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Mayor’s Report: December 21, 2012

Police Department Advises Residents To Lock Their Car Doors

In recent weeks reports have been filed with the police department by residents who have experienced illegal entry into their unlocked vehicles that were parked in their driveways during the evening. In most cases materials were removed from the console and glove box. The police department recommends that residents take caution and lock automobile doors, set the alarm and also keep their exterior front door light or other lights on that would illuminate their driveways and discourage criminal activity.

I realize that this is a busy time of year, but please take the time to remove all holiday packages from your car; do not leave your cell phone charging in the car and remove any GPS devices or anything else of value.

If you see or hear anything suspicious please call the Garden City Police Department. Our police department is here to help and protect our residents, but they cannot be omnipresent in the village, they rely on your help. Better to call us before, to prevent a problem, than later to investigate a crime scene.

Village Hall Holiday Schedule

Village Hall will close at noon on Monday, Dec. 24, in observance of the Christmas holiday and will re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 26. Village offices will also close at noon on Monday, Dec. 31 in observance of the New Year’s holiday and will re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2. For your convenience, correspondence may be placed in the letter slot at the easterly entrance to village hall.

Veterans Real Property Tax Exemption

The deadline for applications for veterans tax exemptions is Monday, Dec. 31 (as stated above, village offices close at noon on this day). Applications cannot be accepted after the close of business on that date.

Holiday Sanitation Schedule

Residents are reminded that there will be no regular garbage or recycling pickup on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Also, there will be no rubbish pickup on Wednesday, Dec. 26. The holiday week collection will be as follows:

Western half of village

(West of Rockaway Avenue)

Garbage: Monday and Friday

Eastern half of village (East of Rockaway Avenue)

Garbage: Wednesday and Saturday    

Rubbish: Thursday

If your recycling day is on a Tuesday, your recycling pick up has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013.

Second Half Of Village Taxes

These were due and payable on Dec. 1, and are subject to penalty if payment is not made within a 30-day grace period. This year, payments received after Monday, Dec. 31, will be subject to penalty. Please return the “second half” bill stub with your payment made payable to the Incorporated Village of Garden City. Please note that village hall will close at noon on Monday, Dec. 31, and remain closed on Tuesday, Jan. 1 in observance of the New Year’s holiday. As stated above, tax payments may be placed in the letter slot at the easterly entrance to village hall.

Be Prepared For The Snow

Before it snows, make sure you have shovels, ice chippers, snowblowers, salt, sand and calcium chloride ready to use. If you hire someone to do snow removal, make your arrangements in advance and also in the event that you do not know the people you hire, do not allow access to the interior of your homes.

Unless it is necessary, please do not go out during or immediately after a snowstorm. The Department of Public Works crews have many hours of hard work to clear away the snow. Less traffic on the roads means the crews will be able to do their job more quickly and completely. Under the best conditions, it will take approximately eight to 10 hours after the snow has stopped falling to complete the snow removal operations.

Tips And Suggestions

If snow is expected, move your cars into the driveway. Parking on the streets during a snowstorm is prohibited.

If you are shoveling out the entrance to your driveway, never throw snow directly into the street; shovel onto the curbstrip or other area of your property.

If possible, finish clearing your driveway entrance after the final widening pass by the snowplow. Do not throw snow back into the middle of a cleared street.

If you have to go out during hazardous driving conditions, remember to drive slowly, brake slowly, allow plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front and watch for sudden obstructions.

Plan alternate ways to travel to main routes and to your place of employment and give yourself extra time to get there.

If you have a fire hydrant in the vicinity of your home, please keep the fire hydrant clear of snow in case the fire department needs access to the hydrant for an emergency.

Board Of Trustees Meetings

There is only one regularly scheduled board of trustees meeting in January that will be held on Jan. 10, 2013.