On January 29, civic and chamber leaders, representing some 20 organizations in Elmont, Franklin Square and West Hempstead, converged on the American Legion Hall in Elmont for the first ever Tri-Community Summit.

The Summit, under the banner of "Common Concerns, Shared Solutions" and hosted by the Tri-Community Alliance of Elmont, Franklin Square and West Hempstead, heralded the establishment of a coalition of all civic and business associations in the tri-community designed to identify the issues that impact upon our quality of life, to formulate a vision for our community's future, and to develop and implement a strategy to deal directly with these issues.

Considering the most important issues of the day - the burgeoning illegal accessory apartment dilemma, the revitalization and beautification of our business districts, the ever-escalating property tax, the lack of community policing, adequate code enforcement and the Band-Aid approach of town and county to the everyday concerns of community - the consensus of those in attendance at the Summit was to focus first on a single, compelling issue: illegal rental apartments.

"I think we will find that when we tackle the problem of illegal rentals," observed Roy Mezzapelle, chair of the Elmont Quality of Life Committee and co-chair of the Alliance. "We'll begin to ask ourselves, 'what happened to the other problems we complained of?' From the overcrowding of our schools to the overcrowding of our streets, from the tax burden to the taxing of essential services, illegal rentals prey upon our quality of life in ways both obvious and subtle."

The first step toward reducing illegal rentals, all agreed, is for the Town of Hempstead to step to the plate on the enforcement end. "The town has to make it clear that it has taken a zero tolerance stance toward illegal rentals," voiced Bob Rabey, president of the West Hempstead Civic Association.

The gathered civic leaders proposed a multi-pronged approach in the battle to eliminate illegal rental apartments:

* Identify and pursue disciplinary action, via the New York Secretary of State, against Realtors who list, offer for rental or sale, or otherwise solicit the sale or purchase of houses with illegal apartments;

* Demand that the Town of Hempstead publicize, via direct mailings to all households in the township, the law governing the rental of accessory apartments, setting forth, in detail, the proscriptions and the penalties, and stating, unequivocally, that the town will take a zero tolerance approach;

* Insist upon adequate code enforcement by the Town of Hempstead, with prompt and thorough investigation, certain and swift prosecution of violators, and the imposition of meaningful penalties;

* Demand accountability at town hall, from the supervisor to the town board to the commissioner of buildings, setting specific goals and timetables, and monitoring performance;

* Effectively communicate with residents and government officials at all levels that illegal accessory apartments will no longer be the accepted norm, and that the rule of law will be applied across the board.

Speaking in general terms on quality of life concerns, Seth Bykofsky, co-chair of the Tri-Community Alliance and former president of the West Hempstead Civic Association, encouraged an open dialogue and a partnering of residents, civic leaders and government officials. "We must bring an end," said Bykofsky, "to the disconnect between a people and their government, between government officials and the issues that impact upon community, and between the civic and business associations and the constituencies they serve. We must endeavor to solidify our working relationships on all fronts, not with a view toward revolution, but knowing full well that we cannot afford to wait for evolution to take its course."

Civic and business leaders will convene again in February, and regularly thereafter. Town Supervisor, Kate Murray, is expected to be called forth at the next meeting for discourse on the town's role in resolving the illegal rental crisis.

The Tri-Community Alliance of Elmont, Franklin Square & West Hempstead can be contacted by e-mail at TriCommunityAlliance@yahoo.com. Suspected illegal rentals should be reported to Town Councilman Edward Ambrosino at 516-489-5000. Full confidentiality will be maintained.