North and Central Merrick Civic Association
Claudia Borecky, President 516-972-6988 claudiaborecky@gmail.com

Newsletters

PRESIDENT CLAUDIA BORECKY'S APRIL 19, 2012 NEWSLETTER

We are writing to keep you abreast of the North and Central Merrick Civic Association’s (NCMCA) activities undertaken to improve the quality of life of the people of Merrick. The information provided below reflects activities undertaken by NCMCA since March 13, 2012.

AQUA WATER -
PRESS RELEASE:
AMERICAN WATER WORKS ACQUISITION APPROVED
— Water Rates Frozen for Next 2 Years —

Albany, NY—04/19/12—The New York State Public Service Commission today approved a
Joint Proposal for the transfer of all the capital stock of Aqua New York, Inc. (Aqua NY), a
wholly owned subsidiary of Aqua Utilities, Inc., (Aqua Utilities) to American Water Works
Company, Inc. (American Water).

“Commission approval of American Water’s acquisition of Aqua NY not only entails no rate
increase to Long Island ratepayers, but ensures rates to its other customers would be locked in at
current levels for an additional two years beyond what otherwise could prevail,” said
Commission Chairman Garry Brown. The rates were previously determined by the Public Service
Commission and could not have increased as a result of this acquisition.

American Water is the parent company of Long Island American Water (LIAW), which operates
in Nassau County. Aqua NY has two subsidiaries providing service in Nassau County—New
York Water Service Corp. (NYWS) and Aquarion Water Company of Sea Cliff, Inc. (Sea
Cliff)—and itself serves five upstate water districts in Westchester, Ulster, and Washington
Counties, as more fully described below.

The Commission noted that for customers, the American Water acquisition entails a number of
benefits, chief among those are:
 A two-year moratorium on rate increases for NYWS, Sea Cliff, and all five of the Aqua
NY’s upstate water district customers;
 Reconciliation mechanism providing incentives to minimize increases in or reduce
property taxes, and to capture all or the lion’s share of reductions for ratepayers;
 Earnings sharing mechanism that would capture half of any significant earnings flowing
from currently unquantifiable consolidation synergies and savings; and
 An additional $4 million in required capital expenditures for NYWS in 2012 (for a total
of $4.9 million), with deferral for ratepayers of any under-spending amount.
The Commission also noted that approval of the terms of the Joint Proposal for the American
Water acquisition would not adversely affect the ability of the Water Authority of Southeastern
Nassau County to consider takeover of NYWS, if it decides to do so.
In addition, the Commission denied the Willows Homeowners Association’s petition to merge
the American Water acquisition proceeding with Case 10-W-0652. It noted that approving the
Aqua NY stock transfer to American Water would no prejudice the outcome of a pending
petition for rehearing in that case, in which the Association seeks refunds from Aqua NY.
In a separate decision by the Commission last month approving a three-year rate plan for the
Long Island American Water in Case 11-W-0200, approval of the American Water acquisition of
Aqua NY will result in synergy savings of about $0.9 million that inures to the benefit of LIAW
ratepayers.

Background
American Water is the largest investor-owned water and wastewater utility company in the
United States. Among other things, American Water already owns LIAW, which provides water
service to about 75,000 customers in Nassau County. Aqua NY, by itself and through its utility
subsidiaries, serves more than 50,000 customers in Nassau, Ulster, Washington, and Westchester
Counties.

Aqua NY has two wholly-owned subsidiaries currently providing water service in Nassau
County: New York Water Service Corporation, serving about 45,000 customers in the Towns of
Hempstead and Oyster Bay; and Aquarion Water Company of Sea Cliff, serving about 4,300
customers in the Town of Oyster Bay.

Aqua NY itself provides water service directly to five separate rate districts outside Long Island:
Cambridge, with about 475 customers in the Village of Cambridge, Towns of Jackson and White
Creek, Washington County; Kingsvale with about 220 customers in the Town of Ulster, Ulster
county; Dykeer, with about 120 customers in the Hamlet of Lincolndale, Town of Somers,
Westchester County; Waccabuc, with about 80 customers in the Town of Lewisboro,
Westchester County; and Wild Oaks, with about 190 customers in several developments also
located in Westchester County.

