Cooler Heads At Board Of Trustees Meeting
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

Cooler heads and calmer discussions prevailed at the Board of Trustees meeting on May 3rd, as trustees dealt with several issues affecting the Village.

The tension level had risen markedly at the last meeting on April 19th when trustees discussed the renewal of the contract for village counsel. However, at last Thursday's meeting, trustees did not allow discussion on any one particular issue to become acrimonious.

The Board briefly discussed the water rate increase. As of June 1st, the rate will increase five percent. The last time the rate increased by seven percent in 2005.

Residents in the audience and several trustees were surprised to learn that the rate increases substantially after a homeowner or business uses more than 6,000 cubic square feet. The current rate is 16.00 per 1,000 cubic feet for those who use 2,000 to 6,000 cubic feet. The rate jumps to 24.00 for those who use over 6,000 cubic feet.

On June 1st, the new rate will be 16.80 per 1,000 cubic feet for those who use 2,000 to 6,000 cubic feet. The rate increases to 25.20 for those who use over 6,000 cubic feet. According to Village Auditor James Olivo, many residents easily go over 6,000 cubic feet in the summer when they begin watering their lawns.

Village officials and Verizon representatives continue to meet to discuss the possibility of allowing the company to begin offering service in the Village. Deputy Mayor John Mauk said there have been six meetings. There are a handful of issues that need to be ironed out, such as information confidentiality, the length of time it takes for Verizon to make repairs, and the financial contribution they would have to make to the Village.

Several residents have criticized the length of time it has taken the two sides to work out an agreement. Village Administrator Robert Schoelle, Jr. said the Village is currently waiting to hear back from Verizon's lawyers. One of the reasons why it has taken so long is that Verizon is using outside counsel to handle the matter.

Garden City resident Jonathan Schwieger commented on a letter he submitted to the Board regarding the future of the historic Main Building at St. Paul's. At the last meeting, Mauk had announced that the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's and their consultant have narrowed the field of viable candidates from seven down to three for the building's restoration and redevelopment.

Schweiger wants to know the options for the building, a time table and explanation of the process the Board will go through to ultimately reach a final decision. He also does not want to wait until after the summer, which Mauk had said may be a possibility as the Mayor's Committee and consultant enter into another round of discussion and consultation with the remaining candidates. The committee and consultant will report their findings and comparisons to the Board and residents by mid-June or possibly after the summer in September.

"We also think we have a responsibility not to rush this thing, and not to try to get things out, and not to try to push this thing too prematurely, and to give people information which can be interpreted as misinformation, before we are able and ready to do so," Mauk said. "I want to assure you we all have the same objective in this, to move along as quickly as possible and get the information out as soon as we can."

Trustee Donald Brudie, commissioner of the Department of Public Works, said the Village has to be more diligent in checking the company hired to make road repairs. Brudie named two specific areas, on First Street between Rockaway Avenue and Cathedral Avenue, and Fifth Street between Cathedral Avenue and Hilton Avenue, where he claims they did a "horrendous job of backfilling."

Trustee Nicholas Episcopia announced that Freshway Foods has signed a lease and will soon occupy the building of the former IGA Food Basket on Seventh Street. Also, at the corner of Seventh Street and Franklin Avenue, office space will fill the top of the building and retail stores will open on the bottom level.

Episcopia also said residents on St. James Place are concerned about the work being done by the Long Island Rail Road near their homes. Village Administrator Schoelle explained that he has been in touch with the LIRR's governmental affairs office and the ties will be removed by the end of May.

In other LIRR news, Mayor Peter Bee said the Village sent a representative to the press conference held by Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray to oppose portions of the LIRR's Main Line Corridor Improvement Project that include the addition of a third track along the main corridor.

Mayor Bee also announced that he is now a member on the executive board of the Village Officials' Association.