The Board of Trustees postponed discussion of controversial village issues at its meeting on October 7th due to the absence of three out of the seven trustees. However, since there was still a quorum, the board was able to vote on two local laws to amend village code.

Amendments were made to local law 3-2004, which involves the defense and indemnification of village employees. Local law 4-2004, a sign ordinance for non-residential districts, was amended and provisions were added to include regulations of awnings and solar panels.

In other news, resident William Bellmer asked the board to consider appointing members of the property owners’ associations instead of trustees to the Traffic Commission. Mayor Barbara Miller said that the issue will be discussed when more board members are present.

Trustee Robert Rothschild said he hopes residents will patronize three new local restaurants that recently opened in the village, including a sushi restaurant, Quiznos sandwich shop and Grimaldi’s pizzeria. He noted that the Elizabeth Arden salon will open soon.

James Carney, president of the Eastern Property Owners’ Association (EPOA), read a resolution approved by the EPOA board of directors at their September 12th meeting which asks the Board of Trustees to ask Senator Kemp Hannon and Assemblywoman Maureen O’Connell to introduce home rule legislation in Albany. The EPOA supports a combination of public and private development for the building.

According to Mayor Barbara Miller, the legislators have said they would like to see a specific plan with broad-based community and board support before they introduce the legislation. The legislation will be needed if it is decided that St. Paul’s should have a private use.

“We…believe that a resolution by our Board of Trustees formally requesting the necessary home rule legislation will publicly demonstrate to any potential planning/real estate firms in the business community that the Village of Garden City and our elected officials on the Board of Trustees are seriously committed to a public/private development option,” read Carney on behalf of the EPOA directors. “Only such a public demonstration will generate the necessary excitement in the business community to move this effort forward.”

Nicholas Episcopia reiterated Carney’s request. “If we don’t have home rule, we are simply not going to get anywhere with St. Paul’s,” said Episcopia. “It is simply not fair not to be able to have legitimate developers come and give us proposals when they’re dealing with a group of people who simply can’t make a decision because of this legislation.”

Mayor Miller said the village worked closely with Saks to try to keep them on Franklin Avenue and is sorry to see them leave. “Hopefully what will go there will serve the village well,” she said.

Russell Matthews, executive vice president of the Albanese Organization, said the investment the village made to improve portions of Franklin Avenue helped revitalize businesses in the area. “The failure of the village, in spite of repeated requests from the chamber to continue that work forth, I think served to doom Saks Fifth Avenue,” he said. According to Matthews, the building is under contract and the village should work with the new owner to ensure that the next occupant is comparable to Saks.

Althea Robinson, executive director of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is sorry that Saks Fifth Avenue is closing. “Of all of our department stores, I think they have been the one that has been most community minded and truly devoted themselves to a lot of community activities and charities,” she said. Robinson said the chamber hopes the village will renovate Franklin Avenue from Eleventh Street to Old Country Road. She noted that the chamber is happy to see the new businesses open on Franklin Avenue between Ninth and Tenth Streets.

Resident Thomas Lamberti is against the installation of a six-foot fence on St. Paul’s fields along Stewart Avenue. He said the village should plant shrubs and not use that area for playing fields. Kevin Ocker, director of recreation, said they have to use the entire property for playing fields because of the high demand so a fence is needed for safety reasons. Lamberti responded that the village is allowing St. Paul’s fields to be controlled by sports teams.