Prior Proposed Alternatives

Alternatives from previous building committees from several NYS licensed engineering and architectual firms from 2000-2022 included: 1.Expanding over existing HQ with adding upper floors for $4.5 million.
2. Purchase adjacent property on Derby Road for parking and expand existing building to 15,000 sq ft within existing foot-print for $7.5 million.

3. Build a NEW 15,000 sq ft building (almost 3 times the size of the current building) in the rear of the existing lot for $6.9 million and maintain operations in the existing building during construction to save moving costs.

4. Purchase 60,000 sq ft property at 82 Harbor Road for $12 million, Invite PW Fire District to share a portion of the building and establish joint services administration for reduced operational costs and increased grant awards from joint services.

5. 44 South Bayles 22,000 sq ft building for $6.5 million purchase price with 81 parking spots.

6. Potential for additional parking and free land 6,000 sq ft available on Neulist Ave at no cost to District.

Reportedly, the Building Committee Chaired by the Chief of Police was emphatically opposed to any alternatives except purchasing the Knowles Property for an inflated 8.8 million dollars - 2.5 million dollars above appraised value.

WHY? The Commissioners cited another appraisal. Why not work to reduce the purchase price instead of raising it? Not a real or honest answer. Why didn't the Commissioners fight to lower the price? Why did the Chief wanted the purchase price increased?

Where it starts:

Port Police Started in 1921

Questions from the Community To the Board of Commissioners :

1. What forms of transparency has the District conveyed in the purchase of the property over the last 14 months? Meetings were held from Jan 2023 to the purchase of the property in Nov of 2023 without any public review, consideration, cost impacts or projections. FACT!

.Another Fun Fact:

When the District sought to purchase a piece of property on Channel Drive they had two (2) public forum meetings at the high school and before that at the LIbrary. Was that done this time?

5. Did the District inform the public of the tax impact to the residents from floating a $30 - $35 million dollar bond?

a. Has the District told the public what the tax burden will be for the project? The property was purchased without any of the these facts and figures presented to the public over the last 14 months from Nov of 2022 to March of 2024.

6. Is there an assessment or projection on what the difference will be between commercial property tax and residential property tax increases?

a Did the District conduct a traffic impact study, environmental impact study prior to purchasing the property as required by NYS Law?

INTERESTING FACT: Nassau County 2nd Precinct Building contract was $20 million. That building houses 185- 200+ officers and 15 civilians.

Port Police have 61-63 sworn officers, 4 civilian employees in the building M-F- 8-4:30

The rest are 23 part-time crossing guards out on post 2 – 3 hours except main street/ pw blvd.

Port Police have only 1-3 officers in the building from 11:30pm to 5:30am 7 days a week. Why do they need a Palace at the taxpayer expense?

We ask the Question: WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY?

Commissioners have stated that transparency would be top priority. As of March of 2024, there was no projections for tax impact to the residents. Do you know what your police tax is?

The District could have easily placed a refundable deposit on the property then presented all costs to the taxpayers and they could have legally and easily held meetings with the public to advise of the potential short-term and long term financial burden to the tax payers.

In 2009, tihe District- Board did this on two previous potential locations.

THE PUBLIC AND TAXPAYERS WERE ALWAYS CONSULTED PRIOR ANY REALESTATE CONSIDERATIONS WITH PRIOR CHIEFS AND COMMISSIONERS.

The District lost $75,000 on the purchase of Derby road property in 2020 from a failed real-estate purchased chaired by former Board of Commissioners . The District had to sell it due to lack of transparency and poor planning. The District reportedly was not transparent with the residents until the purchase was completed.

FACTS:

A. There has been zero transparency.

B. There has been zero input from the community and no information projected to the tax payers as to the increase in taxes.

C. The purchase of the property was over-inflated.

The appraised value was 6.45 million approximately.

D. QUESTION: What will be the increase in Taxes to the residents?

E. Will the District put the building construction Bond up for referendum vote in December of 2024?

Your RIGHT to know.

PW POLICE DISTRICT CHARTER

Transparency is key! the tax-payers need to know the wonder and unique policing agency they have in Port Washington, The ONLY POLICE DISTRICT in the State.

