Audits, McMansions and Narcan discussed at meeting
Summer is officially here, but the work of the board of trustees rolls on. The board held its monthly meeting in village hall on June 19, and here’s a sampling of what was discussed:
Resident Christine Mulaney, representing the Eastern Property Owners Association, is asking the village to re-examine its policies in regard to preserving the historical look of certain neighborhoods. The association is concerned with the number of homes being built to the maximum allowable size not requiring a variance.
Mulaney has said these new homes are virtually ‘McMansions’, and they adversely alter the appearance of the neighborhoods, acting as a detriment to the other houses. The association wants to board to acknowledge there’s a problem, and Mayor Watras says he will be in touch regarding the matter.
• The board adopted a water rate increase which went into effect on June 1. The average rate of increase is approximately 5%, which was agreed to during the budget session earlier this year.
• The Adelphi Nexus Building construction project continues, and the school has moved up to July 21 the date when large structural items will be delivered to the construction site. These deliveries will take place during the night, and there will be intermittent closures to the South Avenue entrance to the school. The deliveries should be finished by the end of August, and the school plans to notify residents about this, as well as provide traffic personnel to handle the changes around the site.
• Village Auditor James Olivo says the firm ABZ will start working on its audit report on July 7. The audit committee will meet before then, and the firm should deliver the final report by early October.
• Commissioner Jackson also mention that half his officers now carry, and have been trained in the use of, Narcan, a drug that can reverse the effects of a heroin or opiate overdose.
• The department of public works is accepting bids for upcoming roadwork (sidewalks, curbs, etc.) and should be able to present these bids to the board at the next meeting.
• According to the department of recreation, all the village planting has been completed, and there have been a good amount of applications for pool membership thus far.
• The board has approved the final site plan for Hampshire House Condominium on Seventh Street to construct an exterior stairway in their rear yard, which will include the relocation of one parking space in field No. 7N.
• The village has renewed its agreement with Cathedral Nursery School for the leasing of cottages on the St. Paul’s campus.
The next board of trustees meeting will be held on Thursday, July 17 at 8 p.m. at Village Hall.
