By Erik German
Newsday (New York)
Copyright 2006 Newsday, Inc.
The Town of Brookhaven yesterday rejected on technical grounds a petition to dissolve the Gordon Heights fire district, saying petition organizers — fed up with paying Long Island’s highest fire taxes - failed to submit the signatures in the proper form.
The petition “was neither properly signed, acknowledged or authenticated,” said Deputy Town Clerk Lauri Murray in a letter to several organizers. The letter also cited failures to number signature sheets, bind them together as one volume or properly notarize documents as required by New York State election law.
“They screwed it up,” said Brookhaven spokesman Michael Pitcher. “Election law is a minefield and if anyone is doing a petition subject to New York State election law, the first thing you’ve got to do is hire an attorney to write it.”
Organizers of the petition said they plan to do just that.
“We’re going to keep fighting,” said Rosalie Hanson, a 20-year Gordon Heights resident who helped gather hundreds of signatures. “We’re going to get legal counsel and see what our options are.”
Hanson said organizers are prepared to start from scratch: “We have everybody’s name and address.”
Fire department officials said they hoped to find other ways to lower Gordon Heights’ fire taxes, which average $1,344 per year.
“I’m glad it didn’t go through,” Chief Bernard Smith said of the petition.
Some civic leaders said Gordon Heights’ fire department was a point of pride for the predominantly black community, and they would fight the next petition drive.
“It’s going to be more difficult for them than the first time around,” said Maxine Wilson, president of the Gordon Heights Civic Association, whose home sits outside the district and is not subject to Gordon Heights’ fire taxes. “We’re going to push for a solution that doesn’t involve dissolving the fire district.”
Brookhaven Councilwoman Connie Kepert, whose district includes Gordon Heights, said she has suggested the department seek state and federal funding and tighten its belt — it submitted a $1.48 million budget last month showing no significant cuts from last year. “It’s a great department,” Kepert said. “We just need to have someone go in there and manage that budget.”