Seaford school board meeting 2.2.2012

    (Mistakes are possible in these notes of mine.)
The Seaford, New York, school board meeting began promptly at 7:30 p.m., February 2, 2012, with the Pledge of Allegiance. Then Kevin Herbst gave a report on the district-wide fire code inspection.  Except for numerous electric extension cords, the buildings were found in good compliance.  He pointed to the cord used for the microphones at this meeting.  Temporary use of extension cords is allowed, but leaving a ordinary  cord permanently extending the reach of a fish tank cord or a computer, for example, is not allowed.  The district has already given directions and has checked on compliance.
    This year's efforts to raise the scores of Harbor pupils with disabilities were discussed, the goals being sought chiefly through professional training, planning, and preparation. Last year, some youngsters there did not meet the New York State goals with regard to Adequate Yearly Progress. The Board accepted the Comprehensive Education Plan for the Harbor School.  It sounded as if the word "academies" is being used for after-school tutoring, and questions were asked about the availability of such academies.
    At the Middle School, asbestos floor tiles were removed from one of the classrooms.
    There are still some unanswered questions of about the calculation of the tax revenue cap.  Thomas DiNapoli's office has promised to place a Webinar on his site.
    The Seaford Avenue property was most recently appraised in 2005.  The District has one offer for purchase, but it needs to know the property's current value.  Therefore, a contract with Breslin Appraisal was approved, cost $3,000.
    There was a discussion about concussion management policies.  Beginning September, 2012, coaches, nurses and some other personnel will need to have passed the certification course yet to be determined by New York State.  Parents will be required to inform the schools of concussion injuries that happen outside of school activities, so that, for example, a student does not play school sports while affected by such an injury in a community league.
    Despite the loss on the 2011 ballot regarding the construction of an emergency exit road from the Harbor school, the need for such a road remains.  At least one resident spoke in favor of again including the issue on this May's ballot.
    The Board accepted $71,000 from Save Seaford Sports for the reinstatement of Middle School athletics for the Winter 1 and 2 seasons.  At the urging of several students and parents, the Board approved the creation of a Gay/Straight alliance Club at Seaford High School and accepted a resident's gift of $683.50 to pay the costs for the remainder of this school year.  An excellent article on this topic appears in patch.com, linked here.
    A resident complained that Seaford is "way behind the times" because the district has not installed wi-fi throughout the schools, allowing the use of tablets instead of heavy textbooks.  I did not understand whether the resident wanted wi-fi in one school or four.  The superintendent pointed out that NY State considers Seaford a low-need district, and the assistance from Albany is limited.  (My opinion: Nobody can spend the same dollar twice.  We have to choose where to spend.)
   I left at 8:55 p.m. as a resident was questioning the circumstances under which the Advisory Committee on Technology  received its instructions from the board.

LIRR Forum, 1.30.2012

LIRR FORUM at Wantagh Library, 1.30.2012.  Warning! These notes may contain errors.

The meeting lasted from 8 p.m. to about 9:20 p.m.

 Nassau county Legislator David Denenberg hosted Bob Brennan, Director, Government and Community Relations, LIRR, and Patrick Gerakaris, Branch Line Manager of some 38 south shore stations in Nassau County.  The email for the Branch Line Manager is pcgerak@lirr.org

 Larry Rubinstein of the LIRR Commuters' Council was present.  Please see http://www.pcac.org

 I note that two Nassau seats on the LIRR Commuters' Council remain vacant.

 As people drifted in and out, the highest attendance was about 35.  However, they were far more outspoken and less polite than the smaller numbers of other meetings.  Chief problem: Some attendees would repeat their complaints several times and not yield the floor.

 Claudia of the North and Central Merrick Civic Association said that the people of Merrick and Bellmore want the Town of Hempstead to require permits for parking at those two stations.  However, some of the lots were developed with federal or New York State aid and cannot be reserved for town residents.