Informative?

Where is the traffic impact study? Reportedly, the Chief was asked this question during a public meeting in January 2024. The Chief replied: "We don't need one, we are the police." This is incorrect.

Environmental Impact Studies are required before purchase and development.

Was it completed PRIOR to the purchase?

Was SEQRA Completed prior to the purchase as per NYS?

OUR STORY: Transparency is Key to Successful Governance!

Push to Buy without taxpayer approval

BUDGETS:

The budgeted funds for a new HQ building in the 2023 fiscal year was $170, 000, NOT 8.8 million dollars so where did the money come from?

As per the charter, residents / taxpayers have the ability to collect signatures for a voting referendum on any resolution passed by the Commissioners with one exception.. The minimum required number of signatures is 100 to put a resolution to a vote of the public within 45 days from date of passed resolution.

In November of 2023:

Over 200 signatures were collected requesting a referendum by VOTE of the public for the purchase of the property. The Board of Commissioners denied all requests and signatures citing Section 317 in the Charter.

b. The Police District Charter states in 317.0 c

"taxes levied for the fiscal year expenditures are not subject to public referendum."

HOWEVER, that defense is not applicable to the purchase of the property - the budgeted line item for the new building was $170,000 for FY 2023, not $8.8 million.

QUESTION: Why did the Board of Commissioners deny the adequate and accepted petitions of the voters requesting the purchase of the property go to a vote of the people?

Why did the Chief refuse any and all other viable building and construction options and only push to acquire the Knowles Property?

Why was this rammed-down the taxpayers pockets when it could have and should have been put to a vote of the taxpayers as done with prior administrations?

3. What percentage of the budget comprises the 8.8 to 9 million dollars the District had on hand for this?

4. There were residence petitions signed and submitted within the deadline, requesting a vote by the public for the purchase of the property. Why did the District choose to not allow the residents to vote as outlined by the Charter?

Question:

Why Did the District push for the purchase of Knowles property, with a $2+ million dollar increase from the original appraisal?

Don't be misinformed: AS per the District Charter, residents can vote on a proposed Bond Resolution.

At a March 2024 meeting, it was reported that the Town of North Hempstead Board will vote on the Proposed Bond, NOT THE TAXPAYERS.

READ THE CHARTER!! This is incorrect! The Charter allows all residents of the District the ability to VOTE on Bond Resolutions at the annual District Elections.

The More You Know....

Purchase of Knowles Property: 8.8 +/- million.

Demolition and Construction Costs Estimated at $ 30,000,000 to $ 35,000,000 which is 50% more than the Nassau County Police Second Precinct Building that houses 160 + Officers.

If the District is positive everyone wants this new building in the center of Town then the District should put it to a vote of the taxpayers as per the District Charter.

The Board of Commissioners and the Chief are trying to get the Town Board to approve a Bond Resolution without putting it to a vote of the taxpayers of the District. Read the Charter. The residents have the right to VOTE on a bond resolution at the annual District meeting in December.

Do you know what your police taxes are now?

Do you know what Villages, Towns, County Police Taxes are?

Did you know that commercial property owners pay 10% to 30% more on police tax assessments?

Did you know the Village of Port North & Baxter Estates can back-out of the Police District Contract for services within a year of notice? What happens to the 30 + million bond costs if a Village backs out of Police District Coverage?

Did the two Villages (Port North & Baxter Estates) agree to a 30 year $30+ million dollar bond?

This exact issue took place in 2022 in Old Brookville Police Department !

Email Info:

If you believe the voters of the District Area should have the opportunity to VOTE on any Proposed Bond Resolution and NOT the Town of North Hempstead, you need to email the Police Board and The Town Board.

DesenaJ@northhempsteadny.gov

DalimonteM@northhempsteadny.gov

Question@pwpd.ny.gov

The Port Residents Need A New Police Building. The Port Police Does NOT Need A Palace At The Taxpayers Expense.

Interest Rates are at a all-time high. Many Stores & Businesses in Many Towns can't afford to stay open due to taxes!