Under the proposed stock transfer, American Water would pay Aqua Utilities $42.2 million for
all of the stock of Aqua NY, which would then become a wholly-owned subsidiary of American
Water. In addition, American Water would assume $28.8 million of long-term debt, current
liabilities, and regulatory and other non-current liabilities of Aqua NY. As part of the overall
transaction, American Water would also sell its currently owned subsidiary, Ohio American
Water Company, to Aqua Ohio, Inc., for $88.6 million. The sale price is significantly less than
originally proposed. This should mean that a public acquisition of Aqua New York's Long
Island operations should be less than originally thought.

The Commission’s decision, when issued, may be obtained by going to the Commission’s
www.dps.ny.gov Web site and entering Case 11-W-0472 in the input box labeled “Search for
Case/Matter Number.” Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission orders may also be
obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY
12223 (518-474-2500).

COUNTY EXECUTIVE PLANS TO PRIVATIZE OUR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS – NIFA rejected the Morgan Stanley contract with Nassau County for $100,000 a quarter to broker a deal to sell or lease the Cedar Creek, Bay Park and Glen Cove Sewage Treatment Plants. That contract would have given Morgan Stanley a minimum of $5 million if a deal is made – whether it is a good deal or not. Nevertheless, the County Executive is still moving forward with the plan to enter into a long-term lease with an operator and expects an investor to pay over $900 million to fill the 2012 and 2013 budget gaps. The long-term lease is part of the 2012 budget which was already approved by the Republican Legislature in October 2011. Bids for operators went out and three operators were found qualified.

On February 24, 2012, Nassau County again sought bids for a financial advisor to broker this deal. On April 16, 2012 the Nassau County Rules Committee AGAIN approved a new Morgan Stanley contract for $200,000 for the first two quarters and $100,000 for each quarter after that for a total of $700,000. Please visit the Sewage Treatment Plant Page for more details.

Legislator Denise Ford agreed to hold the hearing in May and the County Executive’s Office agreed to meet with us and on March 6, 2012, we had our first meeting with a team of County officials to discuss the status of this venture. We came away from that meeting with conflicting information. The numbers didn't add up. We do not want the County to balance the budget by raising our sewer rates so that a private corporation can recoup its investment.

NASSAU COUNTY COALITION OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS - The NCCCA is a coalition of civic associations in Nassau County who are uniting to address county-wide issues that concern the people of Nassau County. The issue that inspired its birth is the County Executive's proposal to privataize our three sewage treatment plants. The NCCCA installed its first Board of Directors on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. It's comprised of nine Directors from regions drawn along the New York State Assembly lines, with each of its Directors being elected by the civics within the region. Each Director has one vote, but the main issues that the NCCCA will seek to address requires two-third votes from the member civics of the coalition. Claudia Borecky was installed as Regional Executive Director for Region 6. For more information, please visit www.nassaucoalition.org.

HYDRAULIC FRACTURING or what is commonly referred to as “hydrofracking” is the process of using high-pressured water and hundreds of chemicals, including radioactive materials, to drill through shale for the purpose of extracting natural gas from below the earth’s surface. New York State lists Cedar Creek, Bay Park and Glen Cove’s Sewage Treatment Plants as possible recipients of the wastewater from hydrofracking in upstate New York.

We went before the Legislature and have asked County Executive Mangano to ban hydrfracking wastewater. We are happy to announce that Legislators Denenberg and DiRiggi as well as Legislators Ford, Kopel and Dunne introduced legislation to ban wastewater from hydrofracking and was approved by the Legislature on April 16, 2012

TRAIN STATIONS – Our LIRR Parking Lot Committee recently met with Hempstead Town Board Attorney Venditto regarding our request for permit parking at the Bellmore and Merrick train stations. He said that the Town is awaiting consent from the MTA and is expecting to move forward on this matter very shortly. The Town is willing to work with us on the details. Please visit our LIRR page to VOTE on whether you want permit parking at the Merrick and Bellmore train stations. They are the only two stations without permit parking and the only two stations where commuters complain about finding spaces to park after 7:00 a.m. on weekday mornings. The permits will cost $3 per year. Anyone who lives in the Town of Hempstead may receive a permit.

EGGSTRAVAGANZA – Thank you for bringing your family to the North and Central Merrick Civic Association and Printing Emporium's Eggstravaganza last Sunday. We hope you enjoyed this unique Merokean tradition. Please look at the Herald Eggstravaganza Article and photos from Merrick Life and the Merrick Patch of your children at the event.

