by Stewart Lilker

July 10, 2000
As usual, all the action at the July 10th Village Board meeting took place after the public went home, during what Mayor Glacken has called the "second session.". The Board blasted through the published agenda in twenty minutes. The highlight on the evening's agenda was the approval of the purchase of an 18,000 sq. foot vacant property, known as 44 St. Johns Place. As usual, there was no Board discussion before the unanimous vote to purchase the unimproved parcel from Maxine Levy for $210,000. After the purchase, the Board moved into executive session. Although a member of the maintenance staff was on duty, the Mayor ordered the building locked, in clear violation of the intent of the Open Meetings Law, as it is impossible to have an open meeting in a locked building.

After an hour, the Board reentered the main meeting room. Glacken yelled down stairs for somebody to unlock the door and then proceeded.

Glacken made a motion to reconvene into open session and quickly began to make another motion. All that could be discerned was that Glacken appeared to ask for approval of what appeared to be an agreement between the Village of Freeport and Tom somebody. As soon as he began to articulate the content of the motion, he put his head down, put his hand over his mouth and began speaking a mile a minute. Glacken made himself totally unintelligible.

It was also impossible for your reporter to ask about the content of the motion, as Glacken had illegally suspended the public’s right to question the Board about pending resolutions during their "second sessions." Your reporter was less than ten feet away and his tape recorder did not pick up what Glacken said, either.

FreeportNYNews has checked with the NYS Department of State’s Committee on Open Government regarding the Mayor’s totally unintelligible speech, as well as the general inability for the public to hear what is going on in Village Hall during the Board meetings. Mr. Robert Freeman, Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government has pointed to section 100 of the Open Meetings Law and it’s legislative declaration, which states:

"It is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that the public business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens of this state be fully aware of and able to observe the performance of public officials and attend and listen to the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy. The people must be able to remain informed if they are to retain control over those who are their public servants. It is the only climate under which the commonweal will prosper and enable the governmental process to operate for the benefit of those who created it." (emphasis added)

Director Freeman has stated that, "... public bodies must conduct meetings in a manner that guarantees the public the ability to ‘be fully aware of’ and ‘listen to’ the deliberative process." "... the Board must in my view situate itself and conduct its meetings in a manner in which those in attendance can observe and hear the proceedings. To do otherwise would in my opinion be unreasonable and fail to comply with a basic requirement of the Open Meetings Law."

The Second Session

The Board also appeared to make four or five other motions during the second session which were also mostly unintelligible. Your reporter was able to distinguish that the Board did approve the expenditure of Village funds, totaling approximately $530,000 to buy two parcels on Merrick Road. Those were 21 and 23 East Merrick Road. The Board again had no discussion regarding those parcels and gave no indication why the Village needed to spend over a half a million dollars for them.

The meeting finally adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Go to July 10th Agenda.

July 17, 2000

Glacken Continues Bonding Residents Into Oblivion
An Ill prepared Board Bonds 7.1 Million Dollars

The major topic of discussion during the July 17th Village Board meeting was the additional bonding by the Village of another 7.1 million dollars. Go to July 17th Agenda.

North West Civic Association President, Ken Bagatelle was the first one up to the inoperative microphone. Bagatelle asked the Mayor about the term of the bonds.

Glacken appeared to be put off by the question and told Bagatelle, "We’ve already had this question from you on previous occasions." Unfortunately, the terrible acoustics and Glacken’s refusal to speak into the microphone made the rest of his remarks unintelligible. When Bagatelle asked if it would be appropriate to pay for some of the smaller bonds, Glacken interrupted him, saying, "No, it is not appropriate. These are capital improvements. You don’t use operating revenue to pay for capital improvements. You use capital funds for that. And you know that." Bagatelle shrugged and sat down.

Your reporter, a homeowner in the Village was next up to the inoperative microphone and asked the Mayor when he knew he was going to bond all the items on the agenda. (Go to Bond Items). Your reporter said, "I tried to get the agenda this afternoon and they said it wouldn’t be ready until tonight." Glacken said that he had been working on the Bonds for a couple of months, since the last issuance in May. Your reporter asked, "Did you know before 4:30 this afternoon?" The Mayor answered, "Of course we did." Your reporter asked why the agenda couldn’t be released, so that residents could study it and ask intelligent questions. The Mayor explained that he didn’t want any typos. "We’re ready to go when we’re ready to go," he said.

Your reporter asked about item "b" on the agenda, the bonding of $200,000 for the construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and widening of various highways, roads and streets in the Village. Neither the Mayor nor the Trustees had an idea of what was being bonded. After the Mayor said that he believed that it was primarily for South Brookside Avenue, Lou DiGrazia, the Supt. of Public works, explained that it was for Sterling and Lester. Glacken seemed surprised, saying, "Oh, this is for Sterling [and] Lester?" DiGrazia added that the bond was also for "some seed money that was used for design."

