Editorial - Kings Park BOE - Moving The District Forward

Our kudos go to the people who showed-up to express rational opinions at the Kings Park Board of Education (BOE) meeting on January 17.   There were many people in the audience who expressed real concerns about transportation issues and contract negotiations.   Sitting in an audience and realizing that a decision is already made, and that your comments will not be considered is extremely frustrating.

While the audience was there for many reasons, spelling bee contestants, Intel Semifinalists, the budget, transportation,  the most vocal group was there to confront the board about extending Superintendent Agruso’s contract.

Some members of the BOE seemed surprised by the rude and aggressive behavior by some members of the audience.  Agendas go online when they are created; board meetings are video taped and available to the public. “Where have these people been? We have Board meetings and the public rarely shows up. I have not received phone calls or emails from any of the people who showed up tonight. Not one person called to express concern about the contract extension. Where have they been?” Said Board member Marie Goldstein. 

Last minute agendas encourage a sense of clandestine activity.  Even worse than a last minute agenda is the behind the scene gossip and texting about dastardly deeds that are taking place covertly when something unexpected appears on an agenda. It seems for some people in the audience that is exactly what happened.  They were of the mindset that behind the scenes, Board members William Motherway, Marie Goldstein and Tom Locascio, conspired to extend the school superintendent’s contract without listening to the voices of two of the board members, Steve Weber and Liz Barrett. “Not so, we determined last year that we would extend the contract and that we would put it on the agenda in January.  This should not have surprised anyone on the board. This was discussed.” Said  Marie Goldstein.

There was a coordinated effort to stop this vote.  Flyers, which included phone numbers and email addresses of board members were handed out throughout the district. Some people in the audience pointed to Board member Steve Weber as the coordinator of the “stop the contract extension movement”.  Steve Weber in a phone conversation denied this, “I did not give out flyers nor did I encourage people to attend this particular meeting.  I always support participation by the public.  I believe in it. I believe that a written evaluation is an important part of the process and I did not expect to extend the Superintendent’s contract without it.”

Left out of the discussion, was why three Board of Education members would violate the trust of parents and the relationship of all the board members by voting on something that was never discussed.  The answer, in my opinion, is they wouldn’t.

I do not know what transpired in executive board meetings or at the retreat the board members attended.  What I do know for certain is that there are mechanisms in place to prevent the chaos that occurred at the board meeting.  The minutes went out to board members and there was ample opportunity to question the agenda.  There was ample opportunity to request an item be removed or to call for an executive session to discuss the matter.  That didn’t happen and it should have! 

Instead what transpired was sad.  Two members, Ms. Barrett and Mr. Weber, voted “no” to the contract extension on the grounds that a job performance evaluation was not done. Despite the fact that there is an evaluation for Dr. Agruso that is less than a year old. The vote was three-two in favor of the contract extension. Members of the audience left unhappy and angry with Board members.

It is obvious that the members of the Board of Education suffered a set back.  Not because there was a difference of opinion, that happens.  The problem now is that there is a lack of trust amongst the members and people in the district. 

In the end it is the value the Superintendent brings to the district.  Are things better under Dr. Agruso’s leadership?  Marie Goldstein said it best, “I voted yes for 4,106 reasons, our students. The ability to maximize our children’s educational experience is what is most important. I was not always a fan of Dr. Agruso’s, but she has showed her commitment to our students and their future. I support that.”

I couldn’t agree more.  Time to do damage control and get on with the business of education.

Pat

Missed Opportunity

The recent appointment of John Zollo as Smithtown’s Town Attorney has left a lot of Smithtown residents shaking their heads in disbelief.  Throughout the town, people are saying enough with the arrogance and cronyism.  What is most interesting is that much of the unhappiness is coming from Councilmen Wehrheim and Creighton’s home base, Kings Park.

Many people in the audience at the Kings Park Civic Association meeting last week were questioning Councilmen Wehrheim, Creighton and Malloy’s commitment to resolving the zoning issues in the “Industrial Area. ” The appointment of the former town attorney, John Zollo (1992 -2002), evoked memories of the Izzo v Smithtown lawsuit which ended up costing taxpayers $1.3 million dollars. 

It is anticipated by many at last week’s KPCA meeting that zoning issues will take up a great deal of the Town Attorney’s time and resources.  “We have complained countless times with no response. And applications are coming in for more housing projects, asphalt plants and mining operations. Who is going to represent our interests?” Said one attendee.   

