The second of several articles focusing on the race for Oyster Bay Town Supervisor between Republican incumbent John Venditto and his Democratic opponent Alexander E. Sklavos by Carolyn James

John Venditto,Incumbent Republican, Conservative, Independence and working Families

When the phone rang in Oyster Bay Town Hall, someone answered, but it wasn’t a Democrat.

That’s because, said Democratic Town Councilwoman Mary McCaffrey, the phones on her desk and that of her fellow Democratic Councilwoman Bonnie Eisler didn’t ring. Instead, the calls went to a Town Board assistant who then transferred them to the individual council people.

"Essentially, as elected representatives we were cut off from our constituents because we are Democrats," said McCaffrey who, with Eisler complained to Supervisor John Venditto about the problem. "Constituents who call seeking advice or resolution of a problem will never be forwarded to my line or to Bonnie’s because that is not the way Town government works," she told the Supervisor.

Eventually the situation was resolved with the Town’s main number now offering callers the opportunity to select which Town Council man or woman they want to speak to.

Alexander E. Sklavos, Democrat

"This isn’t exactly a burning issue," said Venditto, who is running for reelection against Democrat Alexander E. Sklavos in November. "I don’t want to be remembered as the supervisor who told employees how to answer the telephone."

But to the Democrats, including Sklavos, it is an issue, and one they are touting as part of their bid for election.

"There is no healthy two-party system in this town," said Sklavos. "And that doesn’t serve the public’s interest."

Four years ago, the public put three Democrats and three Republicans on the Town Board.. That changed to four Republicans and two Democrats when Councilman Anthony Macagnone switched his party and became a Republican.

"The people in this Town elected three Republicans and three Democrats because they wanted a healthy, two-party system," said Sklavos. "We don’t have that now, "he said.

"As the minority members of the town board we are not given information on many of the issues that come before the board," said McCaffrey . "That’s not right because we are elected by the people and should not be disenfranchised simply because we are not the party in power."

Under New York State’s Open Meetings law, public issues of policy, legislation or planning, with only a few exceptions, must be discussed at a public meeting, which all of the members of the board attend. However, individual party members can caucus on party matters.

Declining to elaborate on the charges, Venditto said this type of criticism is "hackneyed campaign rhetoric.

"Everyone gets the information at the same time," he said.

Venditto pointed to two major initiatives in which his administration has worked in a bipartisan fashion in the public’s best interests. One was on the environmental bond act, which both the Town’s Republicans and Democrats supported and worked to pass three years ago. The other is his work with N.C. Exec. Thomas Suozzi, a Democrat involving 12 acres of land the public wants to remain undeveloped in Massapequa.

The site, which is owned by the county was offered for sale to be built as a senior housing complex, but Massapequa residents vehemently opposed the idea saying it should remain in public hands and be developed as a passive park or for ball fields for the thousands of Massapequa children who belong to local leagues and have difficulty finding playing time on the existing fields.

But the County, which faces a major gap in its budget, needed the $5 million it would get for the property. The only option Suozzi was willing to accept at the time was to have the Town buy it.

Instead, Venditto put together a plan to have the county give the land to the Town in exchange for the Town assuming maintenance of county roads in Oyster Bay, a plan that would save the county approximately $1.5 million a year, according to Venditto.

"I proposed this plan in the spirit of inter municipal cooperation that would save the county money, but also help the taxpayer," said Venditto. "I think people want us to work together, especially when it makes sense."

What makes sense, said Sklavos is to run the town like a service industry where residents are treated like customers. "We can’t just send them a bill and then do what we want," he said. "As supervisor, I would be more accountable and I would make sure that we had an open and bipartisan government."