And this year, we actually raised enough money to be able to not only cover our expenses, but will also be able to again award scholarships to our high school seniors who have volunteered their time to better our community.

But what has always proved to be Merrick's greatest treasure and the true savior of this year's Eggstravaganza was our children. When Camp Avenue Brownie Troop #2398 heard that we might not have enough funds to hold the event this year, Troop Leader Tina Flynn asked her troop to "Save their Pennies" to "Save the Eggstravaganza." Special thanks go to Maggie Araneo, Kaitlin Bondi, Katherine Brown, Rebecca Collins, Allison Flynn, Brianna Geraci, Alexa Leavy, Rachel Macnamara, Kelly Martin, Colleen McGrath, Claire Phillips, Alexa Secondino, Miranda Toback, Olivia Wojewoda and Ashley Yegidiswhich for not only raising enough money to save our event, but also for coming down and helping us out.

David Basile once again led the activities and officially cut the yellow tape, setting the children loose to scoop up as many eggs as they could fit into their baskets. Joann Paolillo, Joan Benn, Nicole Basile, Dan Yngstrom and Helene Manas helped coordinate the event. And the chocolate house that was made by the very talented Joan Benn was won by Anna Stone.

We were happy that Assemblyman McKevit, Legislator Denenberg, Supervisor Murray and Town Clerk Bonilla stopped by. The event's success is largely due to the hard work and enthusiasm of a community coming together to keep this tradition alive.

Of course, the star of the day was the Easter Bunny who made a special trip to Merrick to visit our children. Special thanks to Eddie Nallan for sitting with each child and making their holiday season eggs-traordinary.

COMMUNITY SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP – The NCMCA will again give a scholarship to a Calhoun student that did work in the community. This year we are looking to extend the award to seniors who have given the NCMCA hours of community service that goes above and beyond what the schools require.

MERRICK AVENUE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT – Spring is almost here and the Beautification Committee is getting ready to go forward with our Adopt-A-Tree project. A spring clean up of the base of the trees along Merrick Avenue will begin soon, as well as plantings and the installations of the plaques that were requested in 2011. Anyone wishing to Adopt-A-Tree or would like to help us on the committee, please call Pres. Borecky at 972-6988 or email claudiaborecky@gmail.com.

STOP SIGNS AND CROSSWALKS – The NCMCA asked that the Town of Hempstead to replace poles of the stop signs at the intersections of Little Whaleneck Road and Old Mill Road/Earl Drive with fluorescent poles to deter motorists from traveling at excessive speeds and going through these intersections without stopping. These intersections are staggered creating a dangerous situation for children walking to and from school. We requested the installation of crosswalks to provide a safe passageway to cross the street. The Town agreed to the new stop signs with fluorescent poles, but rejected our request for crosswalks because it is not an “official crosswalk.” I later spoke with the Town Board’s Attorney who said that he would look into this matter further.

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We will continue to keep the community informed and work toward improving the quality of life in Merrick. Please feel free to contact Claudia Borecky regarding any issue that concerns you. All calls will remain confidential.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead

FEBRUARY 16, 2012 NEWSLETTER

We are writing to keep you abreast of the North and Central Merrick Civic Association’s (NCMCA) activities undertaken to improve the quality of life of the people of Merrick. The information provided below reflects activities undertaken by NCMCA since January 19, 2011.

POLICE PRECINCTS CLOSINGS – John Lufrano, the NCMCA’s Neighborhood Watch Program Director, and NCMCA President Claudia Borecky attended Deputy County Executive Walker’s meeting to learn the details of the County Executive’s proposal to close four police precincts and turn them into policing community centers. We left the meeting feeling happy that we were getting 48 problem-oriented police (POP) officers back and that 177 cars will remain stationed throughout Nassau County. However, we are beginning to hear that these numbers do not add up and that when you consider incentives and over $15 million in construction costs to refit the precincts and community centers, we wonder whether we will realize any savings at all. Further, we are concerned whether one commanding officer will be able to handle the expanded region.

Our civic association had a close relationship with our POP officers. Our Neighborhood Watch Program relied on our personal relationships and we were able to send out alerts to our 1500 members in almost real time. When the County Executive eliminated the POP officers last year, our community suffered greatly. The community/police relationship was severed and there were several occasions when our community was placed in grave danger because of that.

