Several residents expressed safety concerns about the proposed walking path along the outskirts of St. Paul’s field at the February 15th Board of Trustees meeting.

The path is currently being reviewed by the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreational Affairs. The Board of Trustees had voted unanimously to remit plans for LifeTrail wellness stations, perimeter estate fencing along Stewart and Rockaway Avenues and the proposed eight-foot wide, crushed limestone walking path back to the Recreation Board at the December 2nd meeting. Several residents and trustees said at that meeting that they were either against the path or wanted the location changed.

Bob Sullivan is an attorney and resident of Hampton Road, which is near the fields. He is against the path because of the potential for crime. “We are clearly putting in something that can invite people from outside the Village to come,” he said. Sullivan said the park is the only one in the Village not fenced and locked at night. He said he was disturbed by comments made at last week’s meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreational Affairs. According to Sullivan, a commissioner said, “Things like this just don’t happen in Garden City.” He was referring to criminal acts.

Sullivan said he represented several clients in cases against the Village who alleged they were sexually molested in Grove Street Park. He said they settled for a large amount of money. “These things do happen. The number of boys who were sexually molested in Grove Park is astounding,” said Sullivan. “When I tried to advertise it in The Garden City News to get witnesses, The Garden City News wouldn’t print the ad because they felt it would adversely affect property values. The Garden City Life ran with the ad, and the number of people who came forward was shocking.”

(The Garden City News has checked with its present and former employees and none has any record of rejecting advertising for that reason.)

Sullivan recommended Village officials contact the law firm who represented the Village in the Grove Street incidents and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company to see how high their premiums rose after the case was settled. “We are exposing the Village to so much liability it’s incredible,” he said.

Patrick Gibbons, who also attended the meeting last week of the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreational Affairs to voice his views on the proposed walking path at St. Paul’s, said the commissioners had a “cavalier attitude.”

Sharon Castellano said she also attended the meeting and was angered by their “very flippant attitude.” She had a problem with the tennis program and had asked Director of Recreation Kevin Ocker for a letter stating how her situation would be rectified.

Ocker told The Garden City News after the Board of Trustees meeting that there were a lot of “high emotions” at last week’s Recreation Board meeting. “I respect the job the commissioners do as volunteers for the community,” he said. “Their record speaks volumes for the good they do the community every day.”

Insurance Coverage for POAs

Robert Bolebruch, president of the Western Property Owners’ Association, asked the Board to explain to the presidents of the POAs why the Village cannot pay for their insurance. He said he was confused by a written opinion from Village Counsel which labeled the POAs as political parties. Bolebruch presented several pieces of literature to the Board, including the Community Agreement, which included flow charts saying the POAs were part of Village government. He added that POA representatives who are asked to serve on commissions, such as the Architectural Design Review Board and the Traffic Commission, are covered.

“POAs are private organizations,” responded Village Counsel Thomas Wassel. “They are not an official part of Village government.”

Bolebruch was angered by Wassel’s answer. “To give us a response to tell us, as you just have, that POAs are not part officially of the government of Garden City and that we are a political party either means that at best, that answer is sloppy because you could not have read these documents or it means you truly do not understand how Garden City is structured,” said Bolebruch.

Trustee Peter Bee offered a further explanation, saying the line between the law and private agreement is sometimes difficult to ascertain. “Although we are justifiably proud of our roles and your roles in the POAs, at the heart of that pride is the recognition that it exists because of a voluntary agreement to abide by the POA rules and regulations, not an enactment of law,” Bee said. He added that people who serve on commissions are serving as representatives of the government and are therefore covered.

Bolebruch said he is glad his term ends in April. He said the expense for POAs, at a time when people easily sue, is greater than the cost for the Village. “I think it is a slap in the face to every single person who puts in their time and cares about the Village.”

Trustee Bee said that the Board is “not doing the slapping.” He said state law says that the POAs must remain voluntary and separate from Village government.

Other News

Nicholas Episcopia, trustee-elect, said a Village representative should attend the Nassau County Planning Commission meeting, which was being held on February 16th. He said the commission planned to discuss a subdivision waiver for two parcels on the east and west sides of County Seat Drive, in what was formerly known as the “P-zone.”

Michael Filippon, Superintendent of Buildings, said the Village was aware of the issue. He said it is a fairly routine procedural step Nassau County is taking so they can sell the property. The county is applying for a waiver of subdivision filing requirements to avoid a lengthy and complex subdivision approval process.

Trustee Gerard Lundquist announced that a public hearing related to zoning code amendments will be held at the next meeting on March 3rd.