The Village’s capital needs were presented to the public by department heads during the 28th annual capital budget plan meeting on February 6th. The meeting gives residents an opportunity to learn and ask questions about projects tentatively scheduled for the next five years.

Last year, every department proposed that the majority of their capital projects be deferred at least one year due to the recession. With the economy still struggling, it is likely that most projects will be shelved once again.

“Many of the items that are here unfortunately are not going to be able to be achieved this year,” announced Village Administrator Robert L. Schoelle, Jr.

On the revenue side, the Village continues to experience a minimal return on investments coupled with a significant decrease in mortgage taxes due to the lack of home sales. When it comes to expenses, Schoelle explained the Village is dealing with assessment reductions for residential and commercial properties, litigation and tax certiorari proceedings, employee pension contract issues, an increased cost of capital projects, and three unsettled labor contracts with the Police Benevolent Association, Civil Service Employees Association and the Professional Firefighters Association.

“These are very busy times around here,” he said. “A lot is going on and there are a lot of very important issues.”

Trustee John Mauk, chairperson of the Board’s finance committee, added that just like the Village, residents are also not making as much money as in the past. “All of us are struggling, and the Village is no different in trying to struggle with lesser available resources and still provide a level of appropriate services,” he said.

“I think personally that what we are really trying to do, and the objective we have on the Board of Trustees, really is to strike an appropriate balance between providing the level of services that is appropriate and the residents have indicated that they need, and balance that with a tax rate that is acceptable. In these times, of course, as all of us know painfully so, it’s difficult to accomplish that with what has happened in our economy and that has certainly affected all of us in the Village.”

The tax rate increase will be released once the entire budget is completed, according to Village Auditor James Olivo. Last year the tax levy increase totaled 5.91 percent. A one percent tax increase will cost the average home assessed at $13,000 an additional $52.63.

The Village’s debt is less than $10 million, which is “very low for a Village of our size and our complexity,” according to Olivo. He gave an update on the Village’s debt service, which will total $1,690,891 in 2010/11. It will drop by $400,000 in 2013 after several debts become paid in full: sewer system (2012), sewer and Mulberry drain (2013), sewer pumping stations (2013) and the St. Paul’s School purchase (2013). Remaining debts are set to expire several years later: St. Paul’s park and Tenth and Eleventh Street parking area (in 2021), the library renovation, construction of the Community Park Building, renovation of the miniature golf course and platform tennis courts (in 2022) and Village Hall improvements (in 2024). Olivo, who also handles the Village’s technology needs, expects to limit his requests in that area to total $128,000.

Mauk said it is very important to maintain the Village’s infrastructure and deferring maintenance becomes very costly. He questioned whether these items should keep be putting off, or whether the Village should “bite the bullet” and get it done in this coming fiscal year.

This issue will surely be discussed during upcoming budget meetings. Trustees and department heads will also continue to work to pare down their requests presented on Saturday.

Captain Gil Frank, commanding officer, Headquarters Company, presented the Garden City Fire Dept.’s capital plan. Captain Frank explained that usually the apparatus replacement line is funded annually. Last year, it was deferred; this year he has requested $40,000 to replace one chief’s SUV.

A fire engine is replaced every 20 years after spending 15 years as a first-line engine and then five years as a spare, or second line, engine. A ladder truck is replaced every 25 years, a heavy rescue apparatus every 20 years, a chief’s SUV every eight years and a duty lieutenant command vehicle every four years.

This year, Captain Frank has requested $75,000 to upgrade Company 4 volunteer quarters: $50,000 for replacement of three existing air conditioning units, and $25,000 for installation of Code-compliant exhaust hood, duct work and extinguishing system in the kitchen area. Capt. Frank added that the upgrades can be deferred.

Police Commissioner Ernest Cipullo said the Garden City Police Dept.’s capital plan for 2010-11 calls for $159,810 for police vehicle replacement and $100,000 for communication technology.

Last year all vehicle replacements were deferred. This year, the police commissioner is requesting four new police cars, two marked and two unmarked, and one utility vehicle for traffic enforcement. Police vehicles are rotated every three years, when they average 60,000 to 70,000 miles. Every year Cipullo emphasizes that these vehicles endure “a lot of wear and tear.” After unmarked police vehicles reach the end of their useful life as far as the police dept. is concerned, they are used by other Village departments.

Commissioner Cipullo explained that the $100,000 allotted for communication technology, which will likely be deferred, would be used to install a system so that all police departments in Nassau County can communicate with each other. Currently, the Garden City Police Dept. officers can only talk with officers from the Hempstead Police Dept., Nassau County Police Dept. headquarters and the Nassau County Police Dept. helicopter. Cipullo added that the Village would be reimbursed the entire amount through a $6 million grant received by the county.

