The Annual Resident Electors Meeting of the Western Property Owners Association (WPOA) will be held at the Garden City Casino on Cathedral Avenue and Sixth Street on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 and will start promptly at 7:30 p.m. With no additional nominations put forward, the Nominating Committee will present Robert (Bob) Bolebruch as its selection for Mayor and Stephen Makrinos, completing a one-year term, as Village Trustee. A vote by Western residents will follow.
Deputy Mayor Bolebruch has been a resident of Garden City since 1995; a member of the WPOA for 25 years, serving as a director for seven years and president for a two-year term. He volunteered his service with the GCAA for 15 years and with the Garden City Scholarship Committee for nine years, serving as its president for four years. He holds a BA in Economics/Business. Bob has been a Village Trustee since April 2013 and is currently serving as Deputy Mayor.
During his eight years as a Trustee, Bob has served on the Zoning Change Review Committee for two years, Public Information Committee for three years, the Committee to Fill Vacancies for two years, Traffic Commission for four years, as Fire Commissioner for one year and Environmental Advisory Board Commissioner for two years. Bob served as the Board of Trustees liaison to the Garden City Public Library, where he initiated much needed renovations to the building and the installation of a new elevator. He served on the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee for six years and as chair for five years. During that time, Bob contributed to the revamping of the Village Finance Department, bringing about many efficiencies.
A graduate of Babson College (Bachelor of Science Degree) majoring in finance/investments/accounting and information systems, Steve Makrinos went on to earn a Master of Science Degree in Economics from Pace University, Lubin School of Business. He has worked as a financial industries professional since 1993.
Steve has been a Village Trustee since 2015. He served as the Director of Finance and Taxes for the Western Property Owners Association and as the WPOA representative on the Citizen’s Budget Review and Advisory Committee from 2010-2015, including service as the committee’s chair. He has volunteered as a soccer and basketball coach with the Garden City Athletic Association Intramurals and has served on the Parish Council of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Paul, including as financial secretary and treasurer. Steve has volunteered at various Community Teamworks projects since 1998 and for the 10KSB Rocket Pitch from 2010 to the present.
Guest speaker Hempstead Town Councilman Thomas Muscarella will bring Western residents up to date on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law in March. Councilman Muscarella will then take questions from residents.
Directors and Trustees will present their reports.
Please note that due to the nature of the Resident Electors Meeting and the upcoming Village-wide elections in March, the full WPOA meeting on January 19 will be open to Western Section residents only. It is anticipated that opportunities will arise in the coming months for residents to learn about, and hear from, the candidates.
The WPOA has begun its 2021 Membership Drive and looks forward to adding many new Western Section residents to our dues-paying member roster. Participation in your local POA provides residents a window of access to Garden City community government.