 Station maintenance was a big issue, especially at Freeport.  As Nassau County pays the maintenance bills, it has some say about the level of cleaning.

 Because of the pigeon problem at Merrick and Bellmore, a cleaner wipes the stairway handrails twice each morning.  The same cleaner cleans the toilets there and in Wantagh and Seaford twice also.

 The ripples and deterioration of the platform at Wantagh requires a major overhaul, but the third year of the MTA budget has not yet been appropriated by the NY State Legislature.  There is question whether any funds for Wantagh will be included beyond a design study.

 Bob Brennan said that Wantagh has 5,500 customers daily, and that it ranks #7 or #8 in passenger count.

 Someone inquired about closed circuit camera surveillance preventing suicides.  In the brief discussion, one of the speakers said that the locations of working cameras could not be revealed.  Mention was also made of parking lot and platform security cameras, but there again few answers were forthcoming.  Mention was made of more active CCTV surveillance over the past years at Freeport, including the arrest involving in street crime caught by the station cameras.  Freeport is different village police, in addition to MTA police, watch the station.

 Someone questioned whether N.I.C.E. buses would help in LIRR service suspensions.  The answer differentiated between planned service suspensions and emergencies.  Pat Gerakaris said that the railroad has contracts with forty bus companies across the island to supply emergency help.  No one addressed the impossibility of keeping drivers near on full standby.

 A man from Oceanside and others complained about the relatively-new weekend schedule that has dropped half-hourly service at Rockville Centre, Baldwin, Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford, Massapequa Park, Copiague, and Lindenhurst on four eastbound trains and five westbound trains.

 Someone said that many LIRR stations are not ADA compliant.  Bob Breenan reminded him that the ADA requirements are for new stations and stations that have major renovations.  Although many stations lack elevators, the railroad is fully compliant with the law

 Someone complained that his $600 bicycle was stolen from the rack at Seaford, and he requested more security.  That led to a discussion of the bike lockers that are provided at some stations through a private firm.  They had to be moved further from the trestles because of possible terrorist use.

 A woman complained about the short canopies at Seaford.  Bellmore, Merrick, and Massapequa have canopies protecting the entire platform.  Wantagh and Seaford do not.  She also complained that track workers leave their work debris around.

 A man from Massapequa explained that his father was a LIRR yardmaster.  He complained about problems with defecation and urination in the upstairs waiting room.  He also related how there was once a fire in that room and burned wooden bench was left on the platform.  However, the waiting room now has two metal benches bolted to the floor, and on the morning of 2.1.2012 there was no offensive odor.

 Someone said that the emergency number at elevators was no longer in service.  One of the representatives explained that many numbers were gathered into 511, but the railroad is going to reinstitute the old 8228 number.

 An attorney from Wantagh explained that the rebidding for the coffee truck has endangered the familiar coffee man.  All agreed that it was a question of dealing with MTA Real Estate.  The process includes a Request for Proposal, then bidding.

A man from Seaford complained about graffiti on the bridge over NY state 135.  He said it was an invitation to join a gang.  One of the LIRR representatives explained that it took coordination with the NYS Department of Transportation, police, and the railroad to get the graffiti covered.  The same man complained about the presence of homeless people at the train stations.

 Fortunately, the funding for the East Side Access is still in the pipeline and work continues.  The Wantagh station renovation depends on MTA funding from the New York State Legislature.  The chairman of the New York State Senate Transportation Committee is Charles Fuschillo. 

 There is renewed interest in double-tracking from Farmingdale to Ronkonkoma.  I suspect that the project may draw fewer NIMBY objections than the elevation of three tracks through New Hyde Park.

Thursday before Christmas, 2011

Veterans' Day, 2011

Scenes from Veterans' Day in Seaford, New York, November 11, 2011.

The Seaford Fire Department adds a wreath.

After the volley, the young man (third from left) skillfully sounded taps.

