Last week, The Roslyn News introduced candidates from the newly-formed Roslyn Community Party, plus key elements of that party's platform. This week, we focus on candidates and platform planks from the Clock Tower Party.

This year, the Clock Tower Party has nominated incumbent Trustee Louise McCann and Wayne Marr, a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals for the two Board of Trustee seats being contested in the March 21 election.

Clock Tower Party chairman Milton Grunwald cites the organization's "long history of putting the interests of the community above and before all else," while adding that its nominees for the BOT share the party's "very ideals and will carry them into the next century."

The party calls the "control of taxes, increase of revenue and the appropriate spending of tax dollars" as the "first major agenda" of its platform.

Realizing that village taxes comprise up to 19 percent of the total tax bill Roslynites pay, both Marr and McCann pledge they will do "all that is possible" to maintain "zero" increases in the village budget. The village's "limited" resources should be used for essential services and "maintaining the unique character and environmental integrity" of the village.

Marr and McCann promise also to "closely monitor" the spending of every residents' total tax contribution, including school and library budgets. In addition, the party will "vigorously pursue" outside sources of revenue from government and private industry to fund projects within the village. The party platform notes recent grant programs which brought funding for Edwards Street resurfacing, a tree planting fund, and for the Roslyn Harbor Redevelopment strategy project.

On environmental, master plan and land development issues, the party candidates "look favorably" on the development of the Forest City Daly senior housing facility, claiming it will increase the village's tax base, while "vitalizing" the downtown area with waterfront development and a lighted promenade. They also support "reasonable development" of the Harborview Homes, the study to maximize the effectiveness of the sanitary sewer system, the rehabilitation of the Glen Avenue retaining wall, the ongoing program of sidewalk repair and a "prominent" role for the village in the Roslyn Viaduct Replacement Program.

In addition, Marr and McCann pledge to "reach out to the community" to participate in and support the Antique Fair, Concert in the Park series and various parades. They also plan to create liaisons with elected officials at the town, county and federal levels where "the voices and interests of Roslyn will be heard outside the village."

Concerning fire service, Marr and McCann reiterate their support for village's two volunteer fire companies, while also expressing concern for the expenditure of $925,000 which has been allocated to the new firehouse on Mineola Avenue, a sale that was "predicated on the sale of the Old Northern Boulevard Firehouse." As that firehouse has been taken off the market, the two candidates are especially concerned of where the funds will come from for the new firehouse.

In all, the two candidates state they stand for "open government, encouraging accessibility and citizen participation in government." They plan to strive for "cordial relations" with all the local civic associations, landmark societies and the chamber of commerce. Clock Tower Party officials maintain the March 21 election is about "good government...making hard decisions and responsibility." While both Marr and McCann support "many of the initiatives" of fellow Clock Tower Party member, Mayor Janet Galante, they also identify themselves as "independent people" who will not be controlled by any other BOT members, and who will govern "in accord with the law, the facts, the best interests of the village and their conscience."

Wayne Marr and his family have lived in Roslyn for over 20 years. For the past three years, he has been a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Marr has spent the last 30 years working for New York Telephone/Bell Atlantic. He is a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology where he received a degree in Business Administration.

Louise McCann has lived in Roslyn for over nine years. She is a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve assigned to the Office of Inspector General. In her role as a non-commissioned officer, she has traveled extensively conducting inspections on military readiness, welfare, morale and professional conduct. Ms. McCann received a degree from the New York Institute of Technology in Criminology and Police Science. She has worked for over 14 years as a Litigation Assistant at the Garden City law firm of Congdon, Flaherty.