The retirement of Town Attorney Yvonne Lieffrig provided the new majority, Councilmen Wehrheim, Creighton and Malloy, the opportunity to do something new and bold.  It was an opportunity to appoint someone without baggage, someone new, who wasn’t part of the old regime.  The Councilmen instead went behind closed doors and came out with the former Town Attorney John Zollo.   The new majority also increased the town attorney’s Salary by $13,000.

Couldn’t find one with better credentials or found just what they were looking for? Either way the new majority is looking a lot like the old regime.

Pat

The recent appointment of John Zollo as Smithtown’s Town Attorney has left a lot of Smithtown residents shaking their heads in disbelief.  Throughout the town, people are saying enough with the arrogance and cronyism.  What is most interesting is that much of the unhappiness is coming from Councilmen Wehrheim and Creighton’s home base, Kings Park.

Many people in the audience at the Kings Park Civic Association meeting last week were questioning Councilmen Wehrheim, Creighton and Malloy’s commitment to resolving the zoning issues in the “Industrial Area. ” The appointment of the former town attorney, John Zollo (1992 -2002), evoked memories of the Izzo v Smithtown lawsuit which ended up costing taxpayers $1.3 million dollars. 

It is anticipated by many at last week’s KPCA meeting that zoning issues will take up a great deal of the Town Attorney’s time and resources.  “We have complained countless times with no response. And applications are coming in for more housing projects, asphalt plants and mining operations. Who is going to represent our interests?” Said one attendee.   

The retirement of Town Attorney Yvonne Lieffrig provided the new majority, Councilmen Wehrheim, Creighton and Malloy, the opportunity to do something new and bold.  It was an opportunity to appoint someone without baggage, someone new, who wasn’t part of the old regime.  The Councilmen instead went behind closed doors and came out with the former Town Attorney John Zollo.   The new majority also increased the town attorney’s Salary by $13,000.

Couldn’t find one with better credentials or found just what they were looking for? Either way the new majority is looking a lot like the old regime.

Pat

Something Strange In Your Neighborhood Who You Gonna Call? KPCA

When I think about the Kings Park Civic Association the theme from Ghostbusters always comes to mind. “If there’s something strange in your neighborhood
 Who you gonna call?
KPCA!
If there’s something weird and it don’t look good
 Who you gonna call?
KPCA

The Kings Park Civic Association (KPCA) is relentless in its goal to improve the community of Kings Park.  Both current and past boards have worked for a reasonable solution to the zoning issues in the industrial area.  The organization advocates for the enforcement of building codes and the upkeep of property and roads. KPCA recently worked to add a farmers market and summer concerts to the repertoire of activities Kings Park offers.

The Kings Park Civic Association does more than just advocate. KPCA members watch, listen and follow every move that Smithtown’s Town Board,  Planning Board and Board of Zoning Appeals make.  In the Town of Smithtown where work sessions are a rarity, where interdepartmental meetings have been canceled where decisions are made without public discussions it is refreshing that a group of like minded citizens are willing to get involved and keep the public informed. 

KPCA shows a passion and a vision for improving the quality of life for Kings Park residents. Agree with them or disagree with them when you leave one of their meetings you leave with a sense that things can happen.

Call them the eyes and ears of the community. Or you may call them busybodies but if there’s something strange in your neighborhood who you gonna call? KPCA! 

Pat

Governor Cuomo Op-Ed On Tax Reform

Albany, NY (December 5, 2011)

New York needs to enact a bold, innovative economic plan and tax code reform to create jobs at this difficult time. To achieve that we will need bipartisan political cooperation and a plan the people of the State support.

I believe economic development, popular support, and political consensus must all be built on the same foundation: fundamental fairness.

Last year, when we were preparing the state budget, I exposed that the system was inherently biased against the taxpayer. The very definition of the State’s budget deficit included statutory annual increases for individualized programs marbleized through the State’s budget laws. In short, “deficit” meant the amount necessary to fund a 13 percent increase. The taxpayer didn’t have a chance.

Our current tax system is also unfair.

I have posed the following question to Albany veterans, befuddling almost all: at what income level does the State’s top personal income tax rate become effective? Answers range from about $100,000 to $1 million. Virtually no one guesses the correct answer: only $20,000 for an individual taxpayer; and only $40,000 for a two-earner family. So, in New York under the permanent tax code, an individual making a taxable income of only $20,000 pays the same marginal tax rate as an individual making $20 million. It’s just not fair. While New York’s earned income tax credit, child care credit, and high standard deduction help working poor families, New York has left the middle class with an undue burden which also hinders our economic recovery.

