Board votes for time to review for possible lease "errors"

In photo above, newly-installed Massapequa Park Village Mayor James Altadonna signs officials' book.

by Carolyn James

To a packed crowd of family, friends, supporters and residents, Massapequa Park Village Mayor James Altadonna took the oath of office last week, promising to bring "a kinder, gentler" government.

"This is a very proud moment for me, my family and my supporters," said Altadonna. "Not only because you have honored me by electing me to be your Mayor, but because my family and I live in a community that cares about its neighbors, cares about its well being and cares about its future."

Altadonna said that while he campaigned throughout the Village he listened to the "thoughts, concerns, wishes and dreams" of residents. "I had my own ideas about improving our community, but listening to all of you, I learned how deep your passion is for how our Village runs."

Above, newly installed board is sworn in by Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and Councilman Angelo Delligatti, right. Shown left to right are Altadonna and Village Trustees Robert Wilcox and Joseph Pinto. Photos by Ed Cox

The most important aspect of listening is learning, he continued. "I have listened, I have learned and now, with your help, I am ready to act."

One of Altadonna’s first acts was to respond decisively to a campaign issue that had helped sweep him into office—cellular towers. Altadonna had campaigned against a decision by the administration of former Mayor Camillo Giannattasio to take a proactive role in deciding where these towers—mandated by the federal government—should go in the community, and what they should look like. By taking this approach, the Village also ensured that the residents as a whole would reap the financial benefits of the towers by having the Village lease public property to the cellular tower operators.

But residents were angry over the Village’s decision, and Altadonna capitalized on that as well as the fact that the Village did not hold public hearings on the question. Many residents said they knew little or nothing about the towers and objected to them on the basis of health and esthetic concerns, though federal law does not permit municipalities to take those issues into account.

In a resolution approved by the board the night of Altadonna’s installation, the Village suspended two building permits to Nassau Towers Inc., the company that installed the flagpole/tower at Village Hall. Altadonna said the board wanted to review the leases and ensure that everything was done in accordance with the law.

"Basically, we want to make sure there were no municipal errors," said the new Mayor.

"It has been pointed out by the Village Board that there may have been some municipal errors and we want to take the time to see if that is the case," said Michael Walsh, the Village’s new attorney. "If that is the case then corrective actions will be taken; if not, then no corrective actions are necessary."

Joseph Buzzell, the attorney representing Nassau Towers said "it would have to be one whopper of a mistake," to have any impact on the leases, duly signed by the Village.

"To its credit, the Village is acting expeditiously in reviewing this and we have a meeting with them set up this week," said Buzzell. "But I can assure you that if it at all appeared as if the Village was going to drag this thing out, we would have already brought a lawsuit against them."

Buzzell said he, as well as attorneys for the carriers, has already drawn up papers against the Village and is prepared to file them in Federal Court as early as Friday if the Village does not complete its study and allow the project to move forward.

"No one wants a lawsuit and the Village seems to be moving diligently on this, so we are hopeful an agreement can be reached by the end of this week."

Altadonna said exactly what that agreement will include is unclear since he has not had the chance to see the report from the Village’s attorneys.

The board discussed the legal move at a closed-door, pre-board meeting and remnants of the political feud that fueled the recent campaign were evident. The decision to suspend the building permits was approved by a 3-1-1 vote, with Altadonna, and Trustees Joseph Pinto and Robert Wilcox approving it, Trustee John O’ Brien voting against it and Trustee Gail Klubnick abstaining.

"I think their votes (O’Brien’s and Klubnick’s) show a lack of conviction for even looking into the possibility that a mistake may have been made," said Altadonna.

O’Brien said it’s precisely "personal conviction" that led him to make his decision.

"I originally voted to approve the leases after reviewing all of the facts and information at that time and nothing since then has changed," said O’Brien. "These cellular towers are a reality of the 21st century and I still believe we are better off controlling where they go and how they look than to allow those decisions to be made by individual property owners in our community who will benefit financially from these leases."

Altadonna said there was nothing specific he was looking to find in the review, something O’Brien said amounted to a fishing expedition by the new Mayor. He added that he believes the move was prompted more by politics than by what was in the interests of the Village.

"He has put this Village in a tenuous legal position that could cost taxpayers a lot of money," said O’Brien. "Unless he had a smoking gun, he should never have moved on this."

Klubnick said she abstained on the question because she did not have any of the facts. And, she added, neither was she given information on the new appointments the Mayor was making that night.

"He told me on March 23 that he was not going to make any new appointments that night and I believed him," she said. "But when I got my packet the Saturday before the meeting, there were reams of new appointments with no back up information. How can I be expected to vote for people I don’t even know?"

Klubnick said she spoke to each individual that night and toldthem that her decision was not a personal affront but rather an obligation on her part as an elected official.

Altadonna countered that he had reached out to Klubnick and O’Brien the day after election and was not treated "graciously.

"I felt the ball was then in their court and that they should have called me," said Altadonna.

"I hope this is not going to be a good ole boys club," said Klubnick.

"My responsibility is to the Village and the residents," said Altadonna. "If they want to be included then they are more than welcome, but I can’t go running after them. I have a Village to look after."