"The proper role of government is to solve problems when citizens acting alone cannot." This was the motivating principle guiding Roslyn Estates Mayor Susan Ben-Moshe and the board of trustees when they took on an unprecedented and complex project for a group of village residents.

In January of 1999, resident Dr. Alan Konecky wrote to Mayor Ben-Moshe about his disastrous problems with the sanitary waste system at his home, the old Christopher Morley house. A new system had been installed in 1995, but quickly failed. After many soil tests, engineering consultations, and considerable expense on their part, it became apparent that the Koneckys were unable to install a private sanitary system. The board of trustees then began to seriously consider the possibility of constructing a sewer system for the area around The Birches where cesspool problems seemed to be the most egregious. The board engaged the village engineer to provide a study as to which homes could be encompassed within the district.

Based upon the location and size of the existing Nassau County sewer facilities, the topography, and the construction costs, the village engineer proposed a district of 25 homes. When a survey was taken of the homes being considered for the new sewer district, an overwhelming majority was in favor. It appeared that many residents were having problems with their cesspools. The board eventually passed a resolution establishing The Birches Sanitary Sewer District, to be fully paid for by the residents who would benefit from it.

First plans had to be drawn up. Then the village applied and was eventually approved for a 2.5 percent low-interest loan, to be paid over 30 years, from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Revolving Fund. Nassau County legislator Craig Johnson was instrumental in getting a bill passed through the legislature allowing the county to accept the waste generated by The Birches Sanitary Sewer District.

Overcoming all the bureaucratic and engineering obstacles proved to be almost a three-year challenge. Several factors, including increased labor and material costs over the long delay between approval and start of the project and several unexpected subterranean problems encountered in the field resulted in an overall cost increase. A public hearing to amend the bond resolution for the project is scheduled for the Dec. 3 board of trustees meeting.

Roslyn Estates is believed to be the only village in New York State in the last half century to have created a special sewer district for a portion of its residents based on urgent need. Dr. Konecky notes, "This act of community spirit allowed my family to remain in our house and to preserve a local landmark. I will always be grateful to our mayor and trustees for understanding this difficult situation and performing a nearly impossible feat to correct it." The Birches Sanitary Sewer District is expected to be operational in January of 2002.