Barra takes charge as village clerk

A new face at Valley Stream Village Hall is a familiar face to many residents in the community. Bob Barra, who represented the village for the past decade in the New York State Assembly, is the new village clerk.

Barra was appointed by new Mayor Ed Fare and began his new job on April 4. He replaces Vinny Ang, who retired in December.

He is no stranger to village government. Barra was deputy village clerk in Lynbrook in the 1980s, and later served for six years on the Lynbrook village board. As the 14th District assemblyman for 10 years, he represented five villages.

Village government, Barra said, is the closest to the people, and it’s where leaders can really make an impact on the quality of life for residents. Whether its Valley Stream, Lynbrook or another community, Barra said citizens have the same wants and needs. “People want their garbage picked up,” he said. “They want their roads swept. They want their parks to be clean and green.”

Another big issue for residents, Barra said, is the condition of the roads. Local streets took a beating this past winter and Barra said that village officials are committed to making repairs. Several roads will be repaved entirely this spring and he explained that village engineers and highway department leaders are consulted to rate the roads and make sure the worst ones get fixed first.

The downtown revitalization project will also be a priority for Barra, who as village clerk is in charge of running the day-to-day operations of the village. He will be responsible for enacting the wishes of Fare and village trustees to breath new life into Rockaway Avenue.

On the flood map issue, Barra said he and village officials must keep the pressure on the federal representatives to get relief for Valley Stream homeowners from onerous insurance premiums. “They’re the key on that,” he said. “The rest of us can only go to a certain point.”

Barra said he also wants to work on issues of beautification, and developing more recreational activities, especially for the youth. Overall, Barra said he wants Valley Stream residents to see noticeable, positive change.

Fare said that when thinking of who he wanted to serve as his village clerk, Barra was one of the few people who came to mind. “There’s a small pool of people that you think can hit the ground running, are qualified, are experienced,” he said.

What makes Barra an asset to the village, Fare said, is his knowledge of other layers of government, including at the town, county, state and federal levels. Additionally, Fare said, Barra knows Valley Stream well and can come in and get right to work. There will be almost no learning curve, providing for a “seamless transition,” Fare said.

“Where else can I get somebody with the intimate knowledge of not only Valley Stream, but the surrounding communities as well?” Fare asked. “That’s one of my favorite questions — ‘How do other villages do it?’ — and Bob knows.”

Fare said he has heard nothing but positive messages from residents and village employees about Barra’s appointment. And although village clerk is strictly a mayor’s appointment, Fare said the other trustees were impressed with his selection, as well.

Barra, who did not run for re-election in November, won’t be able to lobby for any state grants himself for the next two years because of regulations, but he has been instrumental in securing money in the past. He had helped Valley Stream secure a $65,000 grant for the planning stages of its downtown revitalization project.

In his early days as village clerk, Barra said he has been meeting with the various department heads to get to know their needs. He said he stepped into a village that was already running well, a testament to Ang and the workforce. “Everybody does their jobs,” he said. “People care about the village. They really do care and it’s nice to hear.”

Although he grew up in Lynbrook, Barra spent much of his early days in Valley Stream. He attended Holy Name of Mary School, was baptized and confirmed at the church, and played for the Valley Stream Roller Hockey and Mail baseball leagues.

In his days as a state assemblyman, he walked the streets of Valley Stream many times during his campaigns for re-election.

Barra said he took the job as village clerk believes he strongly believes that Fare and trustees Vincent Grasso, Dermond Thomas and John Tufarelli will work in the best interest of Valley Stream residents. “I expect real good things to happen for Valley Stream,” he said. “I’m honored to have the chance to be the village clerk, such a prestigious position, in such a fine village.”