No matter what decision is reached, our POP officers should be returned to their posts immediately. Holding our POP units hostage and dependent upon a decision by the legislature is irresponsible and puts our community in jeopardy. Further, the $15 million allocated for the betterment of our precincts, should be used to improve our present eight precincts.

The NCMCA, the South Merrick Community Civic Association and Legislator Denenberg are hosting a meeting on Thursday, February 16 with the 1^st and 7^th Precinct. We will be provided an opportunity to learn the details of the County Executive’s Plan and hopefully, learn whether we will realize any savings, lose or gain officers, patrols and cars and whether the safety of our community will be improved or put at risk.

There comes a time when you cut so much that it compromises the safety of our communities. The 1^st Precinct is one of the busiest precincts in Nassau County. With the increase in crime that we’ve been seeing, unless it is proven to the contrary, the NCMCA doesn’t believe that now is the time to cut our police precincts in half and put our communities at risk.

AQUA WATER - In 2009, when Aqua Water requested a rate hike, the Merrick community sent in hundreds of letters, asking the Public Service Commission to reject the increase. They took notice and held hearings in Merrick. And we demanded public water. In January 2010, the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay reconstituted the Water Authority of Southeastern Nassau County (WASENC) to study the feasibility of a public takeover. We're getting closer to achieving that goal. But we must let the PSC know that we should be the one acquiring Aqua -- not American Water!

I would like to thank the people of our community who signed petitions, rallied Town Hall for funding, attended meetings and helped us keep the Water Authority's feet to the fire. After 2 years of requesting that the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay fund the feasibility study, last month, the Towns awarded the Water Authority $75,000. An attorney was hired and now we could expect the study to commence within the next few weeks.

We believe that if American Water acquires Aqua Water, it will be more difficult to effectuate a public takeover. We only have until February 23 to make our voices heard. Unless they receive hundreds of letters, they will not take us seriously. Attached is a form letter for your convenience. Please feel free to write in your address, sign and mail it to the Public Service Commission or use it as a guide for a letter of your own.

Tell the Public Service Commission not to forget that they are commissioned to protect the public - not Aqqua.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE’S PLAN TO SELL OUR SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS – The County Executive contracted with Morgan Stanley for $100,000 a quarter to broker a deal to sell or lease our three sewage treatment plants.

Morgan Stanley will receive a minimum of $5 million if a deal is made – whether it is a good deal or not. The County Executive expects an investor to pay over $900 million to fill the 2012 and 2013 budget gaps. In October, 2011, the Republican Legislature approved a budget which includes the sale or lease of our sewage treatment plants.

This historic decision is the biggest deal in Nassau County’s history and we are being kept in the dark.

We, as Aqua customers, know what it’s like to pay high water rates for private water as compared to our neighbors who have public water. A private investor is not going to pay $900,000 without expecting to reap huge profits. In some municipalities that privatized their sewage system, people are paying $185 per month (we are now paying an average of $185 per year). The Sludge Stoppers, of which I am a founding member, is diligently working to stop the sale or lease of our plants. For more information or if you would like to help, please visit our website at www.northmerrickcivic.org or email claudiaborecky@gmail.com.

NASSAU COUNTY COALITION OF CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS - The Nassau County Coalition of Civic Associations (NCCCA) was formed to provide a strong, united voice to address issues that affect our County and to work together to help our neighbors navigate through the bureaucracies of local government, protect our environment and improve the quality of life for the people of Nassau County.

The first issue that this coalition seeks to address is the County’s proposal to sell or lease the Glen Cove, Bay Park and Cedar Creek Sewage Treatment Plants. These facilities are public assets owned by us—Nassau County residents and taxpayers.

This coalition is seeking full disclosure of the County’s proposal, including transparency and accountability at each step of the process, as well as the establishment of a citizens’ advisory committee so that we, as residents of the County and owners of the facilities, have a voice in that decision.

The NCCCA believes that public oversight is a necessity to protect residents against a potential increase in costs to the taxpayers of Nassau County, loss of local control and the possibility of negatively impacting the health and safety of our families and our environment for generations to come.

On February 13, 2012 the NCCCA held its second meeting at the Merrick Park Golf Course Clubhouse in Merrick. Approximately 60 civic associations from all over Nassau County joined the coalition to date. After the meeting, people broke out into workshops to facilitate different aspects of our efforts to defeat the County Executive’s plan to fill the County’s budget gap by selling or leasing our sewage treatment plants. For more information or to volunteer to help us, please email claudiaborecky@gmail.com.

