Village Commended For Storm Response
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

The Board of Trustees and several residents commended the Village's response during the July 18th rainstorm, which dumped more than five inches of rain through the morning until 2 p.m.

At the July 19th Board of Trustees meeting, Dennis Donnelly, president of the Eastern Property Owners' Association, commended Village Administrator Robert Schoelle, department heads, especially police and fire departments, and all Village employees, especially those who were called in on short notice. "I think the response of the Village was exemplary, and I would like to compliment everyone on the response to a very difficult situation," he said. "That's what makes the Village a special place to live."

In other news, a public hearing will be held at the next Board meeting on August 16th regarding the proposed Verizon franchise in the Village. Village officials and Verizon representatives have gone through prolonged negotiations concerning the possibility of allowing the company to begin offering service in the Village. Mayor Peter Bee recused himself from the vote to set the hearing date since Cablevision is a client of his law firm.

Several residents have criticized the Village at previous Board meetings for the length of time it has taken the two sides to work out an agreement. Deputy Mayor John Mauk has responded that the Village is working hard to establish a "level playing field" with the company and has the best interest of the Village in mind.

August 16th will also be the date for a public hearing on proposed local law 1-2007, which amends the Village Code with regard to Hotel Districts. The new law would increase the floor area ratio (FAR) from .84 to .85 and "prohibit night clubs, cabarets, discotheques or similar facilities as accessory uses."

Trustee Robert Rothschild reported that at the June 26th meeting of the Recreation Commission, members discussed the controversial snow fence on the St. Paul's field along Stewart Avenue. The Commission decided that the snow fence should remain during the summer months for safety reasons. They also said that containment hedging is needed.

Kevin E. Ocker, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreational Affairs, is currently compiling a series of drawings that show what the area will look like with hedging obscuring the snow fence. He will report to the Board in the near future.

"We can have our cake and eat it, too," said Trustee Rothschild. "We can have safety on the field and something that maintains the verdant nature of St. Paul's."

At the June 21st Board of Trustees meeting, trustees voted 7 to 1 (Brudie against) to ask the Recreation Commission for their recommendation on whether the snow fence should be removed during July and August and what, if anything, should be placed along the southern border of the field, as long as it did not include erecting an estate-style fence.

The estate-style fence was voted down by trustees on October 19th. The Recreation Commission, after seeking input from the public and POAs, originally recommended the estate-style fence, saying it was needed for safety reasons to prevent children from running into the street and to serve as a hindrance to vehicles that may accidentally veer off Stewart Avenue.

In other news, Mayor Bee emphasized the Village's concern with Nassau County's proposed north-south transportation component linking Mineola with Hempstead, primarily along Franklin Avenue, through Garden City.

"That concept will continue to be studied by the county, and the idea that it will be studied by the county is of great concern to Garden City," he said. Mayor Bee said the Village will monitor the situation.

The Hub plan calls for a transportation link in the center of Nassau County connecting Long Island Rail Road train stations with activity centers. The Hub includes the EAB Plaza, Nassau Coliseum and Eisenhower Park on the southeast side, and the Source Mall to the north. It encompasses Nassau Community Col-lege, Hofstra University and Roosevelt Field, and extends west to the Nassau County Government offices in Mineola. Hempstead Village and Mineola are also included because of their Long Island Rail Road lines.

Mayor Bee also reported that he and Village Administrator Robert Schoelle met with the mayor of Stewart Manor to discuss ways the two villages can work together. Mayor Bee also met with the mayor of Hempstead to discuss Urban America's proposed development project encompassing a large land area near Garden City: from the court house north to just short of the Village line, and east of Franklin Avenue to just west of the Hempstead LIRR line. Mayor Bee said even though Garden City does not have any direct control over the project, the Village has "input in the process" and a "vested interest" in Hempstead's growth.

In other news, former Garden City Mayor Harold Hecken, who monitors several projects which may affect the Village, reported that Cherry Valley residents are concerned that a double-deck parking garage may be built to accommodate employees of the newly-renovated Old Court House building, which is scheduled to be completed in the fall. Mr. Schoelle told The Garden City News that the Village is not aware of any plans by the county to construct a parking garage.