In light of the 8 to 7 vote of the 15-Member Nominating Committee of the East, and based on the sincere encouragement of residents throughout the village, I have decided to ask the people in the Eastern Section to decide who should be their candidate for the next mayor of Garden City. Therefore, in accordance with the Community Agreement, I am submitting my name for a February run-off election in the East. I did not make this decision lightly. I have served as a village trustee for nine years, and I am currently your deputy mayor. I was president and vice president of the Eastern Property Owners Association (EPOA), having joined the EPOA board in 1998. I would like to share my philosophy and a few of my achievements that I believe qualify me to serve as your mayor.
Throughout my time as trustee, I have consistently focused on the most significant issues facing our village, such as labor negotiations; taxation, budget and finance; public safety; building, zoning and planning; and development projects in areas adjacent to the East, all of which directly affect our property values, business community, and quality of life. I believe this is the essence of responsible and innovative local government.
As commissioner of our Garden City Fire Department, which is made up of both unpaid volunteers and paid unionized firefighters, I proposed the elimination of an expensive management position, and the village board agreed. Volunteer firefighters’ morale improved, department membership increased, and management authority was properly restored to the volunteer chiefs, enabling them to develop the plan that reduced paid firefighters’ overtime without sacrificing service.
As a current member of the Board of Police Commissioners, working closely with Commissioner Jackson, we have increased patrols, especially in the East, and enhanced traffic enforcement. Between January and October 2014, major crimes dropped by 20 percent and overall crime by 14 percent, compared to 2013. Efficient utilization of four new police officers will allow for reduced overtime.
As public works commissioner, using my years of experience in commercial construction lending, I developed a policy, which was adopted by the board, that applies the same due diligence procedures required by private sector construction lenders to all village projects of $500,000 or more, and proposed a policy to use an outside architect to monitor and control construction expenditures.
As a member of the finance and audit committee, I have closely scrutinized all aspects of our village budget, striving to maintain the level of services our residents expect while controlling our tax burden.
I consistently respond to inquiries and concerns directed to me by individual residents or the EPOA and take a proactive stance in matters of concern to village residents. For example, along with many residents, I am concerned with the proliferation of “McMansions” and support the EPOA’s call for a full discussion on possible amendments to our village code to protect our village’s unique character.
I have served on every committee of the board of trustees and have chaired the traffic commission, the public information committee and the vacancies committee. As building commissioner, I served as liaison to the board of zoning appeals, planning commission and architectural design review board. I have also served as trustee liaison to the library, recreation commission, the environmental advisory board, and the Village Chamber of Commerce.
An effective mayor must interact with officials from other villages. I have been active in the Nassau County Village Officials Association since 2005, and currently serve on its executive committee. This has provided meaningful exchange of information and new ideas on policies and procedures that might improve efficiency in our staffing and operations. For example, I obtained a forecasting model from the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) specifically designed for municipal budgets, which should aid the village in forecasting revenues and expenses; and recently attended a presentation by NYCOM’s deputy director on the property tax freeze and what village officials need to know. I represented the board at NYCOM’S two-day meeting in Albany on proposed New York State legislation affecting incorporated villages and home rule.
Dorothy and I moved our family to the Village in 1973 because of the services, quality of life, and our village’s age-old tradition of community spirit. I believe you chose Garden City for the same reasons.
With nine years as your trustee, interaction with so many of you, involvement with the Village Officials Association, communication with other elected officials, and a track record of working in concert with my fellow trustees, our police and fire departments, department heads and the EPOA, I believe I am ready and able to bring my background and experience to serve you as mayor.
Nicholas P. Episcopia,
Deputy Mayor and trustee from the East