The Crest Law of the Iroquois Confederacy states: “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the seventh generation.”

We believe it would be irresponsible for Mangano to look to fill the county’s budget gap without considering what effect that decision will have on our children’s children.

Train Stations – At Leg. Denenberg’s community meeting in January with Long Island Rail Road representatives, Babylon Branch Manager Patrick Gerakaris followed up on our request for permit parking at the Bellmore and Merrick train stations. He said that he spoke with Councilwoman Cullin about our requests to designate a certain percentage of parking spaces at the two Hewlett Avenue parking lots in Merrick and the old Albert Bros. parking lot at the Bellmore train station for Town of Hempstead residents. Councilwoman Cullin told Mr. Gerakaris that she would bring it up at the next town board meeting. That agreement took place a few months ago and we have yet to see it placed on the town calendar.

On February 4, 2012 the NCMCA again wrote Councilwoman Cullin and requested that the Town Board address this issue. We have not yet received a response to our request.

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead

Claudia Borecky, President

CLAUDIA BORECKY’S JANUARY 19, 2012 NEWSLETTER

Aqua Water - Great News! Yes, we rallied Town Hall. Yes, we wrote dozens of letters. Yes, hundreds of us signed petitions. And thanks to our perseverance, the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay are now funding the Water Authority of Southeastern Nassau County ("WASENC") study to determine if it's feasible to acquire Aqua Water and run it as a public utility. Hempstead is granting $50,000 and Oyster Bay is granting $25,000 to fund the study.

That's the good news. The bad news is that the court ruled to protect American Water's and Aqua Water's right to privacy as "private corporations." American Water and Aqua Water is now meeting with the Public Service Commission in Albany to negotiate American Water's acquisition of Aqua Water. The sale is expected to be finalized in February.

It was our hope that since most of the work in any feasibility study involves determining its market value, that we would be able to use the data arrived at by American Water in determining Aqua's market value for our feasibility study. This would have saved us time and thousands of dollars. However, a court ruled to protect the companies' right to privacy, stating that if that information were to be made available to us, it would give us an unfair advantage in acquiring Aqua Water.

So, we are back at square one. But WASNEC is moving forward. They hired an attorney and expect to send out Requests for Proposals ("RFP") for a firm to conduct the feasibility study. The firms will have 30 days to submit proposals. After 30 days, the winning bidder will be asked to submit its findings within three to six months.

WASENC moved forward with all the conditions I addressed in my December 21, 2012 letter to the WASENC. It conducted its own analysis of the data; retained counsel; is sending out RFPs and procured $75,000 from the Towns to do the study. Having waited two years for this study, I grew impatient and submitted my own renderings of how much a public takeover would cost us. I found that even with us having to make up the money that will be lost to our school districts because a public company does not pay school taxes, we would still save money. WASNEC will submit its and my findings to the winning bidder to help them in their study.

It had been exactly 2 years to the day that the Towns reconstituted the water authority. If WASNEC had taken those actions one year ago, we would have been up in Albany discussing acquiring Aqua Water. American Water would not have been in the picture. We are concerned that once American Water acquires Aqua, we will be dealing with a very different company. American Water already serves most of southwestern Nassau. Now they will be monopolizing most of the water on the south shore. It is our belief that this sale will make an acquisition by eminent domain a more costly venture for Aqua customers.

I would like to thank the people of our community who signed petitions, rallied Town Hall for funding, attended meetings and helped us keep the Water Authority's feet to the fire.

Now, we must let the Public Service Commission know that we are very serious about this takeover. Please visit http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Comments/PublicComments.aspx?MatterCaseNo=11-W-0472 and submit your comment on the sale of Aqua Water to American Water. If the PSC receives hundreds of opposing comments, they will be required to consider them in rendering their decision. Please feel free to tell them your opinion of this sale.

The NCMCA made the following comment regarding this sale. Please feel free to copy, paste it and submit it on your behalf, or use it as a guide for a letter of your own:

"The Water Authority of Southeastern Nassau County hired an attorney, and received almost $100,000 in grant money to move forward and take all action necessary to acquire Aqua Water's Long Island operations. We believe that the pending sale of Aqua Water to American Water will affect our public takeover of Aqua Water. The court has already ruled that we will not have an opportunity to use the data obtained by those two corporations because of the "privacy rights" of corporations.

