Last week, the Williston Park Village Board presented its budget at a public meeting.

At the outset of the meeting, prior to it being turned over to village treasurer Walter Moloughney, Mayor Ludwig Odierna said, "We have spent hours going over this budget and kept the people of the village in mind and to be as frugal as possible and still provide you with the best services possible."

Treasurer Moloughney then took over. He started with the Williston Park Fire Department, which was designated as Public Safety on the handout. He said, "The fire department requested $10,000 and that has been reduced to $8, 850. We all have to modify our expectations. The equipment line was $16,000 as it was last year and we have added $10,228 to enable the fire department to buy a Thermal Imaging Camera. The camera they have is not operating and we don't want to put the firemen at risk. This methodology allows them to search for fire within the walls of a burning structure. So that item has gone from $16,000 to $28,000.

"The hose and accessories category - the hose has to be tested each year, has been reduced from the requested $5,000 to $4,000. The walkie-talkie equipment, which in my world were those little things I used to carry around as a youngster, are really radios that are for the chiefs and on each of the trucks and that item stays at $6,000.

"We have introduced a line-item which are lease payments on the vehicles for $17,760. The diesel oil and gas line has been raised from $8,000 to a more realistic number of $15,895 which is a $7,895 increase. Telephone/ cable at $7,000 stays. The fire department budgeted $14,000 for electric and gas and we have increased that line to $19,500 in light of their recent bills.

"Turnout gear and helmets. The fire department asked for $25,000; we have reduced that to $15,000 as a set of gear costs approximately $2,000 for one set and helmets cost approximately $500 each. The gear can be replenished by phasing over a period of time.

"Alert system repairs, which includes pagers, is $4,000 and that remains the same. The insurance we have reduced by $10,500. They had indicated it was $62,000 last year, which was correct, but we have been successful in reducing that to $51,500.

"The Workmen's Comp insurance, which covers the firemen, costs approximately $50,000 per year and that remains the same.

"Insurance on the vehicles is approximately $20,000 and we have special malpractice insurance and that is $6,500.

"Building maintenance. They have asked for $27,000 and the board has agreed to $17,000. The $27,000 included numbers for security cameras, etc. The residents asked, at the budget hearing, when was the last time the firehouse was broken into and the answer was not in anyone's recollection. Therefore, the security cameras and the other request for secure keys is just not doable at this time.

"The maintenance of fire equipment and supplies is $18,000 and that has not changed. The chief has advised us that there may be elements that need to be replaced and we suggested if and when that does occur he come to the board and explain why it is an emergency and how it impacts on the health and safety of the residents and the board will entertain such a request.

"Radio communications - the fire department asked for $12,000 and that has been reduced to $3,600. They wanted to make changes to the base station radio. However, this is not the year to do that.

'Regarding fire alarms and sirens. The department asked for $7,000 but the board reduced that to $5,000. We will go out and attend to replacing the pole and siren at the corner of Fordham and Willis Avenue because it's a little cheaper for the village workers to do it.

"The chief asked for a line item for just vehicle maintenance. Since the vehicles are under warranty we did not believe this request was warranted.

"Education is $13,500 which stays the same. Fire prevention is $2,000 and that remains the same.

"Medical expenses, which are physicals that are given to the firemen and they also have a fit test for the mask to make sure it fits and that the breathing is what it should be. The board requested that the department go out for bids on this item to make sure that we are getting value for this operation.

"Miscellaneous is $500 and that stays the same. Inspection and Review is contracted. For the dinner there are no gifts and no cigars and that's $27,000 which includes 300 people times $90 and that's how that figure is derived. Uniforms are $4,000 which stays the same and badges reduced from $2,000 to $500. Special meetings is $2,500 as requested and that stays the same.

"We have been advised that there are 12 Junior firefighters. The original budget was $500 and that has been supplemented and is now $2,000. Parades and inspections was requested as $5,000 and the board agreed to $3,500 to fund the Memorial Day Parade, The Fourth of July Parade and the board is not inclined to fund the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Garden City."

