Mineola, NY - Nassau County Legislator Patrick Williams (D-Uniondale) joined members of the Democratic majority this week in approving a $70 million Capital Budget for 2003 and four-year Capital Plan put forth by County Executive Thomas Suozzi and his administration. The 2003 budget slices almost 60% from the $160,435,325 in capital spending originally proposed by former County Executive Thomas Gulotta.

This is the first time that the Legislature has put into action a County law adopted last year and approved by voters in a public referendum in November 2001 that requires the County Executive to submit to the legislature for approval a Capital Budget for the coming year and a four year plan that outlines projects and anticipates expenditures. Changes to the Capital Budget and planning process were spearheaded by Legislator Brian Muellers (D-Glen Cove), chair of the Public Works Committee. The budget and plan were unanimously adopted.

"While there have been significant cuts to the Capital Budget we have worked cooperatively with the County Executive and his staff to ensure that we will still be able to secure the funding necessary to complete some of the projects that are imperative to the health, safety and welfare of residents within our communities," said Legislator Williams on behalf of the Democratic majority.

Members of the Rules Committee approved a resolution officially changing the name of the County park known as Baxter Pond Park to Barbara Johnson Park and Preserve at Baxter's Pond in memory of the late legislator Barbara Johnson who died in 2000. Legislator Craig Johnson, her son, was elected to the seat in a special election following her death and re-elected this past November.

Also approved during the June 10, legislative meeting was the appointment of James H. Lawrence as Commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department. Mr. Lawrence follows Commissioner William Willet who retired earlier this year.

Legislators confirmed the appointments of Eugene Murray as a member of the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extension Board; John Carway as a member of the Nassau County Board of Parole; and Fred Lee and Rajinder Uppal, MD, as members of the Commission of Human Rights.

Other matters approved during the meeting are:

• Bond ordinances to settle various judgments and Court Orders against the County
• An ordinance authorizing lump sum payments to various individuals in the Office of the Fire Marshal and the Nassau County Police Department to settle grievances
• An ordinance appropriating $50,000 for Police Department Vin Etching
• An ordinance appropriating $65,221 for defender based advocacy
• An ordinance appropriating $112,200 for DA Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners
• An ordinance appropriating $100,000 for Police Department Surveillance apprehension vehicle enforcement program
• An ordinance appropriating $12,000 for a College Entrance Pre Program
• An ordinance appropriating $75,000 for the coordination of students intercollegiate programs
• An ordinance appropriating $505,706 for Gear Up
• An ordinance appropriating $360,000 for the Community Gun Violence Prosecution Program
• An ordinance appropriating $27,457 for the Village of Island Park Housing Authority, 100% reimbursable from HUD
• An ordinance appropriating $12,319 for the Village of Farmingdale, 100% reimbursable from HUD
• An ordinance appropriating $874,349 for Nassau County Section 8 Existing Housing Program
• An ordinance appropriating $85,360 for the Police Headquarters Fund from the sale of seized vehicles
• An ordinance appropriating $338,598 for the Nassau County Planning Commission, Division of Transportation
• An ordinance appropriating $422,363 for Title IIE-NY Elder Care Giver Support Program
• An ordinance appropriating $2,500 for a child passenger safety program
• An ordinance appropriating $12,000 for the purchase of three Intoxilyzer instruments
• An ordinance appropriating $215,540 for DWI Program Enhancement
• An ordinance appropriating $12,000 for the handicapped parking enforcement program
• An ordinance appropriating $620,588 for a Special Delinquency Prevention Program
• An ordinance appropriating $500,000 for USDA Summer Lunch Program
• An ordinance appropriating $69,385 for the Levittown delinquency prevention youth program
• A resolution authorizing the County Executive to execute an agreement with the Department of Public Works and the City of Glen Cove in relation to emergency repair work to the sewer system
• A resolution authorizing an agreement with Melville Hospitality for construction and installation of Melville Hospitality sewer lines
• A resolution authorizing a grant application between Nassau County Dept. of Sr. Citizen Affairs and the NYS Office for the Aging in relation to the Caregivers Resource Center Program
• A resolution to accept a gift from the Village of Lynbrook to the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office
• A resolution concerning the assessed valuation by the real property class for the year 2003
• A resolution authorizing the Town of Hempstead to correct erroneous assessments and taxes in various school districts
• A resolution authorizing the Town of Oyster Bay to correct erroneous assessments and taxes in various school districts