Running unopposed, Rebecca Vitas Schamis and Sloane Ackerman have won Sands Point trustee seats with 27 and 31 votes.
Village Clerk Liz Gaynor made announced the votes at the village’s Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday night. Schamis will keep her position on the board, while Ackerman will replace Rita Sethi, who chose not to run for re-election.
Ackerman, who has expertise in labor issues, has been volunteering with the village. She viewed the open seat as an opportunity to expand her work.
“I’ve been volunteering with the village in that capacity, which sparked my interest in other areas of village administration,” she said. “I’ve gotten to work with Mayor [Peter] Forman and Deputy Mayor [Jeffrey] Moslow in my volunteer capacity and I really enjoyed working with them and learning about different issues.”
Ackerman, a mother of two, said she wants to keep Manorhaven great for her children. She praised the transformation Forman’s administration is bringing about.
“I’m hoping to be able to do the same thing and hopefully there are things I can add based on my area of expertise,” she said. “And of course, I’m willing to learn about other areas.”
Schamis has lived at Sands Point for 16 years. Forman appointed her to fulfill a vacant position last year.
“I love my community and where I live and want to be part of maintaining the quality of life here,” she said.
Road improvement in the village is still one of Schamis’ top priorities. She promised that she and the public works department would continue to look into the best practices to do this.
“Thank you to everyone who came out to vote,” she said. “I appreciate your support for me, as well as Sloane, and I will work hard to represent the residents of Sands Point and make our village a wonderful place to live in.”
In the meeting itself, Forman addressed the village’s ongoing noise issues. Earlier this month, he identified the source of late-night, bass-heavy music as vehicle gatherings from New York City.
Complaints were down over the weekend, and he said the village would continue to lead the campaign for the Cow Neck Peninsula, adding, “The good news is we are making progress.”
The idea now, he explained, is for Nassau County police to “twist the arm” of the New York City Police Department.
“By getting the police commissioners and chiefs into the room and into the same Zoom with [Nassau County’s] police commissioner, it’s starting to work some magic,” said Forman.
The NYPD has jurisdiction over the matter because it originates in New York City. Forman told Blank Slate Media that the NCPD has pledged to support neighborhood police forces in addressing the issue. He believes their engagement will benefit the situation.
The next Sands Point Board of Trustees meeting will be on July 26 at 8 p.m. in Village Hall.
