We trust that this message finds you and your loved ones well. We wanted to update you on a few things that are occurring in Munsey Park.
Village Hall Operations – our Village Hall remains closed to the public; access is by appointment only. Our dedicated staff led by Village Clerk Tara Gibbons and Deputy Clerk Maureen McLean are working normal hours and are available by telephone. The Public Works team led by Ted Boutzalis and assisted by Larry Staiano and Kevin Staiano are on the job each day maintaining the Village’s parks, roads and other infrastructure while managing the challenges posed by COVID-19. We are deeply appreciative of the efforts of Tara, Maureen, Ted, Larry and Kevin at this time.
Village Budget – in accordance with state law, the Village is obligated to approve a budget for the fiscal year beginning June 1. The draft budget adopted by the Board of Trustees at its March meeting (and available for review on the Village website) will be voted on by the Board of Trustees at its meeting on April 22 (see below). The draft budget proposes a modest tax increase of 2 percent, equaling $26,280, or approximately $31/year, on average, for each homeowner. When considering the impact of this increase, please remember that the amount of increase actually experienced by each homeowner will differ and will largely depend on the Nassau County assessment process which was recently completed.
Board of Trustees Meeting – as indicated above, the next meeting of the Board of Trustees will occur on April 22 at 7:30 p.m. This will be a telephone meeting only and the public is invited to attend. Instructions for dialing into the meeting will be distributed closer to the actual date and will be posted on the village website. While we are still preparing an agenda for this meeting, we expect the only substantive action will be to vote on the Village 2020/21 Budget. Feel free to reach out to village hall if you have any questions.
Neighbors in Need – The Village has a long history of residents assisting other residents in a time of need. Whether it was during the Great Depression of the early 1930’s when residents quietly and privately offered financial assistance to neighbors facing financial hardship or in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy when residents helped remove fallen trees from the homes of other residents or offered warm spaces or hot meals to those without power, this spirit of kindness, generosity and unselfishness is what defines our great Village. Now, comes COVID-19 and some residents may be reluctant to leave their homes to shop for food or other necessities. Once again, some residents have stepped forward to offer assistance to neighbors who need a helping hand – it could be a performing small household task, shopping for food or other necessities or just someone to talk to. If you or someone you know needs assistance, let village hall know. Be mindful of neighbors who may be older or alone or afraid.
Civics 101 – if you, like us, have been strolling around the village on the recent beautiful Spring days, you have probably noticed the occasional used surgical mask or latex glove discarded on the side of the road or the doggie clean-up bag tossed into nearby bushes. Our Public Works teams works hard to keep our Village litter-free. There is no excuse for anyone discarding litter in this manner. If you see persons discarding debris in such manner, please notify village hall.
We wish our residents a happy Passover and a happy Easter. Remember to practice social distancing and stay well.
-Mayor and Board of Trustees