Your reporter then asked the Board, "With all due respect, did anybody read this? Nobody knows what you’ve got going on here." Glacken responded, "Do you have a question?"

As DiGrazia explained item "c", the $200,000 bond to replace trees, it was clear that neither Mayor Glacken nor the Trustees knew what the item was about.

The same was true for item "d". Your reporter asked Trustee White, "Do you have any idea Mr. White, what parking meters we are replacing for a hundred thousand?" Trustee White, unable to answer, could only respond, "Address your comments to the Mayor." Your reporter then asked Glacken, "Do you know what parking meters?" The Mayor didn’t know and DiGrazia had to explain to the Mayor, White and the others that it was for the replacement of all the parking meters in the Village.

Your reporter then inquired about item "e", the request to bond $995,000 for the acquisition of real property and the construction of parking lots. Glacken tried to explain, "We’re looking at an estimated price. Two hundred and five thousand dollars for Beautyrama property. Three hundred twenty thousand for Collins. And two other properties."

Your reporter asked, "Which ones are those? I missed it. When did you buy those other two properties?"

Glacken asked for the help of his brother in law, mob/Village attorney Edwards, who explained, "We are in negotiations for that real estate."

Your reporter asked, So how can we appropriate the money for something you haven’t purchased."

Glacken said, "We expect to sign a contract very shortly."

The Board then approved a combined total of over $2,500,000 dollars worth of bonds for improvements on Woodcleft Avenue. This is in addition to the millions of dollars of prior bonding on Woodcleft. Glacken explained that the salaries of the workers of the Electric Department were bonded for thirty years, even though they were already paid. Previously, some merchants on Woodcleft told FNYN that they thought that the Woodcleft Avenue project was going to be conducted as a Business Improvement District (BID). A merchant who asked not to be identified told FNYN, "I think most of us thought this project was going to be a BID. Hey, if the Village wants everybody to pay for the improvements down here, we’re not going to complain."

When your reporter questioned item "j", (Go to Agenda), DiGrazia explained that "j" was for "developmental charges." According to DiGrazia, these charges amounted to $347,000. When asked if we hadn’t already paid for this, DiGrazia explained, "We had other money left in the bond, the first bond, four million." "We needed another $350,000 to meet those expenditures." DiGrazia continued, "So we reduced the moneys we had to pay the contractor. We needed an extra three hundred and fifty thousand to meet those expenditures."

Your reporter then asked, "So we had money left over from other bonds? Do you have any idea how much we have left over?"

Someone from the administration said, "We can look that up." DiGrazia said, "Any leftover money gets to pay down the debt. It doesn’t go into the bank." DiGrazia continued, "After the project is closed out, we close out the project. The treasurer is notified to close out the project. Any money that might be left over, gets added to pay for ---."

Your reporter asked, "How do we have leftover money?" Neither the Mayor, the Trustees, nor the Village Attorney, the master mind behind all this bonding, would explain this.

When your reporter asked about the $500,000 dollar parking lot in item "k", it was explained that this was for a parking lot for the Freeport Recreation Center. The approval of the $210,000 dollars to acquire the vacant lot was accomplished at the July 10th meeting. Glacken explained that the additional funds [$290,000] were to be used to pave the parking lot.

Item "m" on the agenda called for the bonding of another 1.82 million dollars on Woodcleft. When the Mayor was asked if we just didn’t bond some of that, he said, "No."

Your reporter asked the Mayor, "Letter ‘t’ Your Honor is two hundred and thirty thousand in municipal bonds for the purchase of fire fighting vehicles and apparatus. I’m just wondering what that is. And ‘s’." The Mayor and the Trustees fumbled around with their papers looking for some explanation. When it was apparent that they didn’t have any, Edwards jumped in. "One of those items is the replacement of engines --- apparatus. It’s a chassis for two hundred thousand dollars. The other is a mask service unit vehicle for thirty thousand dollars." Your reporter asked, "Do you know what that is?" Edwards explained, "A mobile unit for the masks to be carried around for the Fire Department."

When your reporter asked about item "v", a request for a resolution authorizing "the sale of $333,600.00 in municipal bonds for the construction of an addition or additions to or the reconstruction of various buildings of the Fire Department within the Village, including without limitation, Headquarters and all company buildings and Hose Company 5," once again neither the Mayor nor the Board had a clue what those items were about.

Once again, Edwards had to jump in to save the Glacken team. "Mayor, it’s broken up. Eighty thousand dollars of it is the overhaul of the HVA system. The HVAC system. The renovation of the windows apparatus --- is fifty thousand. There is asbestos roof project at Hose 5, for thirty thousand eight hundred dollars. The HVAC at Headquarters --- is being replaced for thirty two eight. And --- renovations at the various hose, headquarters and hose companies at a hundred and forty thousand. It comes in at two thirty three, six."

