Having spent most of my almost 40 years in this town, and the last 15 months on the school board, I have learned a lot of things about this town. When I look around this town, I see a lot of positive things that have been created. I look at the Landmark on Main Street, I look at the public library and think back to the prior time when it was in the current Polish Museum on Belleview, I look at the parks that have been built, the efforts of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington to beautify, the improvements at our fire houses, etc. There are many more examples. All of these steps forward happened due to the vision and energy of positive people.

These steps forward did not happen with people looking in the rear view mirror. I would like to think we are trying to continually improve ourselves and our town. Most recently there was the golf outing fund raiser by PYA to improve Lions field. Someone suggested that district employees should take a cut or freeze their pay so we could fund a building program. As I look at the employees of our school district, I want them paid fairly so that we can continue to demand the best from them. To expect them to take a freeze or a cut in salaries is unrealistic. I prefer to pay people fairly and demand a lot from them. How happy would you be if your boss decided to improve his building at your expense?

Secondly, I greatly resent the constant negativity that our board has to endure. I don't like the constant twisting of statements, political game playing that has been going on. When all of a sudden a 3-year-old letter from the school board is treated like the Testament we know something else is going on. When two or three pieces of paper (releases of lien) out of literally thousands are presented at a public meeting without informing the business official ahead of time (so perhaps he could prepare himself and the rest of the board) you know game playing is going on. It seems obvious my fellow board members, Mr. Sussman and Mr. Zimmerman have an ulterior motive. As I have asked both of them in public and private numerous times, if you have another plan bring it on! Otherwise please stop making mountains out of mole hills and unless you plan on building something, stop knocking everything else that goes on.

This town was made terrific by the efforts of those who have always cared to be positive. I wanted to get elected to this board to perform community service not to play political games. As the taxpayers and citizens of our town in the 1950s and early '60s did their responsibility to build an infrastructure to educate people like myself, it is time for us to do our part for the next generation. It is time for my generation to do its part and support the efforts of the majority of this school board to present a quality facilities plan that will serve the next generation.

Dean Nardone

Town Board Member