Freeport Village News

June 2001

The Heat Is On As Legislator Tells Residents
"Your Position Is My Position"

BY Stewart Lilker

With the heightening of the summer's temperatures, the impending demolition of Freeport’s free public swimming pools is also rising high on everybody’s agenda. Nassau County Legislator, Patrick Williams, made time to meet with Freeport’s Northeast Civic Association and residents from Freeport on Thursday evening, June 28th.

Williams told the attendees that he met with Mayor Glacken earlier in the day "to gather the facts." He explained that Glacken told him that the pool at Martin Luther King Park (MLK) was built in 1966 and was built as a result of people trying to keep blacks "out of the Recreation (Rec) Center." One of the few light moments of the evening occurred, when to everybody’s amusement, it was pointed out to Legis. Williams, that the Rec Center wasn’t built until the seventies.

Williams said, Glacken explained that the pool was only built with a useful life of six or seven years and that the "Health Department imposes certain standards on pools." Williams said Glacken claimed that it would "cost a million dollars" to repair the pools and that it was not cost effective to repair them. Williams concluded the findings of his meeting with Glacken, with Glacken’s explanation that "the number of people using the pools had declined," explaining further that Glacken claimed to have only received four calls about the closing of the pools and that his decision was an administrative one.

Williams explained, "As a county legislator, I have no power to stop what he is doing. I am here to listen to you. I have no position."

Williams, referring to MLK Park, told the gathering, "The condition of the pool is deplorable. I wouldn’t want it in front of my house."

When Williams said he would try and set up a meeting for Friday between the group and Glacken, Bernie Smith, the president of the Northeast Civic Association, said emphatically, "We will meet with the Mayor on Monday night at Village Hall. The disrespect that he has paid the community is not acceptable."

Resident George Coward told Williams, "It doesn’t need to be destroyed."

Claudina Bilbo said, "That pool is the heart of the park. We are not going to settle for anything less."

Smith told Williams and the group, "This is nothing more than total neglect."

Jim Taylor, frustrated with the busing of the neighborhood's children said, "I’m tired of seeing our children being bused from here to there."

Former Village Trustee candidate, Anna Muhammed, explained that the park was built in the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, after his assassination. She said that as far as she could remember, "Federal funds were used to construct the pools." Then she told the Williams and the group, "They were against the park from the beginning. This Mayor doesn’t care about his constituents."

Another resident told Williams, "A lot of folks can’t afford the fees at the Rec Center."

Long time resident Rosland Reese, resignedly told Williams, "We have a whole summer with children sitting around doing nothing."

Williams sat patiently, listening to the community. When it was brought up that legal action might be necessary to stop the demolition, Williams said, "I’ll have my attorneys research this. I’ll find you someone."

Everyone at the meeting was in favor of opening the pools and saving them from the wrecker’s ball.

Williams, apparently referring to Glacken, explained to the group, "I’m nobody’s messenger."

The meeting concluded with Williams telling the group, "Now that I’ve spoken to you -- My position is your position."

Mayor Glacken and the rest of his Republican Board had good reason not to make Monday night’s abbreviated Board meeting agenda public until the very last minute. In the evening’s agenda, unknown and unannounced to the public, was a request for "authorization to advertise for ‘Demolition of Park Pools.’"

Bagatelle told the Mayor, "When people used Randall park it was free."

Bagatelle then asked, "What will happen at Randall Park where the pool was?"

Glacken responded, "It probably will be a ---. Due to the continuing poor acoustics in village hall, it was impossible to understand the Mayor.

Your reporter, who is also a resident, was next to the microphone.

LILKER: I would like to state that I am against the demolition of those two neighborhood pools, at this time. Could you tell me when the demolition of those two pools was discussed by the Village Board of Trustees.

GLACKEN: In a memo to the Board from Mr. DiGrazia [Superintendent of Public Works] summarizing what Mr. Jefferies had recommended.

LILKER: Did the Board ever discuss publicly the demolition of those two pools?

GLACKEN: No.

LILKER: Has the Village done anything to notify the area residents of the demolition of those two community pools?

GLACKEN: Yes. Mr. Jefferies [Director of Recreation] has been in contact with groups that use those pools as well as several people in the neighborhood and reaction so far has been very positive.

Glacken continued, explaining that it was a net benefit because "they" could use the other facilities at the Recreation Center, that are not available at the parks.

LILKER: I don’t know if I agree that all the organizations have been apprised of the situation.

GLACKEN: Whether you agree with it or not, Mr. Jefferies has made the notification.

LILKER: I was at the Northeast Civic Association meeting this past Saturday. I told the group that the pool at Martin Luther King park was going to be demolished. [A confidential source informed FNYN about the demolition]. Mr. Bernard Smith, the president and the folks attending the meeting, said that this was the first time that they ever heard about it. Could you tell me, if Mr. Jefferies advised all the important groups, why the Northeast Civic Association wasn’t advised.

GLACKEN: I assume that he had, but if he did not, I’m sure he will.

LILKER: Isn’t that after the fact? I respectfully request that you notify the folks in Northeast Freeport and that they have an opportunity (Glacken interrupts).

GLACKEN: I know that the neighborhood has been notified extensively and we have had feedback and it is generally very positive.

LILKER: I don’t know what member of the Board of Trustees discussed this in the northeast or south of Sunrise Highway. Maybe they might want to volunteer who they discussed it with.

As usual, the Glackenite Trustees sat as if cast in stone.

Astonishingly, Glacken then said, "We made the decision two weeks ago and we are advertising right now for bids."

An examination of the agenda and the minutes of June 4, 2001, clearly indicate that there was not one word spoken or any decision made regarding the demolition of any pools in Freeport.

Your reporter then asked the Mayor to delay the demolition of the pools until the Board heard from the residents of the neighborhoods, telling the Mayor, "I have spoken to the people in those neighborhoods and I haven’t found one person in favor of demolishing those pools."

Community activist and civil rights leader, Eileen Weaver, was furious as she approached the microphone to address the Board. "I sit here in surprise. I have never heard that there was a possibility of the demolition of these pools. I am concerned about the services that we give our citizens north of Sunrise [Highway]."

Glacken explained his jitney service to the Recreation Center. The poor acoustics, which the Mayor has refused to repair in three years, and his refusal to speak clearly and use the microphone, made it impossible to understand what he was saying.

Weaver, frustrated, pleaded with Mayor and the Board, "Excuse me, sir. How often? I can’t hear. We can’t hear. I am asking that you adjourn this vote.

Glacken ignored Weaver’s request. Turning to the clerk he said, "Poll the Board please."

The Board voted unanimously to demolish Freeport’s neighborhood pools.