Election Results, November 2011

Yesterday, the residents of Seaford were asked to vote for ten State Supreme Court judges, a county judge, a district court judge, one county legislator, and several Town of Hempstead officials.
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However, I should mention the numbering of Election Districts.  When one visits the Results section of the Nassau County Board of Elections, the Election District is specified with a six-digit number.  The first number, 2, may represent the Town.  The second and third digits represent the Assembly District.  The fourth, fifth, and sixth digits represent the Election District.  For example, Election District 26 (north of the Seaford Avenue school) is within the 19th Assembly District (Assemblyman McDonough), and the Town of Hempstead.  Hence, it is numbered 219026.
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Incumbants (except for judges) won reelection:  County Legislator Dennis Dunne, Town Councilwoman Angie Cullin, Town Receiver of Taxes Donald Xavier Clavin, Town Supervisor Kate Murray, Town Clerk Mark Bonilla.
As for the judges on the ballot, it seems that the ten candidates who won the most votes for the ten State Supreme Court judgeships (with 14-year terms) were all the Republican candidates.  The ten-year seat on the Nassau County Court went to Angelo Delligatti, Republican.  For the Second District Court (vote for 3 judges, each for a six-year term), the three incumbents won (Bjorneby, Knobel, Paradiso).

Election Day, 2011

Having just voted, this is my recollection of the ballot in Seaford, New York, 11.8.2011:
Fourteen columns of judges to be elected.  "Vote for any ten."  One county legislator.  Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead.  Town clerk.  Member of the Town Council.  Receiver of Taxes.  Total:19 columns, but 15 votes maximum.
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Apparently, if one casts too many or too few votes, the scanner gives further instructions.  In the case of too few votes (as, for example, not voting for ten judges), after the warning, you may still cast the ballot.  The machine will swallow the paper ballot and declare your vote counted.

Seaford School Board meeting 11.3.2011

The November 3, 2011, meeting of the Seaford School Board opened with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:30 p.m. in the Harbor School.  About sixty residents attended.  All five trustees were present.
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A potential buyer has toured the Seaford Avenue school, with consideration to use the building for the firm's office space.  The broker and district continue to market the school, which for decades has not been used as a district school, but has been leased at various times.
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In 1961, fifty years ago, ground was broken for the Seaford Harbor school, which welcomed the first students in 1963.
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The board received donations to assist the schools in this year of a contingency budget. Save Seaford Sports presented a check for $43,000, to be used to restore winter sports and middle school sports.
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The superintendent outlined the much-changed procedure and calendar for determining the 2012-2013 budget. One deadline is Mach 1, 2012, when the district must present to the state the Tax Levy figure.  Note that the 2% cap is on the Tax Levy, not directly on the budget.  It is said that New York State will provide in January or early February the amount it intends to provide to each district, so that the Tax Levy could be computed.  The entire procedure is quite different from other years, and it offers uncharted challenges.  Again it has happened that some new State mandates provide no funds to accomplish what is newly required.
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The Board discussed the membership and necessary work of the Audit Committee and the Budget Committee.  This writer has noticed that the meetings and preparatory work done by volunteers of the Board or for the Board has increased in recent years.  Instead of meeting just monthly, they and their helpers have invested much more time in preparation for decision-making.  Notice of these additional committee meetings are posted at the Seaford Public Library and on the district website.

School for sale

For a limited time (perhaps until 6/30/2012, the last day of the current School Board), the Board of Education has selected Geiner-Maltz as exclusive broker for the sale of the unused school at Seaford Avenue and Waverly Avenue.