The Public Service Commission was created to protect the public. We respectfully request that the Public Service Commission take our comments into consideration when making its decision on American Water's acquisition of Aqua Water. Further, please withhold a decision on this deal until our feasibility is complete. Withholding a decision on this matter will do what the Public Service Commission is commissioned to do -- protect the public."

Cell Towers – The Town Attorney’s Office recently admitted that they had not even spoken with NextG about removing and/or relocating a handful of cell antennas that are installed on telephone poles in our community. I am no longer optimistic about us getting any cell antennas down. It seems that it was nothing more than a promise made in an election year, which they never had any intention of keeping. I am disappointed in the Town of Hempstead for making something so important to the people of our community, the brunt of a political ploy.

Train Stations - Larry Rubinstein, who sits on Leg. Denenberg’s 19^th District Commuter Council and our LIRR Parking Lot Committee, in an interview with News12, requested that the Town of Hempstead implement permit parking at the Bellmore and Merrick train stations. Sr. Deputy Town Attorney Kovit is optimistic that parking permits at the Bellmore and Merrick train stations is something that they can do. We will be meeting with him within the next few weeks to make sure that the community’s needs are met.

Privatizing County Sewage Treatment Plants/County-wide Civic – Nassau County Executive Mangano is proposing to lease or sell the County’s Glen Cove, Bay Park and Cedar Creek Sewage Treatment Plants to one of three private firms: United Water, Veolia Environment SA, or Severn Trent, and use the one-shot, short-term revenue, currently estimated to be between $900 million and $1.3 billion, to bridge its 2012 budget gap. Veolia is the company that is taking over Nassau’s bus lines. Alfonse D’Amato is lobbying for Veolia. Severn Trent is currently managing the Glen Cove Sewage Treatment Plant.

We, Aqua Water customers, know firsthand how a private water company charges us 3x more for our water than our neighbors pay for public water. The same would be true if we were to privatize our sewage treatment plants. Right now our sewage tax bill is manageable. But no one is going to expend $1.3 billion without expecting substantial returns. Privatization has a record of reaping profits through increasing resident rates while reducing services and eliminating accountability, oversight and transparency of operations. County facilities are in the black – again making them attractive for privatization.

Do we really want to have to worry whether we can afford to flush the toilet?

The NCMCA is forming a coalition of civic associations and has scheduled its first meeting at the end of the month.

Website – Thanks to Ann Parry, Mark Manas and John Lufrano, the NCMCA website is now up and running. Please feel free to visit it for community updates, by visiting www.northmerrickcivic.org. Membership dues of $20 can be paid online.

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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead

Claudia Borecky, President________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CLAUDIA BORECKY’S DECEMBER 14, 2011 NEWSLETTER

School Facilities Referendum - NORTH MERRICK FACILITIES REFERENDUM PASSES - 181-43

The projects itemized in the Referendum will be paid with funds from a Capital Reserve Fund that was established in 2009 - not to exceed $1.2 million. Now that it passed, it will go to the state for approval, which could take eight weeks. Then it will go out to bid and work could begin as early as summer 2012. New York State is expected to reimburse the district over a period of 15 years approximately 50 cents on every dollar that the district spends.

Mr. James Saitta, Director of School Facilities, presented computerized renderings of the projected improvements to Camp Avenue School, which portrayed an extended bus loop to the north and south and widening it to allow approximately 20 parking spots with an extended pick up/drop off lane. An additional grant of $25,000 from Legislator Dave Denenberg will pay for decorative lighting, trash receptacles and benches in front of the main entrance. Benches are also planned for the area surrounding the flag pole.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions regarding these projects, please contact Mr. Saitta at jsaitta@nmerrick.org.

Aqua Water -The next water authority meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at the Merrick Road Park Golf Course Club House. The NCMCA has been urging the Town of Hempstead to fund a financial analysis of a public takeover of Aqua Water. As Claudia Borecky stated in Newsday, “The Town provides some of its residents with public water at affordable rates, while others have to pay exorbitant prices to a private company that brags record profits from our tax dollar…We cannot afford to pay these rates.”