After Edwards explained item "w" Glacken’s budget advisor, Mr. Green, explained that the total amount of bonding amounted to 7.1 million dollars. During his explanation, Village resident Louise Simpson, jumped up and shouted out her displeasure about not being able to hear what was being said.

FNYN was interested in obtaining a detailed breakdown of the bonded items. During the meeting, as Edwards explained the breakdown of the various items of which your reporter inquired, it was obvious that he was reading from a document that was not in possession of either the Mayor or the Trustees.

Your reporter looked Glacken and said, "My final question. The name of the document Mr. Edwards is looking at?"

Edwards, clearly not waiting for Glacken to respond, replied, "It’s the calendar."

Your reporter, not sure what he heard said, "Sir? The list of all these items that have gone before ---. What’s it called?"

Edwards responded, "The Calendar." Your reporter, "Just the Calendar?" Edwards, "Cal -- En -- Der." Your reporter, "Thank you."

Murphy Records Meeting

FNYN has requested that "Calendar" pursuant to the Freedom of Information Laws of NYS and will make it available on this site as soon as it is received. FNYN has also requested, pursuant to FOIL,  to hear a copy of the audio tape of the July 17th meeting,  made by the Village Public Relations Person, Pat Murphy. It appears that the Village is now recording specific portions of the Board meetings. Ms. Murphy made it a point to record your reporter. 

The Residents Speak

Eileen Weaver came to the microphone and addressed the Mayor and the Trustees about the lack of a timely agenda. Weaver, a long time resident and community activist, said, "As a citizen of this Village, I have to state that it is unconscionable for you to bring these bond issues and not give us, as citizens, a chance to do any kind of research. I’ve sat here stunned. Seven point one million. That’s a lot." Ms. Weaver also complained, as others have for over two years, that speakers could not be heard in the back of the Board room.

Carol Nelson then addressed the Mayor, also complaining about the lack of an agenda and the missing explanations. Glacken told Ms. Nelson that he had discussed everyone of these projects in the Freeport Report. FNYN has examined the Freeport Report and found this was not true. Ms. Nelson told the Mayor that the citizens of Freeport were moving out. Ms. Nelson added, "I cannot believe that after the School Bond, this is going on, too." As Ms. Nelson was explaining that she thought the $210,000 dollars paid for the empty lot on St. John’s Place was excessive, Glacken was shuffling through his papers. When Ms. Nelson realized that Glacken was ignoring her, she said, "I’m not talking to you any more. You’re disrespectful to me. How dare you." Ms. Nelson turned and went back to her seat.

Also during the public comment portion of the meeting, long time Glacken supporter, Michael Raab, defended his right to complain when he saw conditions in the Village that needed attention. Explaining his former complaints about public urination and the continuing lack of police patrols on Main Street, he said, "I came in here very hot headed, for a very good reason. My heart is focusing on one thing and that’s to make sure that Freeport is a better place to live." Raab claimed, "Since I brought that issue up, there has been an increase of Police presence on South Main Street."

For years, residents and merchants alike have been complaining about the lack of a Police presence on South Main Street. Some residents have compared Main Street to East New York, before its recent renovations. Neither the Mayor nor the Police confirmed Raab’s claim that Police presence has increased since he complained.

Vincent Greco again came to Village Hall to talk about the pollution at Power Plant Number 2. Previously, when it was brought to the Mayor’s attention that diesel fumes cause cancer, Glacken emphatically stated that, "Diesel fumes don’t cause cancer." Greco gave the Mayor a stack of papers showing that diesel fumes cause cancer and asked him to read them.

The Second Session

The Board adjourned into executive session and came out at 10:15 p.m. Glacken yelled for somebody to unlock the doors. As has been Glacken’s practice during these second sessions, he once again spoke into his hand and mumbled making it impossible for your reporter to understand what he was saying. A careful examination of the tape of that portion of the meeting revealed that Glacken had made three resolutions.

The first one seemed to be for a Request for Proposal (RFP) for something. Glacken seemed to make sure that he couldn’t be understood.

The second resolution seemed to be to hire somebody, Glacken mumbled the name, as a PE for $75,000 for one year.

The third resolution Glacken again mumbled through. A careful examination of the audio tape revealed that apparently the Board was being asked to vote for some sort of revised proposal regarding the selling of the Village Tax Liens. Apparently this was to replace or supplement a prior agreement. This one seemed to be for three years. Glacken proposed no dollar amount.

Replacing Edwards, Deputy Village Attorney, Howard Colton, sat silent with the Board, as Glacken flaunted the spirit and intent of the Watergate inspired NYS Open Meetings Law.

FNYN asked resident Carol Nelson, who had waited for the Board to reenter into open session, if she understood any of the resolutions made by Glacken and unanimously approved by the Board. Ms. Nelson said, "No. I don’t have any idea what they said."