Seaford School Board meeting 9.1.2011

The school board meeting began at 7:35 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.  The State of the District presentation and several academic issues are well covered by Patch.com, linked here.  I will try to mention other issues that arose at the meeting.
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Seaford Middle School was offered to the county's Office of Emergency Management as a shelter during Irene.  However, the county and the Red Cross did not call for its use, perhaps for lack of air-conditioning (which Wantagh High School gym apparently has).
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The status of real estate taxes on the Sunrise Highway Bast Chevrolet property were explained.  It is the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Authority which brokered a deal by which (if my notes are correct) the new owner will pay taxes or use PILOTs for three years at the level that Bast was paying, then gradually over the next seven years increase to market-based assessment.  (I recognize that this is a bare-bones account of the issue.  One must first learn what Payments in Lieu of Taxes are and how they are used.  An important point is that school districts to not valuate property.  The County does.  School districts do not broker a deal with property owners.  The Town does that, through the IDA.)  If I understood correctly, the Bast property is among the three top commercial properties within the Seaford School District.
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The not-yet-signed contract with Greiner-Maltz regarding the Seaford Avenue school was discussed.  The school attorney explained the status of various items that may be in the contract.  From my view, the goal is to sell the property.  I admire the successful construction of homes built near Beach Street and Walters Avenue in Wantagh (1993 construction on the site of a closed elementary school), and I do not know the range of neighborhood objections that arose there during planning.  Greiner-Maltz will attempt to find a buyer for the Seaford Avenue school.
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Candidates to replace the resigned trustee have been interviewed, and the replacement will be selected soon. Three trustees were present at the 9.1.2011 meeting.

Harvest Fair, September 25, 2011

The Seaford Historical Society Harvest Fair will be held on the grounds of the museum (Waverly Avenue in Seaford - just across from the Firehouse.) Date: Sunday Sept 25th

Time: 11am-4pm Rain or Shine

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Featuring: free magic show ; Seaford High Jazz Band ; Raffles including Grand Prize Flat Screen TV ; Food court ; Vendors selling handcrafted items ; pumpkins,mums and cornstalks for sale at the pumpkin patch ; Fire Dept displays and much more ! 

On the Bay

Most photos may be enlarged by clicking on the photo.
On Tuesday August 23, 2011, the Seaford Historical Society hosted a fascinating, well-planned, and succinct talk by Nancy Solomon, author of two editions of On The Bay: Bay Houses and Maritime Culture. First published in 1992, the new revised edition is available from Long Island Traditions.  The book includes photographs, explanations, history, and personal narratives.
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The Seaford Historical Society's museum had a capacity audience of about eighty, many of whom, it was obvius, knew of the bay shacks first-hand.  Their presence in Seaford goes back more than 120 years.
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Below are some of my notes from the meeting, but the notes may contain errors.  I will be glad for corrections.

Seaford Historical Society meeting 8.23.2011.  Bay Houses.

Nancy Solomon spoke about bay houses or bay shacks .

She published a book in 1992,  "On the Bay: Bay houses and maritime culture on Long Island's marshlands."  A second, revised edition has just been published, available from http://www.longislandtraditions.org/

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An audience of about eighty filled the museum.  Ms. Solomon presented her talk succinctly, with the help of a powerpoint projection.  Much of the presentation concerned the subject matter of the 1992 book and what has changed since then.  I noted that about half the audience knew much about the bay shacks, and some 25% or so may have been owners or family members.

There are about 35 bay shacks now left in the Town of Hempstead waters, and (if I heard correctly) about 35 more in Town of Islip waters.

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Many shacks fall in the category of vernacular architecture, that is, structures built by the users themselves according to their own needs and often with found materials.  Example: one was built mostly of old wooden doors, some of the 1950's era from surplus crates from Grumman, another from a garage. 

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Until the 1920's, most of the homes were owned by baymen, fellows who caught crabs, clams, scallops, killies (which often were then sold to fishermen as bait).  During Prohibition, there was trade with rum runners.

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About 1950, there was a boom in people building bay shacks, until they numbered about two hundred.  Then the Town of Hempstead, mindful of environmental concerns and new movements about wetlands, began to insist that no shack be replaced.  Leases from the Town would expire with the passing of the owner.  Leases could not be transferred.  A date of 1993 was set for the destruction of all bay shacks, but a movement of interested parties (concerned about the loss of a local tradition) brought a changed attitude in the Town government.  Now, leases may be transferred within the family, particularly to the next generation.