The next item Moloughney addressed was the Auxiliary Police budget.

He said, "The equipment request was $1, 100 and that was granted and the insurance on the vehicles was $3, 400 and that stays the same and insurance specials is $50 and that stays the same. Automobile expense and since there is also an auto under warranty so that line has been reduced from $2, 150 to $1,375. Miscellaneous stays the same at $600. Inspection and review is $600 that stays the same. Inspection dinner is $1,000. Uniforms and supplies was submitted as $1,000 so the net change in the budget is $3,250.

"The tentative budget for the personal services was listed at 3 percent and it should have been 4 percent, so that increased it by $4, 845. So the numbers went $500,167 to $505,012. Overtime was reduced. We are very concerned about keeping our costs down. We made an adjustment for seasonal help and therefore we will not get three employees but we will get one employee so that line will go from $26,500 to $4,000. Equipment at $7,800 will stay the same. Lease payments were reduced from $6, 388 for a reduction of $1,508. Supplies stayed the same at $2,000. Sidewalk, curbs was requested at $7,000 and the board increased that to $9,000 because we want to make sure there is enough money to take care of the sidewalks in the village. Diesel oil and gas and as we mentioned before, the original budget for signs was $12,500 and that has been increased to $14,500. Budget request for $7,000 and that was reduced by $2,000. We are working on an Intermunicipal Agreement with the Town of North Hempstead to see if their sign shop is going to be beneficial. Building Superintendent Keith Bunnell has developed a relationship with other vendors and the latest example is that he was able to get signs at a lesser price than the town price. There is a belief that if we didn't have the town price maybe the vendor wouldn't be as encouraged to give us a lower price.

"Bunnell goes to a conference upstate each year and it's very beneficial and that has been requested at $4,000 and that's been approved at $2,500 which is a reduction of $1,500. Again on insurance for the vehicles we have been able to get them to reduce from $30,000 to $20,000.

"Equipment maintenance is budgeted for $30,000 and that will remain the same. Road repair- as you are aware we do have a new roller and a hot box and a road saw and Bunnell feels confident that $10,000 is sufficient to do the roadwork that is necessary. Miscellaneous is $300, is the same. Uniforms at $5,000 stays the same. Catch Basin Cleaning has been increased to $9,500 so that more catch basins can be cleaned on a regular basis and not wait for two years. The Town of North Hempstead has equipment that they will lease to us at a reasonable price but Bunnell will see what he can do with other vendors.

"Street lighting is $50,500. Pole rental is $2,750. Maintenance is $5,800 and the placement of fixtures is $2,500. "

He continued, "As you may or may not know, the village does all of the maintenance on the lighting for the village and we thank Bunnell and his crew for that."

"Decals and signs for off-street has gone from $1,000 to $2,000. Lighting is $1, 200 and parking lot maintenance is $1,000 and that remains.

"This line is $1,600. Equipment is $1,500. Maintenance requested was $10,000 and it was reduced to $6,500. Special Events was $500 and reduced to $300. Miscellaneous was $100.

"Based on our calculations this number is $317,250 with overtime of $8,500 and equipment of $2,800. One of our workers is doing a lot of equipment maintenance on our vehicles and it is saving us a lot of money.

"The Diesel oil and gas has gone from $13,500 to $15,500. Insurance on vehicles has been reduced from $22,000 to $15,000 and maintenance is at $45,000 and since it is in-house it's saving us money.

"The request was for $515,000 and we have increased that to $535,000, but we have to congratulate the residents for taking yeoman steps for recycling since recyclables does not cost us money.

"We are also going to be picking up yard waste separately and that will also save us money.

"The diesel oil and gas has been increased to $4,850 and the equipment maintenance is $12,000 and that totals $16,850.

