Radano, Greller Vie for Trustee Seat
The Levittown Public Library budget vote for the proposed 2012-2013 library budget and the election of a Library Trustee will take place on Tuesday, April 3 from noon to 9 p.m. in the library’s Mildred B. Cantor Community Room.
The Levittown Public Library’s budget is separate from the Levittown School District budget, and the budget votes are held on different dates.
The library board of trustees is committed to a continuation of current services at a minimum increase in cost. The Board developed a proposed budget for 2012-2013 that reflects the cost of operating the library.
The incumbent, Michael Radano, is a candidate for re-election. Rusel Greller is also running for the open trustee position. One library trustee will be elected for a five-year term that begins in July and ends in June 2017.
The budget is in the Levittown Public Library March/April newsletter available at the library, and also on the library’s web-site www.nassaulibrary.org/levtown.
This budget proposes an average annual tax of $404.25 per household (compared to $396.46 last year.) The difference between the estimated average annual tax rate of 2012-2013 and 2011-2012 is $7.79 per household. The proposed library budget is an increase of $.65 per month, per household from the current budget.
The board of library trustees will hold their regular monthly meeting in conjunction with the library budget vote in Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, at 8 p.m., with a period for public expression.
Those who are registered to vote in the Levittown School District, and those who are residents of the Levittown School District and have voted in the general Levittown election within the last four years, are eligible to vote on Tuesday, April 3.
For information on absentee ballots, contact the district clerk at the Levittown Memorial Education Center, (516) 520-8300 ext. 608. Registration to vote is ongoing at the office of the District Clerk of the Levittown UFSD between the hours of 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on school days, provided that the registration is effective no later than five days prior to the vote of April 3.
(Editor’s note: The Levittown Tribune asked both candidates for the position of Levittown Library Trustee to submit a photo, bio and a brief statement highlighting their qualifications for this position.)
Michael Radano
Radano submitted the following information:
“I am a lifetime resident of Levittown. I attended Abbey Lane Elementary School and Salk Middle School before going on to Holy Trinity High School and LIU CW Post.
“I worked as a stockbroker and financial advisor for 12 years with US Clearing, American Express, MetLife and Chase Bank. I have had my own business for the last 10 years and currently working for Jetblue doing airport operations at JFK.
“I became a Levittown Library trustee five years ago and am currently the president of the board.
“I have worked hard to minimize the tax burden to the community while continuing to insure that Levittown receives the services that we expect. I am seeking re-election to insure that the Levittown community continues to receive the best services while working to insure that the cost to the community is minimal.”
Rusel Greller
Greller submitted the following information:
“My name is Rusel Greller, and I am running for the position of library trustee. I grew up in Levittown and graduated from MacArthur High School in 1995. I attended Nassau Community College, where I obtained my associate degree. In 2003, I met my wife, Sarah, and we now have two children.
“I became a member of Engine Company No. 3 of the Levittown Fire Department in 2004. I am currently a public safety officer for the Town of Hempstead and a member of CSEA Local 880. For 16 years previous to my current employment, I worked at the Levittown Public Library.
“It is my years of experience at the library, which I believe will help me do an exceptional job as library trustee. In my years there, I worked for both the media and circulation departments. I was also in charge of homebound service, which is an outstanding program that was started when the bookmobile was decommissioned. Each week, I delivered library materials to the physically disabled and seniors who could not get to the library.
“My last few years at the library were in the circulation department, where many people may remember seeing me at the checkout desk. It was in this place that my interactions with the public allowed me to hear concerns and opinions both positive and negative about the library. Whether it was about a great children’s program just attended, displeasure with the fines charged, or an issue with a policy, these interactions helped put me in touch with the pulse of the everyday library user.
“I would like the public to be aware of the many wonderful services the library has to offer, which is especially important in these tough economic times. I am willing to work hard to keep these services but yet be financially responsible at the same time.”