From a competitive point of view, New York’s tax system is behind. Other states and the federal government have an income tax code that is fairer than New York’s. Unlike New York, 22 states apply their highest rate to incomes higher than our $40,000 level. Also, unlike New York, where the range between its lowest rate (4%) and its highest rate (6.85%) is only 2.85%, 28 other states have larger ranges that reflect a fairer distribution of the tax burden. Even the federal system has more progressivity: a range of tax brackets that spans from 10% to 35%, and the top not kicking in until taxable income exceeds $379,000.

New York is the progressive capital of the nation yet there have been no real tax reform efforts in the state in decades, only periodic gimmicks. From 2003 to 2005, we added two new temporary surcharge brackets. In 2009 we enacted the “millionaire’s tax,” which expires at the end of this year. The millionaire’s tax purported to shift the tax burden to the super wealthy to alleviate the burden on the middle class. But it failed on both counts. It actually raised taxes on people who were making $200,000 – hardly “millionaires.” And it did absolutely nothing to lower the disproportionately high tax burden on middle class families, who continue to pay the same marginal rate whether they make $40,000 or $299,000 in taxable income.

We must reform our tax system to stimulate the economy and restore fundamental fairness.

First, we need to reform the code in a way that creates jobs and grows our economy. To do that, we need to put more money in New Yorkers pockets and inject it back in to the economy. There are also tax credits that can incentivize private sector job growth.

Second, true reform for fairness has two factors: income brackets that fairly group income levels and progressive rates increasing with income. Simply put, to me “fairness” dictates that the more you make the more you pay and the higher your income the higher your rate. Also, you should be treated the same as people with similar incomes and differently from people who make significantly more, or significantly less, than you earn. I would create multiple brackets and rates increasing on a graduated basis throughout and indexed to inflation. I would add more income brackets for the middle income and add high end brackets. The actual rate span should be several points from low to high.

Our State Legislature will need to act, swiftly and effectively.

I believe we can avoid partisan gridlock and make government work by forging a plan that is based on fundamental fairness rather than political ideology.

During these difficult times, New Yorkers will step up and do their part to create jobs and revive our economy – but the system must be fair for all. Our State deserves nothing less.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

"When It Comes To Our Children, We Cannot Be Too Careful"

As I ready myself for the holidays, planning and creating my culinary contributions for my large Irish family, the headlines about the heinous Penn State Child Sex Abuse scandal continue to galvanize broadcast and print news and the victims lay heavy in my heart.

The second those headlines came through my kitchen t.v. a week back I had a sense of panic. My son Bryan and a few dozen Kings Park athletes from the high school went to Penn State to attend a track and field camp in the summer of 2005.   I rang Bryan and spoke to him in his Binghamton dorm room and he said he saw nothing unusual in his short 4 or 5 day stay at the famed university.

The headlines coming out of Penn State are shocking for a myriad of reasons and leave so many of us asking – how could this have happened and even more so, how could this have happened so many times?

About seven years back while on the board of St. Joseph’s CYO, all the board members and coaches were asked to submit to a background check as are most people who work with children today.  We all welcomed the new protocol.

I am happy to say that in the last twelve years since I’ve resided in Kings Park, there has a been an enormous commitment to educating parents about child sexual abuse.  Our former superintendent provided the Apple of My Eye program from Parents for Megan’s law.   My parent organization comrades and I also ran the program through Council of Schools and the Mary DeRose Parent Center and Senator John J. Flanagan brought it to the district in 2009 as well.

A child-protective phenomenon, Parents for Megan’s Law is a local non-profit that give parents and children the tools to protect them from the monsters who carefully and methodically hunt their victims. 

PFML tells us that 90% of all sexual abuse occurs with someone a child has an established and trusting relationship with, whether known or not by the parent and who is often a person of authority. They also provide ten rules for safety for children and teens and a gamut of helpful information on their website www.parentsformeganslaw.org.

I’m thrilled to see the commitment to educating parents about preventing childhood sexual abuse remains steadfast.   Council of Schools will be providing an important seminar by the Director of the Coalition for Child Abuse and Neglect at Kings Park High School on January 24^th from 7-9 p.m. for parents of all ages.  They will offer information on keys issues surrounding preventing child sexual abuse including critical data from Parents for Megan’s Law.  They will offer parents warning signs and preventative strategies, it is a must see for all parents and grandparents.

Unfortunately in my forty-seven years I have known several people dear to me who have had the same fate as the Penn State victims.  I can tell you it forever changes the person and their family.

When it comes to our children, we cannot be too careful; we must arm ourselves with every piece of information available to ensure their safety.  BRAVA to the women at Council of Schools for their dedication to this critical issue.  There are a lot of reasons Kings Park is a great place to raise a family but the collective commitment to our children is undoubtedly number one. 

Maureen Ledden Rossi