Board Of Trustees Meeting News
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

The Garden City Board of Trustees focused on a number of different issues at their December 6th meeting.

In a unanimous vote, trustees decided to get an updated appraisal on a strip of Village-owned land that separates the property at 555 Stewart Avenue and Raymond Court. The appraisal is being sought after attorney Kevin Walsh, who represents the owner of the Stewart Avenue property, asked trustees to consider selling his client the land.

It would remain green space, but would allow his client to build the townhouses closer to the setback line and fit two more on the property. Walsh said his client is offering $400,000 for the land, $200,000 plus $100,000 each for the two additional townhouses that the developer would be able to build.

550 Stewart Avenue LLC, the corporation that purchased the property, proposes building 29 townhouses on the north side of Stewart Avenue and a multi-family dwelling on the south side. If they purchase the buffer strip, the number of townhouses would increase to 31. Superintendent of Buildings Michael Filippon said the property could fit up to 36 units.

Walsh has met with Raymond Court residents and presented a petition with their signatures which states their support for the purchase. Walsh said his client will deed 20 feet of property to each resident. They have to agree to not develop the land, except for the installation of a fence or wall, and keep the trees intact.

Trustee Gerard Lundquist announced that he and Village Clerk Brian Ridgway attended a Nov. 29th meeting of the Citizens Against Railroad Expansion. This meeting focused on the Long Island Rail Road's plan to install a third track along the main corridor.

The railroad now claims the track is needed as a passing lane to keep train traffic moving in the event of a breakdown along the main line. Railroad officials had previously said the third track would be needed to accommodate reverse commuters.

Lundquist said CARE's petition drive will continue until Dec. 31st and currently has more than 1,800 signatures. Members of the group also plan to meet soon with Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy.

Trustee John Watras, who also serves as finance commissioner, announced the members of this year's Citizen Budget Review Committee. The committee includes chairman Roy Ryniker, Gary Kahn, Thomas Paisley, Donald Pfail, Robert Sundius, Andrew Thaler, John Traxler and Thomas Trypuc.

Trustees Thomas Lamberti and John Watras voted against a memorandum of understanding with the Civil Service Employees Association for rank and file members covering June 1, 2006 through May 31, 2010. Lamberti, a labor attorney, said he was concerned that the memo calls for an annual increase between 3.6 and 3.7 percent. In the private sector, he explained, increases hover around 3 percent. He believes that increases are higher in the public sector because officials know the additional amount can be covered by tax increases. Mayor Bee acknowledged that fiscal restraint is a priority. He said the wage increase may be greater than in the private sector, but it is lower when compared with other villages.

Deputy Mayor John Mauk said that contrary to a headline in last month's Garden City News, negotiations with AvalonBay Communities, Inc. are not "crawling along" and are actually "moving very swiftly." AvalonBay is the firm designated by the Garden City Board of Trustees to be the exclusive developer of the St. Paul's property.

Mauk, who serves as chairman of the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's, said he expects to present a memorandum of understanding to the Board for approval soon. This document will not be legally binding, but will detail expectations on both sides.

Mauk said there is a lot of work being done "behind the scenes" as AvalonBay representatives continue to reach out to small community groups. A general meeting with the public is expected to be held after the holidays. A newsletter known as the "Village Facts," which will provide the public with an update on the issue, is currently at the printer and will be mailed to all residents within the next few weeks.

Trustee Thomas Lamberti asked residents "not to rush to judgment" on the development proposal until all of the issues are worked out. He said the proposal is in a preliminary form and all of the details have yet to be established.