In January it will be two years since the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay reconstituted the Water Authority of Southeast Nassau County ("WASENC"). To expedite this painfully slow process, the NCMCA will write a letter to WASENC requesting that it fulfill the following obligations by January 11, 2012:

1. Complete its analysis of all the documentation it has in its possession regarding American Water's purchase of Aqua New York's Long Island operations and determine the market value of Aqua Water.

2. Determine how much additional operating money will be needed to initially run the water authority.

3. Prepare a brief report of the above information.

4. Write letters to the Towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay requesting funds to retain counsel and financial expertise to complete this study. Bring the Towns' written responses as well as the responses from all other requests for government grants to the January 11, 2012 to make it a matter of public record.

3. Retain expert legal counsel to initially review the water authority's findings, determine the water authority's responsibility to pay PILOT's (payment in lieu of taxes) to school and other taxing districts.

4. Retain financial expertise to analyze the data prepared by the water authority and determine the funds needed to take over Aqua Water.

If financial and legal expertise need to go out to bid, then we will ask that the WASENC do so immediately so that the winning contracts can be signed at the January 11 meeting or as soon as possible thereafter.

The NCMCA is pressuring the water authority to expedite a public takeover of Aqua Water so that a referendum can be put on the ballot before the purchase of Aqua Water by American Water is finalized.

Cell Towers – The Town Attorney’s Office has indicated that they will begin negotiating to remove and/or relocate a total of six sites – four that are close to schools, namely: 1717 St. Marks Avenue, Merrick (Sanford Calhoun High School), Birch Road, Merrick (Birch Road School), 1083 Merrick Avenue, Merrick (Harold D. Fayette School) and Dorothy Court, Merrick (Lakeside School). Two other sites will be chosen by lottery at a time and place to be determined. Legislator Dave Denenberg, members of the NCMCA, the SMCCA, the North Bellmore Civic Association, and the MOMs will hold the drawing. We are currently awaiting confirmation from the Town Attorney’s Office before we schedule the lottery.

Train Stations - Local commuters complain that the Merrick and Bellmore train stations have insufficient parking spaces for its residents. They claim that if they don’t get to the station very early, there are no spaces left for commuters to park. Merrick residents request that a permitting process be implemented for commuters residing in the Town of Hempstead, similar to other parking lots in the Town, such as parking fields in Seaford.

Claudia Borecky formed the LIRR Parking Lot Committee to address this matter. In reviewing documentation that we recently uncovered, we believe we found a way to restrict parking at the Merrick and Bellmore train stations to Town residents only. Bellmore and Merrick are the only two stations on the Babylon branch that do not have resident permits. Town of Hempstead commuter parking permits cost $3 annually.

Larry Rubinstein, who sits on Leg. Denenberg’s 19^th District Commuter Council and our LIRR Parking Lot Committee, in an interview with News12, requested that the Town of Hempstead implement permit parking at the Bellmore and Merrick train stations. In response, the Town stated that they are amenable to discussing the possibility of implementing permit parking. We are currently arranging to meet with the Town Attorney’s Office to make sure that the community’s needs are met.

Privatizing County Sewage Treatment Plants/County-wide Civic – Nassau County is proposing to sell its Glen Cove, Bay Park and Cedar Creek wastewater treatment system to one of four private firms: American Water, United Water, Veolia Environment SA, or Severn Trent, and use the one-shot, short-term revenue, currently estimated to be between $900 million and $1.3 billion, to bridge its 2012 budget gap. Veolia is the company that is taking over Nassau’s bus lines. Alfonse D’Amato is lobbying for Veolia. And American Water is the company that is buying Aqua Water and is asking its customers for a 7.6% rate increase. It is beginning to look as if the fate of Nassau County is being handed over to a handful of very powerful corporate interests.

Our community is already burdened with a private water company that charges us five times more for our drinking water than our neighbors pay for public water. The same would be true if we were to privatize our sewage treatment plants. Right now our sewage tax bill is manageable. But no one is going to expend $1.3 billion without expecting substantial returns. Privatization has a record of reaping profits through increasing resident rates while reducing services and eliminating accountability, oversight and transparency of operations. County residents would then have to pay a “flush bill” every month. The county sewer treatment facilities are in the black – again making them attractive for privatization.

Do we really want to have to worry whether we can afford to flush the toilet?

