A newcomer, a former mayor and an incumbent are running a three-way race for two trustee seats on East Williston’s Village Board.
As Trustee Christopher Siciliano seeks a second four-year term, former East Williston school board President Ellen Ritz of the Common Sense Party is making a foray into village government, and former Mayor Anthony Casella is eyeing a return to the board.
All three aim to resolve the village’s water supply issues, but only Casella has taken a definite position on whether to finalize an agreement with the Village of Williston Park or build an independent water system.
Casella, a 49-year village resident, said the prime objective of his candidacy is to pursue an agreement with Williston Park, as he thinks an independent supply system would be “pure overkill.”
Casella said his experience negotiating two successful water agreements with Williston Park as a trustee from 1977 to 1986 and mayor from 1991 to 1995 have prepared him to help finalize the draft agreement that’s been in the works for months.
“I hope to work with the mayor (David Tanner), the trustees and with the Williston Park board to put our heads together, work out something, sign on the dotted line and continue on and maintain the wonderful relationship that Williston Park and East Williston have had over the years,” Casella said.
The lawsuits East Williston initiated against its neighbor “poison(ed) the well” and made negotiations more difficult, Casella said, referring to litigation initiated by the village after Williston Park increased the price of water to East Williston.
The proposed water system is too great a financial burden for the village to bear, he said. East Williston officials have said it would cost $7.5 million of bonded money to build, but Casella said he thinks that number could reach $10 million with interest.
Ritz, a 28-year resident, served as a trustee, vice president and president on the East Williston school board from 2004 to 2010.
In a letter to the Williston Times announcing her candidacy, she touted her vote against a school budget as president as proof she will make “fiscally prudent” decisions balancing short- and long-term impacts.
While she said at a Jan. 12 public meeting a water system would give East Williston more control and raised concerns about the draft agreement with Williston Park, Ritz said in the letter she is not entering the race with any “pre-conceived answer.”
“I have to do my due diligence in looking at all the numbers and the contract and all the other information that comes to the board,” she said in an interview.
In addition to her experience, Ritz said she would bring “devotion” and “passion” to the board. “I never take a job lightly,” she said.
Siciliano, elected to the Village Board in 2012, has not taken a public stance on water service, but has called it “the biggest decision that’s ever going to affect our village.”
He encouraged residents Jan. 12 to keep an open mind for both the agreement and an independent system.
Efforts to reach Siciliano were unavailing.
Siciliano has served with the East Williston Fire Department for more than 30 years and has owned and operated a local moving business for more than 20 years.
Deputy Mayor Bonnie Parente said Siciliano has been an “integral part” of the water negotiations, in addition to his other duties as a trustee.
“I am excited that he is willing to do this term again, and I’m very much hoping that the residents see the importance of having him on the board,” she said.
East Williston Village Justice Joseph Sperber is also running unopposed for a second four-year term.
Sperber defeated then-Acting Village Justice Emil Samuels 305 votes to 197 in 2012.
The top two vote-winners in the trustee race will take the two available seats.
Voters will cast ballots March 15 from noon to 9 p.m.
In the Village of Williston Park, no one filed a petition to challenge incumbent Trustees Michael Uttaro and William Carr. Williston Park voters will also cast ballots March 15.
