West Hempstead BOE: Only local organizations can apply for permits

The West Hempstead Board of Education finally put to rest last week a controversial matter that had riled up the school community over the course of two months.

Board members, at their Feb. 15 meeting, unanimously approved the district’s twice modified facilities-use policy, which had initially been revised in December to the dismay of some area residents. The latest revisions clarified what organizations are eligible to apply for permits to use the school district’s fields and facilities, clearing up confusion that caused a rift between some board members and residents.

The contentious policy had permitted teams and organizations, regardless of its town or village affiliations, with a membership made up by 80 percent of West Hempstead residents to apply for permits. The recently approved policy does not include the word “team” and lists organizations’ eligibility requirements as follows:

-At least 80 percent of the members shall be residents of the West Hempstead Union Free School District.

-Its principal place of business must be located within the geographic area covered by the district. Rosters, including all addresses, and residency documents must be made available at the district’s request. Failure to provide the information could result in permit revocation. The PTA, PTSA and SEPTA, which have administrators, faculty and professional staff as members, are exempt from the 80 percent rule.

Resident Brendan Smith, president of the West Hempstead Chiefs Soccer Club, said he was happy with the board’s decision.

“I am sorry that the school board had to be put in the position that they were in,” he recently told the Herald. “However, it is my obligation and that of other community organization representatives to protect the interest of West Hempstead clubs. I am pleased with the result and look forward to working with the school board on other community related projects.”

Smith and other Chiefs members, including executive board member Loraine Magaraci, had opposed the initial revision, which was made at the board’s Dec. 7 policy meeting. They, along with representatives of various athletic and other organizations who use district facilities, had complained that West Hempstead’s fields are already overused and overcrowded. They also took issue with board Trustee Tony Brita’s vote on the policy at the board’s Dec. 21 meeting. Brita coaches for a Franklin Square-based organization, but his team is made up by 80 percent of West Hempstead residents. He applied for a field-use permit for that team and the board approved it.

Some cried foul, claiming Brita’s vote was a conflict of interest. The board’s legal counsel it was not, primarily because there was no monetary or contractual benefit to be had. But residents were not placated. They continued to assert at the board’s Feb. 15 meeting, that situations such as this qualify as conflicts of interest. Some, like resident Manny Martinez, said board members should be prohibited from voting in such situations if they do not recuse themselves first.

Martinez went on to say that he believes board trustees should disclose personal interests prior to every vote on every matter.