Malverne officials get back to business

In a ceremony that Malverne Village Mayor Patricia McDonald described as a “tremendous honor,” former New York City Mayor Ed Koch swore her in to her second term as mayor on Monday. Koch also performed the swearing-in ceremonies for recently re-elected village board Trustees James Callahan and Michael Bailey.

“The best job in the world is mayor,” Koch said. “It doesn’t make any difference if it’s a large city like New York or a small town like Malverne — you have to serve the people. And from what I hear, Mayor McDonald serves them superbly.”

“I feel very honored that he’s taking the time out,” McDonald said of Koch, who was in office when McDonald’s husband, Steven, a New York City police officer, was injured in the line of duty. “He’s a very busy man, but he’s taking the time out to come out here — it means a lot to me personally.”

McDonald added, “He just reminds me of what friendship is,” noting that Koch has grown close to her family in the intervening 25 years. In fact, it seems that the former mayor has served as a role model for the Malverne mayor.

“I think he was one of the best mayors the city ever had,” McDonald told the Herald on Monday. “He’s been an example to me. What I love about Mayor Koch, politically, is the fact that he works with both sides. … He works with whoever, knowing that they’re doing what’s right for the community.”

McDonald, a member of the Independent Party of Malverne, said she tries to emulate Koch’s approach to governing. She believes that, in part, is why Malvernites re-elected her and the two trustees on her slate to another term. In the village election on March 15, McDonald, who ran unopposed, received 1,173 votes, while Bailey and Callahan received 966 and 888, respectively. Dr. John Hassett Jr., the Malverne Tea Party candidate for a seat on the board, got 781 votes.

“I feel very grateful that the residents of this community are giving me the opportunity to serve the community for another four years,” McDonald said. “I hope [our re-election] shows that the community trusts us and is happy with the job that this board’s done the past four years.”

Deputy Mayor James Callahan, who will begin his fourth term as a trustee, said he, too, believes the re-election indicates confidence in the village representatives. “I think we’ve done a good job and I think the people have seen that,” Callahan said. “We’re not like some of the other village [boards] that openly fight in public and stuff like that. We all try to do what’s best for the village, whatever party you’re in, and I think that that’s what the people of Malverne want.”

Bailey, who was elected to his second four-year term on the board, said he was excited to be re-elected. “It’s an honor,” he said. “It’s a bit humbling.”

While the excitement of the election has yet to fade, village officials are already getting back to business. “We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Bailey said.

According to McDonald, the first item on the board’s agenda is the village budget. The budget process has already begun, and seems to be going smoothly so far, according to Bailey, who has been keeping an eye on other villages’ budget proposals.

“We are trying to come in as low as possible, but also provide the services that the residents are used to,” McDonald said.

A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for April 14, at 7:30 p.m., in Village Hall. The spending plan is expected to be adopted on April 21, at 7 p.m.

The board is also working on starting the second phase of the Roadway Improvement Project, scheduled to begin next month, and is in the process of selecting engineers and contractors for the downtown beautification project. Trustees will be watching the development of the cardboard recycling program, which took effect on Monday, and the soon-to-be-implemented commercial recycling program.

Callahan is also hoping to begin planning the future of the parcel of Grossmann’s Farm that the county gave to the village after it purchased the farm in February 2010. “I’d like to get together a committee of residents,” Callahan said, “to design what should be there and then to work on whatever it is that the residents pick.”

Meanwhile, Bailey is continuing to work with a number of village departments — including public works, buildings, tax assessment, and police and fire — to streamline and improve services and to make them more responsive and accessible to residents.

“We hope to continue and maintain the character and charm of the village,” McDonald said. “I just think the village looks great, and we’re going to keep striving to continue to serve the residents and make the community look and feel as it has in the past couple of years.”