The following is an update from the Garden City Mayor Theresa A. Trouvé.
Village Hall and administrative offices will be reopening for in-person inquiries and business as of Monday, June 22 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please be advised that visitors will be required to wear a face covering, maintain social distancing of six feet and sign in to a Visitor’s Log outside of the office they are visiting. Furthermore, while multiple people can enter Village Hall, only one person will be admitted into each office space at a time and are asked to abide by employee instructions. There are six-foot markers outside each office for the next person who may be waiting.
PLAYGROUNDS/PARKS REOPENED THIS WEEK
The playgrounds at St. Paul’s and Community Park were thoroughly cleaned Monday prior to reopening to the public Tuesday morning. Playgrounds in the five neighborhood parks were also thoroughly cleaned. By mid-week, all five parks reopened after approximately two-and-a-half months of closure. Residents are reminded to practice social distancing and to wear a mask when necessary.
RECYCLING BINS
The Village has received numerous inquiries/comments about the new recycling bins that were recently distributed to all households. The Board of Trustees awarded the purchase of 6,650 25-gallon recycling containers in April. These bins, which were purchased as part of the Village’s 2019-20 capital program, are larger than the old ones with more capacity, there are holes in the bottom to allow for drainage and they now have handles which make them more ergonomic for the operators who collect and empty them and for the homeowners who fill them.
Paper must be tied and bundled or put in paper bags and placed curbside next to the recycling bins. Cardboard should be bundled and placed out on Wednesdays with Rubbish or dropped off at the Village Yard for recycling. Non-paper recycling should not be placed in ANY type of bag. If it is, it will not be collected. Granted, this previously was acceptable, but it is no longer being accepted at the recycling centers. Household metals such as tools and appliances should be placed to the curb with your recycling.
Please be advised that recycling bins are the property of the Village. As part of the distribution process, the Village is collecting your old recycling bins. The old bins are being taken out of service and are not available to be returned. Residents may call 465-4003 with questions and/or concerns.
NASSAU COUNTY PACT INITIATIVE
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced Tuesday the formation of Police And Community Trust (PACT), a new Nassau County initiative aimed at building trust, transparency and a working dialogue between community activists and Police. The new effort will bring together protest organizers, law enforcement and other stakeholders to listen and engage in frank conversations about concerns raised by the community in recent weeks.
On the day that Garden City Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson was appointed a PACT member, County Executive Curran telephoned Mayor Theresa Trouvé. “She said the Commissioner was present at a former meeting she had attended, and that he had put some very good information out on the table,” Mayor Trouvé said. “I indicated that I thought he would be a wonderful member of this important undertaking.”
Commissioner Jackson, who serves as president of the Nassau County Municipal Police Chiefs Association, added, “This initiative will provide an excellent opportunity for community leaders, government officials, community activists, and police officials to get together to communicate and discuss current issues in an effort to improve community/police relations.”
County Executive Curran noted that although recent protests have been part of a national movement, PACT is Nassau County-centered, focusing on local issues and looking at ways to strengthen Nassau’s community policing model. PACT meetings will consist of the following other members:
- Nassau County Executive Laura Curran (Co-Chair)
- South Floral Park Mayor and Defense Attorney Geoffrey Prime (Co-Chair)
- Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder
- 3 members of Nassau PD Community Affairs
- Hofstra Law School Professor and former Prosecutor Fred Klein
- Student and Community Activist from Hempstead, Blair Baker
- Community Activist from Roosevelt, Tamica Cox
- Student and Community Activist from Baldwin, Alexis Holt
- Student and Community Activist from Hempstead, Travis Nelson
PACT will also engage the Nassau County District Attorney, Office of Minority Affairs, faith-based groups and Human Rights Commission to seek and gather ongoing input.
PARKING FIELD 8 RE-PAVING PROJECT
On Wednesday, June 17, Pratt began milling the existing asphalt in preparation for the re-paving of the parking lot. Work began at 4:30 a.m. along the storefronts and is progressing towards the western end of the lot in phases. On Thursday, June 18, Pratt is adjusting castings and performing base repair as required in preparation for the re-paving of the parking lot. On Friday, June 19, Pratt is placing new asphalt to re-pave the parking lot. The parking lot will be CLOSED and parking will not be permitted in the parking lot. Entrances and exits will be reopened whenever possible during each workday. At the end of each workday these entrances and exits will be reopened. The parking lot will be accessible for emergency vehicles in case of an emergency. However, emergency vehicles should plan to avoid the parking lot. The schedule is subject to change and is weather permitting.
