LI briefs: Moody's upgrades Hempstead Village credit rating

HEMPSTEAD VILLAGE
Moody's upgrades village credit rating

Moody's Investors Service has upgraded Hempstead Village's credit rating, citing reduced debt and financial stability.

The agency rated the village at A1, up from A2, affecting its $17.2 million in debt and lending capability. Moody's reported the village has improved its financial position in borrowing bonds and has a healthy balance in its budget and assets.

The village faces challenges for plans to amortize pension obligations in 2015 and the projected drawdown in fiscal 2014 and 2015, according to the report. The village also has wealth levels below state and national average.

The upgraded credit rating shows marked improvement for the village, which was just one step above junk bond rating in 2006, Hempstead Mayor Wayne Hall said.

"Considering where we came from, the future of our finances are still going to be strong," Hall said Monday. "I don't see anything bad ahead of us."

The village reduced spending under the state tax cap, Hall said, adding that the village also has cut costs and saved money through attrition.

Moody's credits the village for overcoming a deficit since 2006, but notes Hempstead will face a tight budget from the expense of salaries and benefits. Hempstead's general fund balance increased to $15.2 million in 2013, adding 22 percent, or nearly $9 million in revenue since its low point in 2006.

The general fund balance last year increased by $1.4 million, but the village paid a lawsuit settlement financed with a $6.5 million bond.
-- JOHN ASBURY

ISLIP
Airport expenditures on council agenda

The Islip Town Council on Tuesday is to vote on several expenditures, including $120,000 for consultants to the town-owned Long Island MacArthur Airport.

Two resolutions up for a vote would authorize spending to hire two firms. Indianapolis-based Vasey Aviation Group, LLC would "provide economic pricing, competitive analysis and aeronautical revenue optimization services" to promote the airport, according to the resolution. InterVista Consulting, LLC, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, would "produce detailed market analysis and demand forecasting for passenger services" to develop strategies to increase public use of the airport, according to the resolution.

Both services agreements would cost the town $5,000 a month over a 12-month period, according to the documents.

In April, the council unanimously approved more than $100,000 for consultant services. Vasey was awarded a $40,000 contract through the end of this year to help with capital planning and operations strategy. Manhattan-based Simat, Helliesen & Eichner Inc. was hired at $75,000 to provide consulting services.

From 2010 to 2012, the airport had a nearly $4.2 million shortfall. Town officials have estimated MacArthur lost an additional $1.4 million last year. The number of flights at the Ronkonkoma airport has also dramatically dropped over the same period.

The meeting will take place at 2 p.m. at Islip Town Hall.
-- SARAH ARMAGHAN

SMITHTOWN
Plan would lower school taxes for vets

The Smithtown school board has scheduled a pair of public hearings next week on proposals to lower tax bills for military veterans and parents of those killed in combat.

The board has proposed adopting a state law that allows school districts to reduce property assessments on the school portion of tax bills for veterans who live in the district. Several other Long Island school districts have adopted the state law.

In addition, Smithtown is proposing to extend the tax benefit to families, known as "Gold Star parents," whose children died while serving in the armed forces.

Details of the proposals are to be released Thursday on the school district website, www.smithtown.k12.ny.us, district clerk Maureen O'Connor said.

The hearings -- one for the veteran's tax reduction and one for the Gold Star families -- are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the district's Joseph M. Barton Building, 26 New York Ave., Smithtown. Residents will be allowed to speak for as long as three minutes.
-- CARL MACGOWAN

BROOKHAVEN TOWN
Kepert launches food drive for kids

Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Connie Kepert, saying she wants to ensure students in her district are well fed at least throughout the Christmas season, is promoting a food drive this month to support Blessings in a Backpack, a nonprofit that provides food for schoolchildren.

"It's amazing to me how many people are in need of the basics such as clothing and housing all over Brookhaven, and in particularly in my district," Kepert said yesterday when the food drive started. It runs through Dec. 30.

"It's particularly sad when children don't have enough to eat," she said.

More than 16 million children in the country live in "food insecure" homes and three out of five teachers say their classrooms have students who regularly come to school hungry, according to the Blessings in a Backpack website.

Kepert said earlier this year she met with several concerned parents at Coram Elementary School, part of the Longwood Central School District, who brought the organization to her attention. Kepert said the parents feared many students at the school didn't have enough to eat on the weekends.

Suggested donated food items include all nonperishables and canned goods. Some of the most popular food items are tuna, macaroni and cheese, microwaveable soup, and breakfast bars.

