Less than 20 residents braved the snow and sleet on Tuesday evening to attend one of the shortest meetings of the Garden City Board of Trustees in recent memory. The meeting lasted only 30 minutes.

The weather, and the Village’s response to it, was one of the meeting’s major topics. Mayor Robert J. Rothschild admitted that he usually receives complaint phone calls from residents. However, the Mayor happily reported that he was the recent recipient of five or six complementary calls from residents who were pleased with the Village’s efficient snow removal response.

Trustee Dennis Donnelly, who is the Board’s liaison to the Village’s Department of Public Works, announced that the department had a “spectacular January,” saving the Village $40,000 in overtime costs compared to the same time last year. More than 1,000 hours in overtime were saved.

“So that’s what happens when it doesn’t snow,” he said.

However, this year February appears to be the month with significant snowfall accumulations. Donnelly announced that on Feb. 10 the DPW used 782 hours in overtime, for an approximate cost of $30,000. This totals 27 percent of the department’s overtime budget.

The department used 200 tons of salt at $64.50 a ton, totaling $12,900, and 200 tons of sand at $14.50 a ton, totaling $2,900. Three contractors with payloaders worked overnight clearing snow from the Village’s parking lots. The public works dept. used 59 of its own vehicles, trucks and payloaders, and 92 employees.

“They have done a very good job and I want to congratulate all of the workers in public works who put in a lot of hours making the Village quite passable,” he said.

Trustee Nicholas Episcopia, who serves as the Board liaison to the Village’s fire department, said that 18 firefighters stayed overnight during the Feb. 10th snowstorm. They responded to four alarms during that period: one for carbon monoxide, one for a vehicle fire and two for downed wires.

Episcopia reminded residents to make sure their oil burners are properly serviced. He said over the past 10 days, the fire department has seen an increase in oil burner related fire calls.

He also stressed the importance of making sure fire hydrants are clear of snow and ice. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to make sure hydrants are accessible, and Episcopia admitted that it is “not a lot of fun” trying to clear one.

“But if a fire does happen on the street, they need to get quickly to a fire hydrant, it’s as simple as that,” he said. “If they have to start shoveling snow, it just delays getting water on the fire, if in fact there is a fire. So please try to dig out your fire hydrants.”

Trustee Laurence Quinn commented that he had driven through several local villages after last week’s snowstorm and found Garden City’s streets to be the most clear. Several trustees nodded in agreement.

In other Board news, the Mayor announced that a subcommittee has been formed to study a proposal to improve the veterans’ memorial, which was recently presented to the BOT by Garden City resident and Vietnam veteran Cyril Smith. Trustee Donnelly is the chairperson, and Deputy Mayor Donald Brudie and Trustee Andrew Cavanaugh are members. The committee met Tuesday evening before the regular Board meeting.

“The committee met last evening to begin the process of planning, designing and implementing the veterans’ memorial here in the Village,” Donnelly told The Garden City News via e-mail after the meeting. “We reviewed a number of locations and design concepts. Cyril and his group are inventorying the current markers in the Village, including plaques that are at St. Paul’s and the former Doubleday property. We will be working with landscape architects as well as the Village public works department to insure that Garden City will have a first-class walk of fame to honor the great Americans who gave their lives in order that we may enjoy the freedoms we all enjoy.”

Trustee Donnelly asked Superintendent of Buildings Michael Filippon if his department had received any more complaints about the expansion at the Verizon building located on the east side of Herricks Road. A large group of Mineola residents had attended the last Board meeting on Feb. 4 to ask for the Village’s help since they were being bothered by a loud noise emanating from recently installed generators.

Filippon said his department has not received any further complaints. He also corrected the information a Mineola resident had offered at the last meeting. She complained that an 8,000 gallon tank had recently been placed on the Verizon site near her property line. Filippon said the tank holds 4,000 gallons and will be eventually moved to the rear of the Verizon property.