Oakdale Civic Association

General Monthly Meeting

December 12, 2011

______________________________________________________ 

 

Officers

President:                                  Carol Schwasnick              Present

Vice President:                          Bob Mirro                       Present

Treasurer:                                  Pat Kassten                             Present       

Corresponding Secretary:       Brian Bast                       Present

Recording Secretary:                needed

 

Meeting called to order:

President Carol Schwasnick called the meeting to order at 7:41 pm and led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Ms. Schwasnick asked the membership to review the minutes from the November meeting and asked if they had any corrections to offer.  Seeing none, a motion was made by Mario Politti seconded by Leo Marinick to accept the minutes as presented.  President Schwasnick laid out the format and agenda for the meeting.

 

 

Swearing in of the officers:

Assemblyman Al Graf presided over the swearing in of the executive board, as elected in December:

 

President – Carol Schwasnick

Vice President – Bob Mirro

Treasurer - Pat Kassten

Corresponding Secretary – Brian Bast

(Recording Secretary – OPEN)

 

All board members took their oaths of office and were installed for 2012.

 

Treasurer’s report:  Pat Kassten

Financial highlights this month include income from dues of $120, and total disbursements of $450.    Paid membership to date for 2012 is 29.  President Schwasnick noted that the active account is at quite a low level and members should look to send in their 2012 dues so that we can continue to operate at normal levels.

 

 

A motion was made to waive the rules for the order of the agenda to accommodate our guest speakers.

 

Al Graf New York State Assemblyman:

Mr. Graf began by explaining that there is a movement to repeal a portion of the MTA tax.  Recently it was determined that this tax will be repealed for public and private non-profits as well as small businesses. In other news, the NY State government has redone the tax structure resulting in our lowest State tax rates in 58 years.  The State also approved $106 million in grant money for Long Island, including funds for the Ronkonkoma hub, which still requires design progress and review by all Town municipalities involved.  The idea is to capture the commuters that use the train to encourage them to stay and shop.  The membership felt, and Mr. Graf agreed, that the concept needs to be shaped and molded to understand the logistics and mindset of the commuters as it pertains to their shopping habits after work.

It was also mentioned that some streets in and around the Middlesex Ave. need to be relooked at for flooding resolution.  A suggestion was made to remove a bump by grinding down the road and grading it gradually as well as crowning it.

 

Mr. Graf also gave the membership an update on the LIPA issue.  He reviewed last month’s OCA discussion and reminded us that there is a clause in the LIPA act that prevents us from buying energy at the preferred cost.  Mr. Graf explained that LIPA buys some of its power from the NY Power Authority (NYPA) but cannot buy cheaper hydropower due to a one sentence clause in the LIPA Law that restricts this.  He went on to discuss that NIPA pays 1.3 cents per kwatt hour so however, LIPA pays over 9 cents per kwatt hour and then charges us over 20 cents per kwatt hour.  Mr. Graf is petitioning to have this limitation repealed.  Mr. Graf explained that the Governor has become aware of it.  However to date, there are less than 500 signatures on the web.  Mr. Graf strongly encourages us to spread the word. Mr. Graf is developing a bill to address.  The petition can be found at www.pluglongislandin.com.

 

A resident mentioned the clutter that accumulates on the roads.  A conversation ensued about which agency takes ownership of particular roads such as county roads versus town roads.  The roads in question are considered very busy roads and not accessible by volunteers and adopt-a-road programs.  Mr. Graf said that he would pursue this issue and let the membership know where to go and/or who to call.  Mr. Graf mentioned that he has a box in his office for Toys-for-Tots, to aide the US Marine Corps and their family.

 

 

 

Heather Shivokevich:  Dowling College

President Schwasnick introduced  Ms. Heather Shivokevich from Dowling College who was in the audience.  There is new administration at Dowling and they have taken an active interest in working with the community, including the Civic organization.  Ms. Shivokevich spoke about meeting with President Schwasnick and the Oakdale Round Table.  She mentioned that some Dowling students have helped volunteer for community service to clean up the area as well as students raising awareness of those less fortunate.  Ms. Shivokevich looks forward to working closely with the community going forward.

 

Linda Hart:  Oakdale Improvement Society

Linda thanked the Oakdale Civic for it’s generous donation for the holiday decorations along Montauk Hwy as well as for the Tree Lighting.

 

 

President’s Report:  Carol Schwasnick

Mentioned that the new town supervisor asked for letters of resignation from all of the commissioners and requested them to re apply and send in their resumes.  Ms. Schwasnick mentioned that the new administration for the town is in the process of transitioning and it may be a little while before they can share the concerns of the membership.

 

A member mentioned the good progress being made on the sidewalks along Montauk Hwy.  It was mentioned that the sidewalk would continue through Oakdale into West Sayville up to Washington Ave by the Valero gas station.

 

Ms. Schwasnick mentioned that the new mass mailer approach would reach over 4000 community members.  A member asked if this mailer could be done in conjunction with other groups such as the Oakdale Chamber and/or the Oakdale Improvement Society, etc.  This suggestion was also made last month and was received positively.  A member asked about how to dedicate a pillar and the process was discussed along with contact information. 

 

Upcoming speakers will include Long Island Visitors and Convention Bureau, a LIPA spokesperson, Community Ambulance, and more !

 

 

Open session:

No additional issues were brought up.

Motion to adjourn meeting at 9:03 pm, motion seconded, meeting adjourned.

Our next meeting will take place on Monday January 9, 2012 at 7:30 pm.