"The telephone has gone from $1,250 to $2,250. We have an issue with the garage, which is structural, and so we have budgeted $15,000 and equipment maintenance is at $1,000.

Moloughney added, "This is the sum and substance of the budget that appeared in the newspaper. We are trying to be mindful of the economy and we have tried to keep the tax rate increase below 4 percent and therefore it comes in at 3.94 percent. Does anyone have any questions?"

A resident inquired why the Code Enforcers budget has gone from $3,600 to $104,000. Moloughney told her it was done so that the village could hire a competent inspector with experience for illegal occupancies, however, he said he wants a part-time worker to keep the records for all of the inspections that are done and it is felt that there will be some violations.

A resident inquired about the budget for the legal retainer. He said that last year it was $43,500 and this year it is $83,500. Moloughney explained that it was to cover the work that has been done in the village in handling various cases.

The resident than asked if the village was over-budgeted by about $40,000 and Moloughney answered, "Absolutely." Then he wanted to know if it was an item that could be put out to bid.

Molughney said, "No, personal service contracts are not put out to bid. Generally, this is an item that has been debated over the year and it is always felt that you don't get what you pay for in a bid. So when it comes to professional services you don't want to go to a bid or to a RFP.

"We are trying to do our best to keep the cost down. In fact, I sometimes have to put on my lawyer's hat which I don't want to do."

The resident commented that since the mayor has decided to change a lot of the village codes that this is where the added legal expense is realized and what I saw at the village board meeting we rewrote the code for codes and the resident had no idea how to comply with the new code nor could code enforcer nor the village attorney could explain how to comply with that new code.

He said, "So what are we doing with inspections."

Moloughney said, "I am not aware of any changes in the pool codes."

Another resident added, "It was brought up in the past, but as far as I know nothing was decided."

Moloughney answered, "It was discussed, but nothing was done to change the code, but eventually it will have to be done so that the code will be simpler for all residents to understand.

The resident commented, "I don't know how we can increase the attorney fee from $43,500 to $83,500, Next year it will go to $100,000."

Moloughney said, "Simply that number was placed there and I hope it will not be realized. The point is that this village board will hold the village attorney's 'collective feet to the fire.'

Another resident said, "That's the point. We sat through a change in the parking code and nothing was approved, so we paid for all of that time and nothing was passed because it was too complicated. If it had been put on single resolutions we could have passed them one at a time. The village justice even said it was too complicated to be passed by the state. We are a little village and a simple thing like parking tickets, it didn't make sense."

Moloughney said, "You are entitled to your opinion. We deal with a particular bank and we don't get the general fund bank statement until the 13, 14 and 15 of the month. We have been shopping for different banks in an effort to be able to electronically access our account and not wait to be delayed in coming up with the statements on what has been spent. We are taking steps to finalize an association with another bank at a reasonable cost and if we can than they can be available for the public to take a look at the meetings on the third Monday of the month."

The resident added, "I hope the attorney will submit his bill on a monthly basis because many times his payment is as much as $9,000 and it has been approved and the public doesn't know what we are being billed for."

Yet another resident said, "Just a couple of follow-ups. Does the retainer of the attorney reflect the hourly basis?"

Moloughney said, "No retainer, just strictly billing on an hourly basis. All a signed contract that the board approves."

The resident countered, "So, maybe attorney Reers will not earn that $80,000 because he could only put in for $60,000 so it's not a true retainer."

Moloughney said, "That's correct, it's not a true retainer, That's a very good point. The purpose of this meeting is to explain the budget to the public, it has not been voted on, but must be voted on by May 30."

The resident also wanted to know when the numbers were finalized.

Moloughney said it wasn't completed until tonight until the fire chief came in and discussed it tonight. The finalization of the budget will be tonight.

The very long and tedious budget meeting finally ended. The next regular meeting will be held on May 19 at Williston Park Village Hall, 494 Willis Avenue at 8 p.m.