Garden City Public Library Director Carolyn Voegler’s capital plan for next year includes a request for $45,000 to replace computers and make improvements to the local area network. The library needed to make emergency repairs to the 37-year-old building when cracks were discovered and puddles were found in a meeting room. This year’s capital request includes $30,000 to restore the masonry on the outside of the building to prevent water seepage from reoccurring.

Voegler also has requested $15,000 for a light panel upgrade and $25,000 for replacement of ceiling and lighting in the downstairs meeting room. She explained that some tiles have fallen from the concealed-spline ceiling near the projection system in the large meeting room.

The director noted that the library currently has $142,000 in a technology reserve fund. The library has been able to save this money as the price of computers and other technology has dropped. Mayor Robert J. Rothschild said the library board of directors should decide how this money should be used.

The Dept. of Public Works is responsible for more than 100 pieces of equipment, and this year is requesting $404,500. Last year all purchases were deferred.

All DPW projects, which were significantly scaled back last year, are included in this year’s capital request: $600,000 for road repairs and resurfacing, $250,000 for sidewalk repairs, $230,000 for curb replacement, $250,000 for sewer repairs and relining and $40,000 for tree planting.

Improvements in the Business District along Franklin Avenue between Eleventh Street and Old Country Road (not including Sears, the county courthouse or county police headquarters) would total $960,400 and include pavers, bus station awnings and benches. This item was deferred from last year, and will be deferred at least one more year.

Mayor Rothschild stressed the importance of these improvements when asked by a resident if they are really necessary since they are predominantly in an area with office buildings. Franklin Avenue was a “ghost town” 10 years ago, he explained. Building owners approached the Board of Trustees at the time, asking for a commitment to improve the area to attract tenants to the area.

“Guess what? That happened.” The mayor said private investors saw the Village make a commitment to improve the streetscape and parking lots and have now been able to attract several new tenants. This in turn helps the Village because it brings business to local shops and restaurants. He noted that building owners are nowhere near full occupancy due to the economy.

Mangan has requested $110,000 to replace the roof at the DPW yard building, which has been leaking. He has also requested $365,000 to fix the crosswalks on Franklin Avenue. Salt and traffic have significantly damaged the pavers. The Village has been filling in the cracks with asphalt as a temporary fix, but now more extensive work needs to be done.

Repainting of the water storage tank for $2.3 million, which has been deferred for four years, will be included in this year’s capital project request. Mangan explained it is a very complex job, and is carefully monitored by the Nassau County Dept. of Health. Water tanks have an 85 year life span. Painting lasts 15 years. The tank to be painted is 68 years old.

The capital budget includes a request for $1.8 million over three years, or $600,000 a year, to replace water meters. Francis J. Koch, P.E., superintendent of the Village’s water and sewer department, estimated that the Village would see a savings of approximately $200,000 after all water meters are replaced with newer models that can be read via radio.

Currently, there are 3,000 meters in the Village that are more than 20 years old. As meters age, they operate slower and no longer provide accurate readings. The Village has one full-time employee, and one helper at certain times during the year, who solely focus on meter readings.

The Recreation Department’s capital plan includes $50,000 for playground equipment replacement and $25,000 for a new safety surface at Grove Street Park; $80,000 for recreation equipment including a pick-up truck, a ball field conditioner and a utility cart; $50,000 for various tennis court replacements at Hemlock and Grove Street Parks; $50,000 for parking lot, path and roadway rehabilitation at the Garden City Pool; and $125,000 for installation of synthetic turf on the infield at little league field 2 at Community Park.

The pool will need some work this year, and Ocker has requested $175,000. The pool has its own separate fund. The pool’s gutter system needs to be replaced ($78,860) and the slide needs to be readjusted and recoated ($25,000). The pool filter sand needs to be replaced at a cost of $29,400.

Kevin E. Ocker, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreational Affairs, knows the synthetic turf field will be a hard-sell, just as it was last year when it was ultimately deferred. He estimated the synthetic turf field would result in a direct savings of $10,720 since the current field requires $5,060 in required overtime to maintain the field and $5,660 for materials such as a drying agent, fertilizer and lime. Other benefits of installing a synthetic turf field include less game cancellations, consistent and safer field conditions and a more maximized use of the field, which is lighted. Ocker estimated that approximately 230 man hours would then be able to be redirected to improve conditions on the Village’s other 15 baseball and softball fields.

“Our reputation across the state and Long Island is really second to none,” he said. “This step, whenever it does occur, will keep us on that level.”

Residents are encouraged to attend regular Board meetings, as well as budget work sessions. The next regular Board meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. Work sessions focusing on both the capital and operating budgets are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 27 at 8:30 a.m. The final budget work session will be held on Wednesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. All meetings will take place in the Village Hall boardroom.