THE MAYOR’S UPDATE
Village Hall and administrative offices reopened for in-person inquiries and business on Monday, June 22. All full-time staff returned to on-site workplaces Wednesday, June 24. Office hours are between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Visitors are 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. Please don’t forget to wear a mask when you are out and about in society and follow social distancing too.
If you don’t feel well, contact your doctor immediately. If you need immediate medical assistance, call 911. We have a Village email: mayor@gardencityny.net and a telephone number: 516-465-4000. Let us know if we can help you. Should you wish to share your thoughts with me, you can reach me directly at 516-650-8847. Please be well and be safe. The people of Garden City are strong, and we will come through all of this stronger than we ever were before. All of you are in my thoughts.
SENIOR CENTER REOPENS
The Garden City Senior Center reopened on Monday, July 6. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Social distancing protocols prohibit exercise or group activities at this time. Anyone visiting the center is required to wear a mask during the visit.
PARKING FIELD 7N PERMITS
Trustees are expected to set a public hearing date for Thursday, Aug. 13, with regards to the pilot parking program in Parking Field 7N to make the temporary parking rules permanent. The Village will then be permitted to issue renewals to current permit holders. The proposed Local Law will establish an initial 49 spaces as “reserved” but allow for such number of reserved parking spots for adjacent residents as the Board of Trustees may determine by Resolution from time to time. The temporary pilot program on the western side of Parking Field 7N has been successful. The designated spots are available to permit holders 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
GARDEN CITY POOL POLICY UPDATES
Since opening for the season on July 10, many pool members have made suggestions on the registration process that the administration has taken into consideration. At this time, the Garden City Pool has implemented a cancellation/wait list policy. To see if there is availability on the wait list, please call 465-4074. Due to CDC regulations, we are limited as to how many individuals are allowed in the Pool facility during a session. If you are unable to attend a session you already signed up for please call the Pool Office at 465-4074 to cancel. As registration closes we will keep a wait list for each session and call those members as spots become available. This policy began July 15.
“We would first like to thank our Pool members for your patience and cooperation during this difficult time,” Paul Blake, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreational Affairs, said.
To accommodate those members having difficulties reserving a session swim time, we introduced a same day walk up policy. Members have the opportunity to come to the Pool Office to check availability of the sessions as follows: For the morning session, walk-ins will be allowed beginning at 12 p.m. For the afternoon session, walk-ins will be allowed beginning at 6 p.m. Admission for walk-ins is dependent upon how many people are in the Pool at the start of the walk in time. We cannot exceed our allowed capacity, so walk-ins are on an “as available” basis. This process will only begin at 12 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday during the AM session and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday during the PM session. On Mondays, we will begin this process at 2 p.m. for the AM Session and p.m. on the PM session. Remember, walk in admission is ONLY based on availability and entrance is NOT guaranteed. This policy began on Wednesday, July 15.
Finally, due to high volume on the website (www.gardencityrecreation.org) and on the phone (483-1714) we are altering start times for Pool reservations. Reservations for the AM sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. and reservations for the PM sessions begin at 10:30 a.m. Members can still make reservations via online or by phone at the Pool Office at 465-4074.
POLICE MOURN LOSS OF FORMER COMMISSIONER
Former Garden City Police Commissioner Ernest J. Cipullo died on July 7, 2020. He was 83 years old. Funeral services were held July 13 at St. Joseph’s Church.
“Commissioner Cipullo was an innovative leader, often copied by other Police Executives. He was passionate about serving the Village of Garden City and cared for every member of this Department as if they were his own family. The Village of Garden City is a safer place because of Commissioner Cipullo. He was a personal friend and he will be sorely missed!” Commissioner Kenneth Jackson said.
Cipullo enjoyed a distinguished 51-year career with the Garden City Police Department, retiring in 2012 as the longest serving police commissioner in the Department’s history with 31 years as “The Commish.” Prior to his appointment as commissioner, Cipullo served as a uniformed police officer sworn in on April 20, 1961, promoted to sergeant on June 17, 1973, lieutenant on March 20, 1977 and commissioner and chairman of the Board of Police Commissioners on July 2, 1981.
He was the recipient of 27 citations during his service as a police officer. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Adelphi University and a master’s degree in public administration from Long Island University-C.W. Post. Mr. Cipullo was an adjunct professor in criminal justice at C.W. Post and Nassau Community College. In addition to giving of himself to this Village in public service, he also served his country in the United States Navy.
Cipullo won numerous awards during his career, including Garden City Chamber of Commerce’s Community Achievement Award; Nassau Police Conference’s Man of the Year Award; New York State Fraternal Order of Police’s Police Executive of the Year; Detective Association Law Enforcement’s Man of the Year; Nassau County Police Reserves’ Person of the Year; and Columbia Police Association’s Police Officer of the Year. He also served as past President of the Nassau County Municipal Police Chiefs Association and was a former Garden City Police Benevolent Association president.
He leaves behind a wife, two children and four grandchildren. His daughter is an attorney and his son serves as a detective with the Nassau County Police Department.
2020 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES ANNOUNCED
Garden City Recreation and Parks invites residents to the “2020 Summer Music on the Village Green” concert series, to be held on Thursdays beginning at 7:15 p.m. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. In less than perfect weather, concerts will be held at Cluett Hall, 295 Stewart Ave. The musical line up includes:
- July 16: Back in Time: Huey Lewis & The News Tribute Band
- July 23: Blue Angel
- July 30: Force River Band
- August 6: Endless Summer: Beach Boys Tribute Band
- August 13: Lenny Dell and the Dementions
- August 20: Rockinghams
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 completion. The two-week construction schedule in Garden City entails:
- On Monday, July 13, crews will be finishing work 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. It is expected that breakdown of the work site will occur within the next week. Travelers should be advised of possible single lane closures in the eastbound lane of Stewart Avenue east of Clinton Road during the drilling process.
- On Thursday, July 23, swabbing of the conduits between Splice Vault No. 15, located on Westminster Road just south of First Street, and Splice Vault No. 16, located just north of Third Street on Rockaway Avenue, will occur. Crews will generally work near the splice vault manholes. Work is planned for daytime hours. Single lane closures and traffic controls are expected with this activity.
