Four public hearings set for August 6 meeting
At the July 2 meeting of the Village of Farmingdale Board of Trustees approximately 30 people were in attendance for the regular public board agenda.
Mayor Ralph Ekstrand said other villages within Nassau County have been passing legislation to make property owners responsible for maintaining their property. The board set a resolution to hold a public hearing on a new proposed property maintenance code for Aug. 6.
He said this new law enforces owners to keep the grass mowed, repair broken windows and other examples. “You can’t make it look like a dump, in plain English,” said Ekstrand. He said this code would allow the village to legally address the issue with property owners. This would encompass residential and commercial properties.
The language of the proposed law will be available for review on the village’s website within two weeks.
A public hearing was set for Aug. 6 for a proposed revision to a special use permit for RMS Lounges, LLC (Mystique Gardens) to allow alcohol consumption on premises. Mystique Gardens is the hookah lounge on Conklin Avenue, west from Main Street. “Whether I believe they should sell alcohol or not, I give them the right to be heard in front of the public during a public hearing,” said Mayor Ekstrand.
A resolution was set to hold a public hearing on Aug. 6 to hear public comment on a proposed code revision in the business ”D” zoning district to include rental apartments, condominiums and cooperative residences.
Additionally, a public hearing will be held on Aug. 6 to hear public comment about a proposed code change to create a “55 and over” housing category within the village. Presently the age code is at “62 and over.”
The board approved a resolution to appoint Steven Fellman as the part-time superintendent of buildings.
A resolution was approved to authorize the hiring of Satty, Levine & Ciacco, Certified Public Accounting to perform the 2011-12 fiscal audit at a rate of $27,500. Trustee William Barrett confirmed that this has been the same fee as the prior contract.
A resolution was also approved to renew the GASB 45 agreement with Milliman Company for a cost of $2,800 for two additional years for software needed for village administration. Barrett also confirmed this is at the same rate as it was agreed upon two years ago.
Ekstrand read the affirmation of a motion passed on June 18 at a public work session to approve Roadwork Ahead, Inc. under the existing requirements contract to proceed with reconstruction of curb, gutter, driveway apron, miscellaneous concrete, milling of all roads and road resurfacing of the following streets in the Village of Farmingdale: Sullivan Road, Pinehurst Road, Ivy Street, Taylor Road, Lincoln Road and Manetto Road in the maximum amount of $682,000.
Ekstrand also read an affirmation of a motion passed on June 18 during a public work session that was held to approve the hiring of Savik Engineering for engineering oversight of the road reconstruction project on Sullivan Road, Pinehurst Road, Ivy Street, Taylor Road, Lincoln Road and Manetto Road in the maximum amount of $17,000.
Ekstrand took a moment to recall a meeting he had with an employee of Stasi Brothers and Roadwork Ahead, Christopher Mannino just days before Mannino’s death on June 23. Ekstrand said Mannino worked on every single project with Stasi Brothers within the village for more than four years.
Mannino, 39, of West Islip, was killed in a boat crash off Captree Island by a drunken boater. Four others aboard the fishing boat with Mannino were rescued after their boat sank.
A resolution was approved to name Carl’s Fence, Inc. of Bethpage as the low bidder to install estate fencing on the Village Green in the amount of $2,310.
During the beautification report the vandalism that has taken place throughout the village was discussed. One or more people have removed potted foliage from various locations throughout the village, making the displays unsightly. “It’s sad, it’s very, very sad,” said Deputy Mayor Patricia Christiansen, who assured the plants and flowers would be replanted. “The work of volunteers and the expenditures of the village are disregarded,” she added. Christiansen asked residents who witness such acts to report it immediately, to either the police, or to the village hall.
The next public board of trustees meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. at Village Hall, 361 Main Street, in the conference room. Copies of the past minutes and future agendas can be found on the village website. Regular meetings are typically on the first Monday of each month at 8 p.m. The work session will be held at 7 p.m., prior to the public meeting.
