In his 10th state of the town speech, North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman said Wednesday the town’s finances were strong, called the Project Independence program to aid senior citizens and the 311 call response system among his chief accomplishments, and praised the town’s response to Hurricane Sandy.
“Our reality has changed. And so we are now simply different than we once were,” Kaiman said, referring to Hurricane Sandy.
Speaking are the Harbor Links Golf Course, Kaiman recounted how he had met with department heads on Oct. 28 to prepare for the storm, briefed village officials the following day and opened Town Hall and the new “Yes We Can” community center in Westbury as twin operation centers. He said the town’s 311 line took 37,335 calls during the hurricane and its immediate aftermath.
“When the crisis was encountered, the 311 system responded,” he said.
When county workers couldn’t get to emergency stations, Kaiman said, town volunteers manned seven comfort stations. The town opened comfort stations at Harbor Links Golf Club, Tully Park Aquatic Center in New Hyde Park, the Westbury community center and the Great Neck Arts Center. He said Project Independence workers and other town staffers were sent out to make contact with elderly people in their homes.
During the two-week storm aftermath, he said, the town provided 7,358 gallons of fuel to 24 villages, six fire districts, three water districts, six school districts, one water pollution control district, and one park district.
“I believe the entire Long Island community will continue this assessment process,” he said. “Much has been lost and time will tell how that affects our financial future.”
Kaiman said the town’s finances are currently stable and paid homage to his predecessor and mentor, May Newburger, for starting to pay down the town’s debt.
He said that while the town borrowed $100 million over the past decade, it had paid down $200 million in debt and secured $60 million to $70 million in grants. He pointed to a double-A financial rating as evidence of the town’s financial strength.
“Our confidence in our financial assessment is growing. We have weathered the fiscal storm of years past,” Kaiman said. “Our town’s financial building is solid and will remain so in the years to come.”
Kaiman said town’s 311 call line, which he introduced in 2004, had handled 199,281 calls in 2012.
“Today I can announce that 311 is entirely implemented,” Kaiman said. He added that the information referral line will take its millionth call later this year and referred to a new alert system that could provide “real time” alerts to thousands of residents, but didn’t provide details.
Kaiman also praised Project Independence for providing services that allowed seniors to continue living independently. He said Project Independence handled 23,603 service requests in 2012, including 8,431 nursing service requests and 15,698 requests for various social services. It also provided 26,580 rides to seniors through the town’s public/private taxi program.
“It took off beyond our wildest expectations,” Kaiman said.
Kaiman also touted the revamped building department, saying it would be applying for national accreditation later this year. He said the town building department had issued 5,340 permits last year, up 2 percent from the previous year.
The town has been working to restore the department’s reputation in the wake of a bribe scandal in 2008.
“We have made the conscious decision to maintain our resources and improve our infrastructure year in and year out,” he said.
Since establishing the office of intermunicipal information in 2006, Kaiman said the town has put in place 70 intermunicipal agreements to provide services to other municipalities, generating $650,000 in revenues in the process.
Kaiman noted that the town is currently participating in a construction project on the border of Mineola and Carle Place to remedy recurrent flooding problems that have “plagued” residents there “for generations.”
He cited the recent renovations of town pool facilities at Michael J. Tully Park in New Hyde Park and Manorhaven Park and the imminent renovation of the Police Athletic League’s Denton Avenue recreation facility in New Hyde Park.
He also noted the town will soon be reopening Alvin Petrus Park in Port Washington.
Kaiman also pointed to the town’s proposed acquisition of the Great Neck Arts Center, restoration of the historic Schumacher House in Lake Success and a new pool and recreation facility in the Roslyn Country Club projected to open in 2014 as examples of the town’s efforts to enhance residents’ quality of life.
“Ultimately my goal is to construct and maintain a municipal government that meets needs,” Kaiman said. “Together we are part of something larger than ourselves.”
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow1 and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
