Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Trustees Emilio Grillo and Katie Conlon, who are both running unopposed for re-election in the June 17 Rockville Centre village elections, recently held a community forum, where they outlined their goals for the upcoming term.
The incumbents highlighted their records on public service, infrastructure improvements and community engagement during the June 3 forum at the Sandel Senior Center, which was held to inform residents about their policies.
Both trustees emphasized their commitment to navigating certain challenges while preserving Rockville Centre’s character and quality of life.
Grillo, a 26-year village resident and practicing attorney, entered public service after opposing a nearby development, later serving as deputy village attorney and being elected trustee in 2013. He’s been a liaison to several village departments, including police, fire and water, and cites his achievements, such as expanding recycling, securing infrastructure funds, and supporting local businesses during the pandemic.
A former prosecutor, he emphasized the importance of public safety and adapting to new challenges, such as those posed by social media and increased traffic from services like Uber. One of his proudest achievements, he said, was helping foster a more respectful, open and civil environment on the village board.
“From my perspective, this position is all about public service,” he said at the forum. “We’re all neighbors, and we all want to see our community thrive.”
Conlon reflected on her past four years of service on the board — which she described as “an honor and a privilege” — expressing gratitude for her role as trustee and a deeper understanding of what it means to be an incorporated village.
She highlighted improved services and community engagement, noting the village’s ability to meet local needs while following state and federal laws. As liaison to the Public Works Department, she prioritized road safety, helped reroute a hazardous bus line, and led cost-saving efforts amid pandemic revenue losses and rising costs.
She organized forums on housing and development, supported historic preservation, and backed a 2022 resolution adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. She also launched a tribute project for military service.
“I’m looking forward to the next four years,” she said. “I’ve got a lot more that I want to accomplish.”
During the forum, the two trustees fielded questions from the public, which touched on a broad spectrum of topics, including the newly adopted budget.
The village recently approved a $60.9 million general fund budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The new budget raises the tax levy to $41.7 million, up from $38.9 million in 2025, with an increase of 7.4 percent, which Grillo pointed out is 4.8 percent higher than the New York state tax cap. The increase is due to a variety of issues, from infrastructure needs and union-mandated salary hikes to surging insurance premiums and pension obligations.
To offset some of these expenses, village officials have proposed charging non-residents for downtown parking after 6 p.m., with residents remaining exempt. Parking Fields 1, 4, 7 and 8, near Sunrise Highway and Merrick Road, could be among those areas affected.
Conlon noted a new sliding-scale parking variance fee for businesses, with revenue going directly toward parking lot improvements.
“We have to work to strike a balance between managing these costs that are out of our control while maintaining our village and the services that we are used to and accustomed to and desire,” Conlon said.
In response to residents’ concerns about water quality and discoloration, Grillo emphasized that “the quality of our water remains excellent, and I think that’s really a product of our water department.”
Conlon added that the village has two iron filtration plants and the aquifer is rich in iron, which explains the discoloration. She said the village continues to seek grants for water infrastructure upgrades and has replaced many outdated water mains.
On road repairs, Grillo explained the village uses data from Cornell University to objectively rank street conditions to identify which roads need upgrades. He added that the village tries to strike a balance, stating, “We don’t want to overspend, but we also want to maintain that infrastructure.”
Conlon added that more than 22 miles of road have been repaved over the past 15 years.
Throughout the forum, Grillo and Conlon each shared their excitement working with the newly formed civic association, and cited their support of historic preservation efforts without overly restricting homeowner rights. They voiced opposition to a village-run pool due to budget constraints, voiced support for more green spaces, and both candidates encouraged the revitalization of the downtown area, with potential incentives to landlords to continue making improvements.
Also during the June 17 election, Mindy Roman is running uncontested for a four-year term as village justice. She was appointed to the bench in November 2023 to complete the term of retiring Judge Kevin McDonough and won an uncontested special election in 2024 to finish out the remaining year. Roman is a partner at Horing Welikson Rosen & Digrugilliers and served as village prosecutor for over 25 years.
“I love the village, I love being a judge here, and I appreciate your support,” she said at the forum.
Voting on June 17 will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the John A. Anderson Recreation Center, at 111 N. Oceanside Ave.
