At the last New Hyde Park Village Board meeting it was learned that Deputy Mayor Robert Lofaro and Richard Coppola are planning to run for re-election in the next mayoral election set for March 15 at Marcus Christ Hall, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike. Both Lofaro and Coppola will run uncontested.
Villages are now being supported in a bill proposed by Senator Jack Martins and Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel allowing the villages until 2012, to rent lever voting machines for their next elections.
However, New Hyde Park Village Mayor Daniel Petruccio said that the board is deciding to perhaps just use hand-written paper ballots for its March 15 election since the race is uncontested.
In other business, the board voted to transfer funds in the amount of $6,482.22 to snow removal to basically accommodate for expenses incurred due to the extreme amount of snow experienced this winter.
DOT Presents Revised Plans for Jericho Turnpike Improvement Project
Mayor Petruccio reported that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has submitted new plans for the New York State Improvement Project on Jericho Turnpike He said that the DOT has taken into account all of the participation at the hearing held at New Hyde Park Memorial High School. Mayor Petruccio said that the DOT, however, is asking for a quick response to their proposals.
Deputy Mayor Lofaro said, “Many of the proposals make sense from a safety standpoint. For instance on South 9th Street the DOT proposed eliminating making it a right turn only and eliminating the ability to cross over to Lakeville Road to make a left-hand turn. That is still a proposal. They are also proposing making South 10th Street controlled by a traffic light, the block that you come to Jericho to make a left-hand turn. It might present a little bit of an inconvenience for some residents who live on South 9th because they would have to go to South 10th Street to turn to Jericho.”
Lofaro added, “Specifically, in front of the firehouse , they propose moving the blinking light from South 16th to South 17th and putting the turning lane on Terrace Boulevard.”
The copy of the DOT plans are available for perusal at village hall.
Mayor Petruccio then addressed the tragedy of the two recent fires in the village. He said, “One of the residents of one of the fires is still in the hospital and the other resident tragically perished.”
He said the village owes thanks to the volunteer members of the New Hyde Park Fire Department for their quick action and it was pointed out that the head of the New Hyde Park Village Department of Public Works, Tom Gannon, was on the scene right after the fires, with his men and quickly boarded up the burned house and that of the house next to it.
The mayor added, “And, on a lighter note, the New Hyde Park Fire Department was also involved in the rescue of a 50 lb. dog from a cesspool that collapsed on North 7th Street.”
Trustee Reports
Mayor Daniel Petruccio
Mayor Petruccio announced that the board is still working on the budget for the village, unlike other municipalities.
He said, “The grant money that was promised and counted on for the renovation of the theater was at the 11th hour removed. So we are scrambling a little bit and that will impact this year’s budget, but we will do what we can.”
He continued, “We are proceeding with the interviews to replace Patrick Farrell as New Hyde Park Village Clerk/Treasurer. We will then make a recommendation to have someone in place before Farrell’s departure at the end of this month and Dawn Doherty has agreed to step-up and help with the forthcoming village election. The inspectors chosen for the election are: Joseph Mazza, Julie Meyer and Jessie Clet.”
Deputy Mayor Robert Lofaro
Deputy Mayor Lofaro reported that the members of the New Hyde Park Department of Public Works are busy filling potholes all over the village. He said anyone with a pothole problem should report it to the Department of Public Works. He also announced that the applications for car washes will be available from March 1 to April 1.
Trustee Lawrence Montreuil
Trustee Montreuil announced that the zoning board heard four cases and granted three. They are 1631 Jericho Turnpike, 540 North 5th and 14 South 17th. On March 9 at 7:30 p.m. the board will hear one case.
Board Votes to Reserve Decision
The board also voted to reserve decision on the renewal of the license of Empire Billiards Pool Hall, 12-15 Jericho Turnpike.
The next board meeting will be held on March 1 at 8 p.m. at New Hyde Park Village Hall, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike.
The head of the New Hyde Park Auxiliary Police John Concannon said there has been a safety issue in the New Hyde Park Village parking lot. He said, “A lot of cars belonging to those who are using the facilities are parked in that lot. Recently, one of our marked cars, parked in the lot, was vandalized and the tires punctured. I understand that there is one sort of security camera in one corner of the building and I was wondering if that camera could be incorporated inside or if another safety camera could be installed outside.”
Deputy Mayor Lofaro said, “The camera you are speaking about was actually installed by the library so that they could see if anyone was using the ramp in back of the library and is currently non-operational.”
Mayor Petruccio added that the village would consider the suggestion of installing a camera in the lot.
The board then heard from a resident who complained about a litter container in front of a bagel store. She mentioned that it was a “disgrace.” Lofaro said that the board will look into correcting that situation.
