In our Bayville election coverage on page four of this issue, Hank Pinkerton of Bayville ended with, “and remember, Memorial Day is all about remembering all those great men and women who fought and fight to keep our freedom and the freedom of others around the world … don’t let your freedoms be lost to a one part system with no choice.”
Wow. Those words mean a great deal when you consider the Town of Oyster Bay.
At the May 15 town board meeting, they tabled resolution 481.
The resolution states: “Resolution directing the Town Clerk to publish a Notice of Hearing to consider a Local Law entitled, ‘A Local Law to Amend Chapter 209 – Taxation, to Add Article X – Override of Real Property Tax Levy to the Code of the Town of Oyster Bay, New York, to Override the Tax Levy Limit Established in General Municipal Law Section 3-C.’ Hearing June 5, 2012.”
There it is in black and white. The Town of Oyster Bay is planning to have the board vote 60 percent or more in favor of going beyond the state tax levy 2 percent cap. They raised taxes last year, why not this year too.
The next town board meeting was scheduled for June 5 at 10 a.m. We went to press on June 4. We will be watching to see if the resolution is back on the calendar.
The governor’s tax levy for the schools turned out to have a great deal of leeway. Let’s see what is coming up with the Town of Oyster Bay.
We mentioned last week, what the town’s public safety division does but we didn’t mention the salaries the administration of that department receives, including raises last year. Somehow in the Town of Oyster Bay, one commissioner isn’t enough to do the job. He gets deputy commissioners to help. Our concern is that one works and the other two get points for their pensions.
The town is very compassionate in the way it treats fellow Republicans. But can you say that for the rest of the residents.
At one time Anton Newspapers campaigned for night meetings of the board and for several years they took place. Now the town has eliminated that feature of town government. They have mentioned lack of voter interest. If that is true, residents have themselves to blame.
The town board meets at 10 a.m. for the following dates: June 19, July 10, July 24, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Oct. 16, Nov. 13, Nov. 27 and Dec. 18. Taking part in town government, even by attending meetings, is a positive move.
As for the board members, it’s nice work if you can get it, but don’t try if you are not a Republican. Or in Bayville, if your not a member of the Taxpayers Party. But, don’t give up the ship, where there’s life there’s hope.
By the way, we should add that the best thing about a Democratic government, be it the school board or a village, having a dissenter join the ranks is a positive not a negative. They too learn that the Democratic system takes a long time to ensure it is fair and equal. But, it needs the involvement of its citizens – which is a challenge to all of us to participate. We truly need an involved citizenry.
— DFK
