As the Trustee in charge of public works, it is my responsibility to oversee the Village infrastructure that our staff maintains.  I have quantified our asset inventory which consists of 32 different Village structures; 18,075 linear feet of boardwalk consisting of 54,000 boards; 900 linear feet of cement walks; a water system; a fire notification system; a band suppression system; landscaping; garbage collection; the ocean beach, from lifeguards, stands, sheds and bike racks to dune fencing; and the Bayfront, from enclosing the swimming area and its removal at season’s end, to maintaining dock ladders and the bulkheads.  The upcoming budget for the Public Works Department is $592,350, a 5% reduction over the previous year’s budget.

A legacy inherited by the current Board is that Saltaire is now burdened with several major capital improvement projects that include a beach renourishment project, ferry terminal in Bay Shore, the Saltaire dock, the upgrade of the water system, Village Hall repair, the overhauling of boardwalks, and the upgrade of our emergency notification system.  As Trustee in charge of Public Works, I have focused on these projects and their future financial impact on Saltaire in the next 30 years.

I oversaw the $3.2 million project that pumped more than 300,000 cubic yards of sand on our beach and fought for the financing of the project for the length of the benefit.  I currently am working to modify our beach monitoring commitment of Piping Plover, beach flora and fauna, and finfish.

The Bay Shore Marina project is completed, and the lot will be ready at the commencement of the season.  We replaced the bulkhead in its entirety with tan color vinyl sheeting called Sealock 9900 series, which carries a manufacturer warranty of 50 years.  The project still requires redoing the surface, which I have scheduled for next spring after the lot settles.  We were approximately $20,000 over budget due to regulatory agencies requiring a drainage system.  The project, however, came in approximately $200,000 less than originally designed in steel due to my recommendation to use other materials.  I am still overseeing a zoning change application that was required by Islip to receive our construction permit.  Village counsel is pursuing the change by establishing non-conforming use prior to 1952, when the Islip Zoning Code went into effect.

As a member of the Dock Committee and as the Public Works Trustee, I was intimately involved in the dock design and permit process involving the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Army Corps of Engineers, and Fire Island National Seashore.  We received $750,000 in federal grants that will significantly reduce our bond issue but will still leave a balance of $2.3 million.  There remain alternative options to reduce the cost of the dock project while focusing on the aesthetics.  Those options include having our own maintenance staff run the water and electrical lines, reducing the load capacity on the West Dock and determining whether or not to coat the exterior of the steel.  The project is on course to begin in September and the decision to do it in one phase or two will be based on cost, weather conditions and alternate landing options.  Ultimately I would like to see the project completed in one year with the approval of a temporary landing dock in Saltaire that will lessen the inconvenience experienced by residents.

Recently, the Board approved removing the water project from the current bond issue.  The upgrade of the water system in the center of the Village still needs to be performed but I located a source of interest-free government financing that is available to municipalities to upgrade their water system.  We are applying for those loans, which if successful should save $373,280 in interest.  The Village, over my four–year term, has completed all the recommendations of the Fire Commission.  From a pressure and flow standpoint, the Village is much better off due to the second well on-line all the time now, the installation of blow-off valves and the Fair Harbor and Kismet tie-in.  The maintenance staff continually treats and monitors the quality of our water throughout the Village.

Village Hall renovation was removed from the bond issue.  We were able to complete the reposting and other required work because of the receipt of a grant.  This year the septic tank was repaired and the roof replacement is budgeted for the upcoming year.  We determined that it was best to continue the work through the Public Works budget and address the most pressing needs on an annual basis.


Tax Savings & Fiscal Management

In the past four years I have proposed and fought for cost-saving measures and revenue changes, which have realized savings of $480,000.

I have done financial analyses of Saltaire’s five revenue streams -- i.e. ferry service, parking lot, recreation program, marina and taxes -- to determine precisely what our income is now and will be in the future.

Legal Affairs & Contracts

When I was legal affairs Trustee I negotiated, modified and pushed for the resolution of the Fire Department and Village carting service contracts, both of which had been unsigned by the Village for almost a year.  I fought to revise the Fire Island Ferries and Bay Shore parking lot contracts which improved ferry service and parking for Saltaire residents.  At long last, there are later boats and direct service from ay Shore to Saltaire on weekends and better coordination between the LIRR and Fire Island Ferries schedules.  More parking spaces are also available to residents, which have exceeded demand.

Code Revisions

Having grown up in Saltaire, I am blessed with great memories and many lifelong friends.  These experiences have afforded me an understanding and appreciation of Saltaire’s uniqueness and charm.  My wife, Anne, and I bought our first home in Saltaire in 1997 because we hoped then, as we do now, to provide our children with the same opportunities my sisters and I had.  In the past four years I have been dedicated to making that hope a reality.

The above record of accomplishment is the reason I was appointed Deputy Mayor twice by Mayor Rosenblum.  I believe that in the past four years I have earned your trust and support.  During this period I have worked tirelessly for the benefit of the Village and have been a voice of reason, honesty and integrity.  At this critical juncture, it is imperative that we continue on the same course.  If re-elected, I promise to continue striving to make Saltaire the best it can be for those of us who enjoy it today, with an ever-watchful concern for those who will enjoy it in the future.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,             

John A. Zaccaro, Jr.