WATER CONSERVATION
The Garden City Water Department would like to remind its customers that as we enter the summer season, the volume of water used throughout the Village increases significantly. We want to remind residents that lawn sprinkling is permitted only from April 16 to November 30 during the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Properties with odd numbered addresses are permitted to use their sprinklers on odd numbered days and even numbered or those without a numerical address on even numbered days.
We are asking that you be especially diligent this summer with water conservation as the infrastructure improvements being done in the Water Department have put more significant demands on the system and water supply than normal. “As always we strive to provide the highest quality of water and your cooperation in this matter will go towards helping us achieve that goal,” Public Works Superintendent Joseph DiFrancisco said.
HANDS-FREE SOLAR POWERED GARBAGE PAILS
The Village would like to remind residents that the new solar powered garbage pails installed throughout the business district and Village parks can be operated using foot pedals only. You do not need to touch the pails with your hands in order to operate them. Foot pedals were an optional feature of the pails that the Village decided to include when we purchased the pails. There are a total of 17 pails strategically placed throughout the Village.
BOARD RENEWS AGREEMENTS WITH LEGAL AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRMS
The Board renewed several agreements with firms that will continue to provide the Village with specialized legal and financial services in the following fiscal year. The following firms have provided these services in the past. The Legal Committee has reviewed the renewal agreements. All renewal agreements are on file in the Village Clerk’s Office.
- Bond Counsel: As per their renewal agreement, Hawkins, Delafield & Wood LLP, 28 Liberty Street, New York, New York, in regard to preparing bond resolutions and legal opinions for financing of Capital Projects. The fee structure as stated in Exhibit A of their proposal has not changed from the prior year.
- Labor Counsel: As per their renewal agreement, Bond Schoeneck & King, 1010 Franklin Avenue, Garden City, New York, to provide professional services in regard to labor litigation (retainer and litigated labor matters.). Retainer proposal has not changed from the prior year. A slight increase from the prior year for litigated matters for some of their hourly rates.
- General Counsel: As per their renewal agreement, Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter & Donovan, LLP, 170 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York, in regard to professional services for legal matters. The retainer amount and the hourly rates in the renewal agreement remain unchanged from the prior year, except for the addition of an hourly rate for Library Work.
- Tax Litigation and Transitional Legal Services: As per their renewal agreement, Cullen & Dykman, LLP, 100 Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard, Garden City, New York, in regard to existing tax litigation cases and other transitional services. Same rates as last year for Tax Litigation Services. A slight increase from the prior year for Transitional Services for some of their hourly rates.
- Fiscal Advisor: As per their renewal agreement, Capital Markets Advisors, LLC, One Great Neck Road, Great Neck, New York, to provide financial advisory services related to Debt Issuance and Continuing Disclosure. Slight increase from last year on some of their rates.
- Assessor: As per their renewal agreement, engagement of Thomas Donato, of Michael Haberman Associates, Inc., 125 Front Street, Mineola, New York, in regard to assessment services. Same rates as last year.
- Environmental Legal Matters: As per their engagement letter, engagement of Sive, Paget & Riesel P.C., 560 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, in regard to environmental legal matters. A slight increase in rates from last year
- Financial Audit: As per their renewal agreement, the appointment of PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP, 500 Mamaroneck Avenue, Harrison, New York, in regard to the year-end audit for the Village Justice Court, and the Deferred Comp Audit. A slight increase from last year for the year-end audit.
WESTERN NASSAU TRANSMISSION PROJECT
The Western Nassau Transmission Project consists of the construction, operation and maintenance of a proposed new 138 kilovolt underground transmission line primarily within the public roadway rights-of-way for a total distance of approximately seven miles between the East Garden City substation (located in Uniondale) and the Valley Stream substation (located in Lynbrook).
The project is expected to reinforce LIPA’s electric transmission system in the southwest Nassau area and ensure continued reliable service. The underground transmission line will be located wholly within the Town of Hempstead and will traverse the Villages of Garden City, Malverne and Lynbrook, and will be constructed primarily underground. The project is on schedule for a December 2020 completion. The two-week construction schedule in Garden City entails:
- Crews have completed Horizontal Directional Drill No. 1 at Washington Avenue. Beginning Monday, June 15, crews began mobilizing and marshaling in the grassy area along the eastbound side of Stewart Avenue, near the former Chase bank at the corner of Clinton Road for Horizontal Directional Drill No. 2. Crews are preparing the drilling equipment and removing trees in preparation for the work.
Questions? Call the hotline at 780-0665, email info@westernnassautransmission.com or