Drop-off locations are the main lobby of Brookhaven Town Hall at 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville or the Brookhaven Town Highway Department at 1140 Old Town Rd. in Coram.

"We are going to try to extend it further," Kepert said of the effort. "This is a holiday food drive, but families need food all year long."

For more information, call Kepert's office at 631-451-6968.
-- DEON J. HAMPTON

NISSEQUOGUE VILLAGE
Meyer appointed to fill Kenney's term

Village of Nissequogue officials have appointed Kurt Meyer as trustee to replace longtime board member Lawrence M. Kenney, who died Oct. 29.

Meyer, 64, has lived in the village since 1989. Kenney was a trustee for more than 20 years.

"I was kind of happy and a little sad because Larry was a good friend," Meyer said of his appointment. "I certainly can't fill his shoes . . . I will do my very best and keep the village residents in mind all the time."

Meyer served as planning board chairman for the past eight years and owns a beer distribution company in Smithtown, he said.

Village Mayor Richard B. Smith said the board voted unanimously, 4-0, at its Nov. 18 meeting to appoint Meyer to fill the remainder of Kenney's term, which runs through July 6, 2015.

"I had discussed this choice ahead of time with my colleagues and they were all in agreement," said Smith, adding that Meyer has a good business sense and has been a leader in his service on the village planning department and as a volunteer in its fire department.

"He has a very fine manner of working with people," Smith said of Meyer. "That's important criteria for the position. Our job as stewards, we try to make things better for people and Kurt has that empathy in abundance. "
-- LAUREN R. HARRISON

NORTH HEMPSTEAD
Higher traffic, parking fines mulled

The North Hempstead Town Board on Dec. 9 is to consider increasing fines for traffic and parking violations for the first time since 2001.

Under the proposed legislation, fines for parking in a handicap-restricted space would be raised to $225, from $100, said town spokeswoman Carole Trottere. Fines for other offenses that are now $30, $60, or $75 would all increase to $80.

Town officials say county-imposed surcharges would still apply.
-- SCOTT EIDLER

NEW CASSEL
Town OKs additional funds for demolition

The North Hempstead Town Board has authorized additional payments to consultant LIRO Engineers, Inc. of Queens for engineering services related to the June demolition of the contaminated Grand Street School in New Cassel.

The board on Nov. 18 unanimously approved an additional $9,850 after previously authorizing $56,710 for engineering services related to the demolition.

The former school and community center at 252 Grand St. had been closed for decades. Money for the project was provided by the EPA under its Brownfield cleanup program. When demolition began in June, residents and former students cheered the removal of what they described as a blighted eyesore. A senior housing complex is planned for the site, town officials said.

The additional payment is related to "extended monitoring services of airborne asbestos and airborne respirable dust," according to the resolution. Officials note in the documents that the length of time needed for the demolition -- which was completed in July, exceeded the engineers' budget for testing.

North Hempstead's public works department recommended that the town board amend the contract to compensate for "additional monitoring services for the project," according to the documents.
-- SCOTT EIDLER

NASSAU COUNTY
NICE Bus CEO Setzer honored

A public transportation industry magazine has named the head of Nassau's bus system as one of its 20 most influential people of the decade.

Nassau Inter-County Express chief executive Michael Setzer was included in Metro magazine's October issue along with President Barack Obama, former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, and former New York City Transportation Commissioner Jannette Sadik-Khan. Setzer was the only New York transit agency leader on the list.

"In addition to his successes building and growing public transportation systems and ridership, Setzer has also served as coach and mentor to many of today's industry leaders," Metro reported of Setzer, who joined NICE bus in 2012 after leading transit systems in Minneapolis and Cincinnati during his 30-plus year career.

Setzer, who is on the board of the New York Public Transit Association, a nonprofit industry group, said yesterday he was pleased to be recognized among "champions of investing in mass transit, promoting innovation, and improving service."
-- ALFONSO A. CASTILLO

MUTTONTOWN
Village considers curbing landscaping

Muttontown trustees seek public input on restricting landscaping work on weekends.

Commercial landscaping is prohibited throughout the village on Sundays but banned only in some areas on Saturdays. Officials have received complaints about landscaping work on Saturdays. according to a letter from Mayor Julianne Beckerman posted on the village website.

Deputy Mayor Mary Marks said yesterday that officials are seeking public input but have no specific changes in mind.

"We won't act unless there is an overwhelming desire" from residents, Marks said. "We're here to listen and represent the community."

The trustees will discuss the issue and listen to the public at its Dec. 10 meeting that starts at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall.
-- MACKENZIE RIGG