The New Hyde Park Village board met at the Village Hall for their regular board meeting to discuss, comment and explain what goes on behind the daunting task of snow removal.
Deputy Mayor Robert Lofar said, “The snow may fall for only 12 hours, but while New Hyde Park residents are asleep, the members of the Department of Public Works are out getting the plows, attaching equipment, loading every truck with sand and salt and gathering up the men to remove that snow so that when residents wake up, the roads are clear and ready for them.”
Mayor Daniel Petruccio commended Department of Public Works Superintendent Tom Gannon for removing the snow so quickly, as did a woman in the audience.
Petruccio also said, “Tom Gannon really is trying to be as creative as he can in terms of how we expend the money necessary to do these snow removals.”
Trustee Richard Coppola, Jr. reminded everyone again that the New Hyde Park Fire Department has asked residents to please keep fire hydrants clear of snow. He said he is planning to touch base with Gannon about snow removal in places such as Memorial Park.
Lofaro reiterated his appreciation for the Department of Public Works.
“I think there has been a lot of misunderstanding about the cost of snow removal,” Lofaro said, “and we wanted to clear up the issue.
He said, “Every year we budget pretty much the same amount of money for snow removal and sand and salt. We budget $15,000 for personnel services for overtime, and we budget $10,000 for sand and salt. Almost every single year, even years where there is virtually no snow at all, we spend about $30,000.
“On years that we get a lot of snow, like this year is turning out to be, we more than likely will spend more in that line then has been appropriated. If we charge residents taxes and we wind up having $20,000 extra dollars in that line, then we have taxed the residents too much money, so it is our goal to be conservative on that line,, and hope for a mild winter and not overtax the residents money for the snow removal.
“Snow removal is a very difficult task, especially when a blizzard like we just experienced strikes and sometimes even the smaller pick-up trucks can’t back the snow mounds up as far as they would like, “ Lofaro said.
Petruccio added, “Years ago we dabbled with the idea of a snow insurance, but the problem with the snow insurance is it must snow a certain level in order for you to get the money back. I don’t think there is anyone out there who does snow removal that isn’t trying to figure out a way to do this in the least impactful way.”
Other New Hyde Park Village News:
Trustee Lofario said there will be a ribbon-cutting grand opening of the new theater on the second floor of the New Hyde Park Village Hall on January 31. Local officials and many board and volunteers of the village have been invited; and the invitation has even been extended to the public. The limit is approximately 75-80 seats. “The New Hyde Park Village Department issued 48 permits in December,” said Trustee Lawrence Montreuil. “This represents a 30 percent increase over last month and 30 percent over the previous December. The uptick was due largely to plumbing permits, many of which were boiler replacement,”
Mayor Petruccio and the rest of the board bade New Hyde Park Village Clerk Patrick Farrell farewell, who had been in that role for about seven years and is now taking a position down the block in Floral Park.
The New Hyde Park Village board meets the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 8 p.m. at village hall, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike.
