In June 2003, residents of West Hempstead approved a referendum to construct a new public library on the corner of Hempstead Avenue and Woodfield Road. However, nearly three years later, ground has yet to be broken on the facility. West Hempstead Library Board President Ralph Reissman blamed the West Hempstead School Board, saying that if it were not for the school board's interference, the library would have been half-built by now.

In order for the new library to be constructed, the West Hempstead School District had to take title of a gas station and shopping center in the area. The district has taken title of the gas station and is in the process of a condemnation proceeding for the shopping center.

In a press release written by Reissman, the library board president stated that the groundbreaking ceremony for the new library is close at hand with the recent approval of the plans by the state education department. Reissman also stated that the condemnation proceeding to take title of the shopping center on the land needed for the library project is underway. Part of that condemnation proceeding pertains to the tenant of the gas station the West Hempstead School District has already taken title to for the project. "Our dream of a new library is finally becoming a reality," said Reissman in the press release.

However, in an interview with the Three Village Times, Reissman was critical of the West Hempstead School Board for interfering in the project and causing the project to be stalled.

Under state law, it is the role of the school district as a legal entity to issue bonds for the construction of the library and to acquire the property, namely, the gas station and shopping center for the project.

"The delays encountered in proceeding to construct the library have been caused, in large, by interference, indifference and hostility of the school board," Reissman said.

West Hempstead School Board President James Mariano was contacted by the Three Village Times, but was not available for an interview at the time because he was at work.

However, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Eisenberg said the school board is not causing any delays to the project. Eisenberg pointed out that the New York State Education Department, which has to approve the plans for the project since the West Hempstead Library is a school district library, didn't approve the project until April 29. "We're not blocking anything. We're not delaying anything. The library has to go through state education department procedures," she said.

Reissman went on to say that the West Hempstead Library Board had a deal to buy the gas station in March 2004. "We hired our own lawyer. He was working very diligently to secure not only the gas station but also to make a deal on the strip mall. We had a contract in place to purchase the gas station in March 2004. At that point, the school board interfered and questioned the use of our own attorney to purchase the properties," Reissman. "They effectively terminated that deal, questioned the use of our lawyer and then ultimately approved our lawyer after a three month delay."

According to Reissman, during the delay, the owner of the gas station backed out of the delay and renewed the lease with the gas station's tenant. "When we finally got to go to closing in January 2005, the taxpayers had to pay an additional $26,000 in taxes due solely to the school board's interference and delay. We could have had that property much earlier on and would not be responsible for those taxes back to the owner," he said.

Eisenberg meanwhile said that at a public meeting last year, one of the West Hempstead School Board members suggested that since the sale of a gas station was involved in the project, another ground testing should be conducted to make sure the ground was not contaminated. "Yes, as a result of that, it costs $12,000. Isn't it better to spend $12,000 than $1 million to clean up a plume of whatever junk is under there? The library board got ticked off because it looked like we were delaying and it took two weeks," said Eisenberg.

The school district closed on the gas station earlier this year.

Reissman also blamed the school board for interfering in the negotiations for the shopping center. Reissman said that while the library board's lawyer, Harvey Besunder, was working to make a deal with the owner of the shopping center, the school board interfered and ultimately fired Besunder.

According to Reissman, the school board appointed their own lawyer to be responsible for the condemnation proceeding "even though the library board never received a retainer agreement from that new law firm."

Reissman said the law firm hired by the school district is doing is good work. But Reissman questions whether the school board ultimately has the responsibility of managing the project and building the new library. "This is absolutely wrong. This is not what the public asked for. The reason there is a separate library and separate library board of trustees is so the public can put its trust in the library board of trustees to get this library built," he said. "This library could have been half-built already if it wasn't from the interference of the school board and now, they are threatening to cause further delay."

Eisenberg said that the attorney appointed by the library board didn't come to the closing for the gas station and the paperwork was sloppy. The school board then switched attorneys to Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.

Eisenberg said the attorneys went to court for the condemnation proceedings for the shopping center and the tenants in the gas stations who have a lease despite it being owned by the library. The proceedings were postponed until May 26. "That's not our fault. We moved right along," Eisenberg said.

Reissman said the bids for the project are ready to go but the school district lacks the title to the shopping center and the delay in getting that title was caused by the school board. "They're blocking our authority to pursue the construction and the bidding of the project and I fear that they are going to interfere. They don't have responsibility for the design and construction of the library. They have responsibility for issuing the bond. But once the money is allocated, that's the library's money to spend," he said.

"They have control. We don't have control over the money. However, there is an accountability piece to this school board, but they have never blocked anything sent up," Eisenberg said.