Meeting of October 1, 2007 at Finley Middle School

Minutes

Coalition for Glen Cove president Helen Kotzky opened a roundtable discussion on Making the Connection: Our City, our Schools at the Finley Middle School before an audience of seventy people. Ms. Kotzky described the Coalition as an association of two hundred advocates for public education in Glen Cove. She introduced the candidates for Glen Cove mayor, Bob Benazzi, Reggie Spinello, and Mayor Ralph Suozzi, as well as candidates for city council and members of the school administration. In a discussion facilitated by Coalition vice-president Larry Fischer the candidates answered questions submitted in advance by members of the audience.

Candidate Bob Benazzi said that he had spoken with Superintendent Larry Aronstein and school board member Fred Moore and was convinced that there should be synergy between the city and the schools. If elected, he would assign a city council person as liaison with the schools. Each year the mayor’s office and the city council could provide information to the community on the school budget. He would like to enforce the law against homes that have been divided into illegal apartments since many school age children live in those apartments. Illegal housing could be eliminated if the existing laws were enforced and favoritism were eliminated. Reducing the number of tax grievances would help the schools; for each dollar refund of city taxes, there is a four dollar refund of school taxes. He said that if school districts were consolidated Glen Cove would lose its identity and its control of its schools. He also indicated he was in favor of increasing the tax base by developing the waterfront.

Candidate Reggie Spinello said the schools are doing a good job, test scores are improving, and the district was able to explain its budgets well for the past two years, leading to successful budget votes. Since the schools are so important to the City, common sense would argue for passing school budgets. State Assembly member Chuck Lavine and State Senator Carl Marcellino were effective this year in getting additional State money for the Glen Cove schools. The city administration should try to persuade Nassau County to treat Glen Cove like other County school districts for which the County pays for tax grievance refunds. The physical appearance of the school buildings is important and it may be necessary to float a bond to make necessary repairs and refurbishment. That the Glen Cove Teachers Association and the school board are still far apart in their protracted contract negotiations is disappointing to the schools and to the City. Legislation is in place to eliminate illegal apartments in Glen Cove but the City has to increase enforcement of the laws and to hold landlords responsible.

Mayor Suozzi said that he and his wife have two sons in the Glen Cove schools and his uncle, brother, and sister are teachers in other districts. He was the first Glen Cove mayor to publicly support school budgets and has supported the last two successful budgets. He recently invited the school administration to an informative city council meeting. The City has shared specialized equipment with the school district. He has spoken with teacher Melanie Arfman about a History Day for Glen Cove and has encouraged students to participate in City events. He has spoken with Nassau County legislator Diane Yatauro and State Assembly member Chuck Lavine about school and City finances. To enforce the laws against illegal apartments the City has hired a new code enforcer who works evenings and weekends. The City has a separate phone line for anonymous calls about illegal apartments. There are State laws and civil rights issues and at least three visits to each house are necessary before the landlord can be taken to court. Sometimes the courts reduce large fines to small amounts that the landlords pay as the cost of doing business.