The race for village mayor in Brookville will bring a change for residents or keep intact a government that has over 60 years of combined experience in village government.

Current Village Mayor Richard Goodwin has served as Brookville's mayor for the past nine years and prides himself on the fact that he has not raised taxes in seven years, the village has remained debt-free and he's maintained a rainy day surplus. If re-elected on March 20, he would like to continue the same and to give more efficient and better service to the residents of the Village of Brookville. He is running on the Citizens Party slate along with trustee candidates Lawrence Cohen and Robert Ward.

Political newcomer Joan Romero, running for mayor along with trustee candidates Aldo Tarantini and Steve Glazer, feels it is a time for change. Her platform is to prevent commercialization of the residentially zoned village, to protect the values of residents' homes and to ensure that the school district stays at its best.

Romero, who currently serves as the president of the Brookville Taxpayers Association, held an open house on March 10, which 65 residents attended voicing their concerns, opinions and questions regarding the race. The open house was held to discuss a pamphlet that Romero sent about a week ago to all residents of the village, which is approximately 600 homes, expressing the need for change within the village.

Addressed at the open house and in the pamphlet was Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus, which encompasses 240-acres within the Village of Brookville, and the recent construction. They are currently building an athletic facility on the campus with only a foundation permit. They have already built walls approximately 20 feet high, which exceeds a foundation permit. "I do not expect to prevent that athletic facility from being built, but I want the college to follow the same rules that the residents have to follow."

Goodwin acknowledges that the campus is building with only a foundation permit, but assures that the village will soon be issuing a building permit. "We are aware of the building and they could not stop building because they have a contract," said Goodwin. "We have not gotten around to issuing a building permit, but we will give it to them very shortly."

According to Goodwin, this privilege is also given to residents. "Sometimes people have problems," said Goodwin. "If someone in my village had the same problem and they came to me and said 'we have not issued a permit, but can we go ahead,' we would let them go ahead."

Romero also addressed the fact that, although C.W. Post does not pay taxes to the village, they use Brookville's fire and police services. This, according to Goodwin, is a common practice when a college campus is situated within a village. " No university pays taxes," he said. "All universities get police service from the village, just like Old Westbury. The institution is a learning facility and our citizens are supporting that with fire and police so we can get better educated people."

Romero expressed concern in her pamphlet that "many residents of the village, south of the Broadhollow Development pay $700 - $1,000 per year for sewer tax although they do not have sewers." Although Romero realizes this is not an issue that can be taken up with the village and is controlled by Nassau County, she still feels this is something that the village should investigate and attempt to change.

"The sewer tax has nothing to do with the village," said Goodwin in response to Romero's concerns. "There was litigation on this issue about 15 years ago by the residents and they lost. These residents live in the sewer district so they have to pay the tax. You cannot do anything about it. It is not a village issue."

Another claim by Romero in her mailing was that the mayor solicited 15 votes from C.W. Post College and that the updated and official registered and enrolled voters list includes 75 students. "There are 10,000 students at C.W. Post and ultimately the students could run the village and that is a very scary thought," said Romero. "I don't know if I can change that if I get elected because it is a New York State rule, but it is something to look at. We cannot exist with that kind of danger hanging over us."

Goodwin says this is a blatant lie by Romero and that he only got nine employees of the school to register. "These are full-time, adult employees and they all live and work on the campus," he said. "[Romero] never checked her information and just assumed... Those professors have a right to vote in the village elections. They are adult people who live in Brookville."

The issue of a part-time code enforcer, who was hired by the village strictly for Saturdays and Sundays to patrol the neighborhood to see if anyone is doing any construction that is not permissible under the present code, was raised at the open house. Residents expressed concerns about the code enforcer knocking on their doors unannounced to see what they were doing in their backyards. If elected, Romero would like to run the village based on the honor system and not use the code enforcer. "This code enforcer is intimidating to residents," said Romero.

"We have had a number of complaints by village residents who see contractors working on the weekends and disturbing the peace of the village," said Goodwin. "We hired a part-time code enforcer to notify those contractors that you cannot work on Saturdays and Sundays. This has been in place for about two years now and the complaints are down to zero. Peace and quiet is what we want in the village and this is why we have a code enforcement officer. Romero wants to be on the honor system, but it was the honor system for years and all of the contractors were working. It is our responsibility to enforce the code especially when it disturbs the residents on the weekends." Goodwin also said that the code enforcer has not yet given any summons, but rather just warnings.

Romero and the trustees running on the United Party "have no experience in village government and I am amazed that they think they can run a village with no experience," said Goodwin. "People running with me have over 60 years of experience with village governments. I have a vast knowledge of what goes on in the village. It amazes me. If your car needs to be repaired, you don't want someone who does not know how to fix it to try and fix it for you."

Romero feels that it is time for a change. Since Brookville's incorporation in 1932, the position of Mayor and the Board of Trustees, according to Romero, had been continually handed down to one another from what she calls the Old Boys Club. "The incumbent government which has been the same for 69 years is made up of senior citizens who have no children in the school district and are completely out of touch with the residents," said Romero. "I would like to return respect to the residents. The residents should not live in fear and intimidation. There should be an open government. Residents should feel comfortable and free to pick up the phone and call me at 626-0341 if they have any problems whatsoever. I think it is time for a change."

These are only some of the issues that have been raised by the candidates and now the constituents have a chance to speak their minds by voting on March 20. Brookville residents can cast ballots from noon - 9 p.m. in Brookville at Lutheran High School, located at 131 Brookville Road, on the corner of Fruitledge Road and Brookville Road.