Meet The Babylon Village Candidates: Deborah Melito For Trustee

BABYLON, NY —Babylon Village is holding elections March 16 to vote in a mayor, three trustees and a village justice. The mayoral term is two years, one trustee spot is for two years, and the remaining spots are all four year terms.

Patch will be profiling this year's candidates. Today we talk to Deborah Melito, who is a first-time candidate in Babylon.

Tell us about your history in Babylon Village, and how you've been involved in the community?

I am a lifelong resident of Babylon Village. My husband, Tom, and I are both graduates of Babylon High School and made the choice to raise our two daughters, Tommi Grace and Maggie Rose, in this beloved place where we both grew up. With this I would bring a loving long-term perspective to village government. I have lived through all the evolutionary changes the village has experienced which affords an excellent platform for assessing change.

I have been helping Babylon families navigate the nuances of receiving educational services for the last 20-plus years. I have been representing school district employees as the president of the CSEA Clerical, Nurses and Network Technicians Union for the last 7 years. As a professional I am known for my ability to work well with others across a wide spectrum of interests and needs, as well as navigate the complex web of services and agencies in the Long Island landscape. I know how to get things done.

What skills and experience do you have that would serve Babylon if you were to become a trustee?

My professional career has spanned management and support positions in a wide field that includes: managing an export business, managing a marketing department for American Savings Bank, sssistant to the purchasing agent in the Wyandanch School District, and multiple roles in the Babylon School District. These include Special Education, Business Office and Front Office. I hold certificates in Grievance Counseling and Contract Negotiations.

As a trustee I would utilize these developed skills while being very protective of what makes the village what it is: namely a great place to live and raise our families.

As a student of human nature I would engage with our residents, leaders and colleagues to build a community culture that recognizes and appreciates the unique panoply of skills, perspectives and capabilities each resident brings to our community.

What do you think the major challenges facing the village in the next few years are?

As a trustee I would be very protective of what makes the village what it is, namely a great place to live and raise our families. Precious resources include our central business area, our residential neighborhoods, our pool, our parks, our golf course, our wonderful community groups that contribute so much time and energy and of course, our dedicated and talented village employees.
Babylon is a great family-oriented community that stands apart. This is largely a product of our residents. I promise to actively listen to all residents while promoting inclusive transparency in both directions. With this perspective I will be an active listener; open to ideas from all residents.
In the near future all initiatives will need to be weighed through the fiscal lens of budgeting challenges as the entire country faces the legacy of a post-COVID world. Much needs to be assessed and confronted on behalf of the village residents as the need for repairing fiscal damage to families and businesses remains key.

How do you envision the business district evolving and what's your stance on large-scale development projects like the previously-proposed downtown hotel?

Our downtown is one jewel in the crown of Babylon Village. Every downtown project has to be evaluated on the basis of impacts to the community, financial benefits, quality of life and community character. While we want to embrace new ideas, we have a responsibility to weigh the interests of all community members when making development and community character related proposals. Regarding the hotel proposal I had concerns as to traffic, pedestrian congestion, mix of services and community character.

Babylon Village residents, like residents everywhere, are concerned about the quality of life afforded in the communities they live in. I believe that Babylon residents are also concerned about being heard by village government as well as being included. Every Babylonian deserves the highest quality customer service, regardless of color, income, or origin. As a trustee I would be vigilant about hearing from residents and evaluating opportunities for improvement in both the array of services the Village provides as well as the quality of those services as delivered.

As a village trustee I will work to make this village more accessible. I will work to implement bicycle lanes and shared roadways, creating space for all village members to experience bicycle riding while making their trip or commute across to the village safer and enjoyable. Some ideas I have discussed with residents include:

• Implementing programs and partnerships in the village that grant Babylon students living with disabilities mentorship and employment opportunities.
• Working to ensure that our parents and grandparents can age with dignity, and remain in their homes with the continued support of our community.
• Working to improve access to multigenerational housing, while preserving our historical homes and buildings.
• Improving government transparency while engaging with residents, leaders and fellow t officials to build a community culture that recognizes and appreciates the unique panoply of skills, perspectives and capabilities we each bring to our community.
• And most of all, I will work to make sure that this village is for all of us.