Village of Roslyn Estates trustees on Monday approved the selection of Zoning Board of Appeals alternate Paul Peters to replace retiring Trustee Joel Siff.
Peters replaces 73 year old Sandy Siff, who was re-elected to the Board of Trustees with 15 write-in votes after deciding not to run for re-election.
Village of Roslyn Estates Mayor Jeffrey Scwartzberg said he chose Peters, a three-year resident of village, because of his involvement in village activities over the last year.
“He is a guy who have been very involved in the village activities,” Schwartzberg said. “He’s been at every board meeting over the last year, which is very unusual for any of our residents.”
Siff, a 46-year resident of the village served 12 years as trustee, eight as deputy mayor, before deciding to retire.
When he won re-election despite not being on the ballot, Siff said he would reconsider his decision not to serve any longer.
After several weeks of deliberation, he said, he said he would stick to his plan to no longer serve.
Peters said when he moved from Manhasset into the village with his wife, Clare, in 2013 they immediately got involved in village activities.
“Since we bought the house we live in now, my wife and I have been attending the board meetings every month. It’s as if I’ve been covering the meeting,” said Peters, 69.
Peters, who retired after working in construction, was appointed to the Roads Committee by Schwartzberg, the committee responsible for analyzing the conditions of the roads in the village and the cost of repairing them.
“We determine what needs to be done and how it is going to cost. We also have to address how we are going to fund it and make sure we are not handicapping residents with the payments,” Peters said.
Before Peters moved to Roslyn Estates, he headed the now defunct Munsey Park Civic Association. He also serves on the board of Tiro A Segno, the oldest Italian heritage organization in the United States.
His wife, Clare heads the village’s beautification committee responsible for the village’s signages.
Peters said he retired over 30 years ago as one of the principals of a construction company where he worked. When Peter retired, he said he took up a substitute teaching position at Manhasset High School.
“I was very lucky. I worked in construction and I took a bunch of risks,” he said.
Schwartzberg said Peters’ appointment was effective immediately and was for a one-year term.
“It’s no big deal,” Peters said. “It’s one night a month and I’ve been attending the meetings over the past year anyway.”
