Trustees reflect on service to Village, transition ahead



At his final meeting as a village trustee, Stephen Makrinos offered a statement thanking several people that supported him through on the completion of his present term, and over the six years he’s been on the board. 

“First I would like to thank the Western Property Owners’ Association and the residents who have supported me as a village trustee for six years. I would like to thank all the POA’s in general for all their hard work over the years and the many people they have volunteering for our great village. To Yvonne Varano and Rich Catalano, it was great getting to know you during our (Community Agreement Party) campaign and we’re lucky to have residents like you willing to roll up their sleeves and volunteer. To our Department Heads and Village Staff — Administrator Suozzi, Commissioner Jackson, Superintendents Blake and Giovanniello, (Village Treasurer) Irene Woo, Courtney Rosenblatt, (Deputy Village Treasurer) Darcia Palmer, DPW Deputy Superintendent Domenick Stanco, (Public Relations) Carisa Giardino, others — thank you all for your work behind-the-scenes in keeping the village running. Special thanks go to Village Clerk Karen Altman, for being the glue that keeps the village together.” 

Makrinos served as EAB chairperson from 2019 through March 2021 and hosted recent Zoom meetings for robust discussions, providing a successful platform for the EAB members and Garden City High School student liaisons Ian Bailey and Fiona Pfaff to speak with Village Administrator Suozzi about important topics including the village’s water system. 

“To the members of our volunteer Village Environmental Advisory Board (EAB), thanks for bringing the environmental issues to the forefront and it has been a great two years working with all of you, and I will remain an available resource and an ally,” Trustee Makrinos said. 

He also addressed his fellow outgoing trustees including Mayor Theresa Trouvé before taking a moment to congratulate the five FABGC candidates who triumphed in the 2021 Village of Garden City election. His voice was noticeably choked up with emotion as he read final thoughts on his service as a trustee.  

“Together with our village management we (the Board of Trustees) accomplished a lot in my six years of working with you, we got the new senior center constructed and open, we brought in the new NYU-Winthrop ambulance service, and the capital improvements to the Garden City Pool, Community Park and its fields and at every park within our village were accomplished. We worked through the 555 Stewart Avenue project application and now with the work (Children’s Room project) for the Garden City Public Library, and not to mention all the infrastructure work, much of which is not obvious to our residents. We did all this while keeping the village’s AAA bond rating and our budget below the New York State cap for many, many years. To the incoming trustees — congratulations on your upcoming terms. You have made a lot of promises to get to where you are. Now you have the wind at your back. But all you have to do is look at Albany to see how quickly the winds can change. But as a resident and a trustee I wish you all the best of luck….. Lastly to my family, my beautiful wife and kids — thank you for letting me take this journey over the past six years. Hopefully you can get used to having me at home and not running to village meetings,” he said. 

Trustee John Delany

By the Village Board’s April 5 reorganization, in starting his seventh year on the Board after initially being elected and sworn-in in 2015, Trustee John Delany will become the longest-tenured village trustee currently serving. Last Thursday, he thanked Mayor Trouvé, Deputy Mayor Bolebruch and Trustees Brian Daughney, Makrinos and Hyer. 

“I thank each of you for your service to the village over the years. Now, your spouses can get your time back, and I’m sure all of you will be pretty busy over the next couple of weeks as I am sure your spouses have something planned for you on Thursday nights (the night of regular Board of Trustees’ meetings). Thank you for your service,” Delany said.  

Trustee Mark Hyer

His outgoing fellow trustee representing the village’s East, Mark Hyer, offered reflections on his Board service eight days after the 2021 election took place. Hyer said it was an honor to serve Garden City as an elected official over the last four years.

“I want to thank the Eastern Property Owners’ Association and village staff; they are truly some of the finest hardworking people I know. Our village is lucky to have such dedicated employees. I would also like to wish the incoming trustees and mayor congratulations and good luck — I wish nothing but the best for this village and it is the greatest place to live and work in. I’m so glad to be here. Thank you Garden City for the honor of serving you!” Trustee Hyer stated last Thursday.