The NCMCA is reaching out to civic and environmental associations throughout Nassau County in an effort to form a coalition to effectively address this and other county-wide issues. We expect to meet within the first few weeks of 2012.

Sludge Report – As a founding member of the Sludge Stoppers, President Borecky attended an educational forum at the Nassau County Legislature Chambers on Friday, December 9^th that addressed the condition of the Western Bays. Presenters included Christopher Schubert of the United States Geological Survey and Dr. Larry Swanson of Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. This research is critically needed to help us protect and restore the Bays.

Studies clearly found that there is very high concentration of ammonium (from detergents, hair products, etc.) and nitrates (from sewage) in the proximity of Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Also, the disappearance of winter flounder and increase in ulva in Reynolds Channel are apparently due to the effluence that escapes from the Bay Park STP. It should be noted that Cedar Creek STP in Seaford has an outflow pipe that empties out into the ocean¸ bypassing the estuaries.

These studies will end in one year at which time we should have more conclusive data to determine what method we should use to remediate our waterways. Experts in the field believe that we will need to either build an outflow pipe that empties out into the ocean or tertiary treatment that would filter the nitrates out of the effluence before it hits the channel or both.

Grandpa’s Auto – The application to maintain an auto repair shop on the corner of Meadowbrook Road and Washington Street, commonly referred to as “Grandpa’s Auto”, again came before the Hempstead Town Board on December 6, 2011. The Town Clerk’s Office advised us that it could take a couple months before the Town Board reaches a decision. When this application came before the Town Board in early summer 2011, the NCMCA requested that the board deny the application unless and until the property was improved upon. In response, the Town Board reserved decision on this application and required the proprietors meet certain conditions. The NCMCA has no information as to what the conditions were and whether they were met.

Merrick Woods Country Day School is seeking a variance with Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 for a “Special exception to convert dwelling to educational use in a Residence "B" District; Variance, front yard setback on Little Whaleneck Rd., maintain dumpster with fence enclosure; Maintain single-faced detached ground sign; overall size 34 sq. ft., clearance 5' from grade to bottom of sign, setback 6'8" from Merrick Ave. & not expressly permitted in a Residence "B" District; Maintain 2nd double-faced detached ground sign; clearance 6' from grade to bottom of sign, setback 0' from Merrick Ave. & not expressly permitted in a Residence "B" District; Maintain 3rd double-faced detached ground sign; clearance 6' from grade to bottom of sign, setback 0' from Merrick Ave. & not expressly permitted in a Residence "B" District.

The NCMCA has no knowledge of any community concerns to this application. Upon information, this variance asks only to maintain what already exists on the property and does not seek to construct any new structures.

Website – The NCMCA website is currently under construction. Once it is complete, we will notify the membership.

Wantagh Strip Club – Hempstead’s Board of Zoning Appeals wrote a 30-page Decision, documenting its reasoning for denying Billy Dean’s application for a cabaret license at 3500 Sunrise Highway in Wantagh. This decision will help its defense in Billy Dean’s appeal. The BZA found that Billy Dean was not being honest with the board in saying that the cabaret was not going to have “adult entertainment,” which is not permitted within 500 feet of a residential area. The BZA also attested to the testimony given by the community’s real estate expert that gave evidence of lost market values suffered by homeowners because of their close proximity to “strip clubs.” Although public opposition is not a reason for denying an application, testimony and documentation given during the hearing by Claudia Borecky as President of the NCMCA, as well as others were taken into consideration and made part of their decision.

Holiday Stockings for Soldiers/Toys for Ronald McDonald House - The NCMCA would like to thank the community for its generosity. We helped the American Legion Auxiliary Merrick Unit 1282 send holiday stockings to our soldiers in Afghanistan who will be away from their families for the holidays. We will be putting smiles on our soldiers’ faces when they open up their holiday stockings. It is so important that they know how much we appreciate their sacrifices.

The Merrick American Legion Auxiliary and the NCMCA are collecting toys for children who are hospitalized during this holiday season. Toys could be dropped off in the bin on the front steps of Claudia Borecky’s house, 28 Washington Drive, North Merrick (directly behind Met Foods) by Thursday, December 22.

RMDH gives comfort and shelter to families experiencing the pain of having a sick child in local hospital facilities. A "home away from home", the House provides the parents and siblings of these children with a temporary haven in a secure and comfortable environment among other families sharing a similar burden.

* * *

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead

Claudia Borecky, President

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