DeMartino's letter that appeared in the newspapers to inform everyone of the ramifications of the proposal.

Mr. Von Novak said, "Some of the members of TRMCAT are tired of how long it is taking. We've asked the TRA for the traffic study. They are talking about it taking six months to a year. Sometimes you have the frustrated feeling that you are talking to yourself. I share your frustration."

O.J. Donovan who was one of those who volunteered to be on the Firemen's Field advisory committee but was not picked said, "The first consideration is what do you do with the present function that Firemen's Field does now for the community. They are bringing people in from the outside for the museum but Firemen's Field serves this community now - not outside people - day after day. We are giving away something that benefits the community, that benefits us." There was applause from the group.

Judy Barnett commented that, "We don't need another non-profit in the community, we need taxpayers."

Ms. DuBois added another concern about museum goers: that they could come prepared to park all day at the museum and use the TR Park and beach facilities by just walking in while town residents pay for a sticker to park to use the same facilities which the town maintains with taxpayer money.

Jack Liebert, the commissioner of planning and development and a hamlet resident said, "The town hasn't gotten an application. We have nothing to process. We are obligated to have anyone say they want to build or to have the use of land but we aren't obligated to give it away if people don't want it to happen. But the supervisor said the TRA must reach out to the community and get a consensus of support. I understand it is, yes, basic fuzzy math, it doesn't fit, but there may be an answer. Many people want it. The reasons expressed are valid but I understand the frustration you feel but the town will do nothing against the consensus of residents of the hamlet. We told that to Mr. Bruns (TRA president) and Mr. Parsons of the TRA. We'd love to see this happen but we don't see it yet. There are no decisions, no commitments and no proposal. We did see a color rendition of the same plans as were in Newsday."

Ms. DuBois explained the needs of the Oyster Bay firemen and why they don't want to be located outside the town. She said, "They need a space that is 685 ft. long and 50 ft. wide. They don't want to be located outside of Oyster Bay. When they are practicing and the fire whistle goes off they want to be close to their fire trucks."

She said finding a place for them means somewhere away from children's playgrounds and away from people. On June 21 the Atlantic Steamer Fire Company ran the Fifth Battalion's firematic games and used Firemen's Field for the event. They had bleachers set up; a showmobile; and food and souvenir tents and made full use of the parking lot.

Mr. Brusca cut to the chase saying, "The developer needs to cut the check and get the information we all need."

Mr. Imperatore said, "Tonight is great. Stop talking until you have something to talk about!"

A lady commented "If they have no money for the study - then what?"

Mr. Von Novak said, "A great many of us are asking that question and about the economy and how it will affect fund raising for the museum."

Mr. Von Novak said the OBCA hotline number has been changed. It was located in the home of former president Marie Knight and now will be at Mr. Von Novak's home. "I have an answering machine and the number is easy to remember, 922-5551," he said. He thanked Louise Rea for helping with the project.

The next meeting of the OBCA will be on Oct. 16, when Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice will speak. The meeting is open to members of the East Norwich and Oyster Bay Civic Association as well as to the community, said OBCA Vice President Stan Spiegelman. He said his wife, Helen Altman arranged to get Ms. Rice to come to speak.