Absent from the March 25 meeting was Deputy Mayor Robert Bolebruch who missed in his bid to become village mayor in the March 16, 2021 election against FABGC Challenger (and incoming mayor) Cosmo Veneziale. 

Also former Garden City Mayor Brian Daughney, who served as mayor from April 2017 to April 2019 and then stayed on the Board of Trustees for another two-year term representing the Estates’ POA, did not make a comment reflecting on his service during the March 25 Village Board meeting.

In September 2020 Village Trustee Colleen Foley was re-elected to a new term representing the Estates’ section of Garden City. Last week she took a moment to thank and congratulate Mayor Trouvé and her four fellow trustees that are completing their terms in-office in the coming days. Foley said “It was my honor and privilege to serve with you all and I wish you well in the future, in your next endeavors.” 

During the March 25 meeting former village trustee, now the executive director of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce Dennis Donnelly, commented on the contributions of the outgoing members of the Board of Trustees. 

“I thank the four trustees and you, Mrs. Mayor (Trouvé) as I had the privilege of serving alongside you mayor, Trustee Bob Bolebruch and Trustee Brian Daughney. To Stephen Makrinos and Mark Hyer, I know of your hard work and dedication, the many long nights and hours that go into being a trustee and I wish you the best in the future. And good luck to the new trustees who are coming in,” Donnelly said.

Participating in last Thursday’s meeting via Zoom, Trustee Louis Minuto stated his thanks and appreciation for Mayor Trouvé and the outgoing Board members, his colleagues whose terms are coming to an end. 

“It was really great, not only working alongside you guys but really becoming friends. I really value that and I am sure there will be plenty of time to catch up in the future though it’s a goodbye for now. Thank you so much for everything you’ve taught me in these past years and good luck to everyone,” Minuto said.

9 responses to “Trustees reflect on service to Village, transition ahead”

  1. Absent from the March 25 meeting was Deputy Mayor Robert Bolebruch who missed in his bid to become village mayor in the March 16, 2021 election against FABGC Challenger (and incoming mayor) Cosmo Veneziale.

    Also former Garden City Mayor Brian Daughney, who served as mayor from April 2017 to April 2019 and then stayed on the Board of Trustees for another two-year term representing the Estates’ POA, did not make a comment reflecting on his service during the March 25 Village Board meeting.

    Class to the end.

    • You know nothing!! says:

      Bolebruch was absent for the very first time in all of his years as a trustee. Amazing record and commitment. An important family event tore him away!! Not that it’s any of your business. He is class till the end!!!

  2. What nerve spouting how good you thought you were. The outgoing group should be ashamed to be seen in public based on theIr handicapped parking, 3TC Giant Poles, Casino et al as all residents clearly see your dismal failures. As for Delany, Minuto and Foley they will continue to be a major part of the past problems and nothing to do with future solutions. Someone please tell Donnelly that his Chamber of Commerce will not be getting unlimited traction and do what I want access with the new Board. Thanks FABGC.

    • End Chamber of Commerce Subsidies says:

      The new BOT, that replaced a BOT that drove charities out of GC with ridiculously high rents, should look at the sweetheart rent deal the Village gave their buddies Donnoly and Ventre for the Toll House on the end of 7th Street. The Chamber of Commerce has done enough damage

    • How does the Estates manage to find people like Daughney and Foley one after another?

      I didnt realize there was one person in this village like that, let alone two…

  3. The sweetest sounding tune is a classical piece know as “Former.” Like former deputy mayor Bolebruch, former mayor and trustee Daughney, former CAP candidates Varano and Catalano, former trustee Makrinos and former trustee Hyer. Let the band play on!

  4. Former POA’s.

  5. Di Ogenees says:

    So much for transparency. Word’s out on a sleazy trade off in our future. A lawyer from the firm Harris, Beech gave free legal advice to FABGC in return for the appointment of Village Counsel, ousting Peter Bee from that contract, if they took control of the Village.

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