BOARD OF TRUSTEES OCTOBER 2018 UPDATE
Welcome Autumn! Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year and we hope you are enjoying the change of season and colors. Please read all about the news and events that are going on in the Village. If you can, please fly your flags proudly on Veterans Day as thanks and remembrance to our service men and women who have sacrificed and served so that we may live free in this great country. As always, our village staff is here to assist, so please don’t hesitate to call or stop by Village Hall.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY ON NORTHERN BLVD: We have heard your objections to the proposal to locate a marijuana dispensary on Northern Blvd. Munsey Park residents are speaking with one voice: no one wants the marijuana dispensary to be located on Northern Blvd. We view it as threat to the safety and well-being of our children and residents. It will negatively impact the quality of life in Munsey Park and in Manhasset generally. However, since the location of the proposed dispensary is outside the boundaries of Munsey Park, our options, as a Village, are limited. The Mayor and Board of Trustees have expressed our concerns to state, town and other local officials and are monitoring the situation. We urge all residents to contact their state and town officials to express your concerns. Yesterday, our Town Councilwoman, Dina De Giorgio, filed a resolution to set a hearing date to vote on a zoning resolution limiting the locations of medical marijuana dispensaries. The resolution will be proposed at the next meeting of the Town of North Hempstead Board on Thursday October 25th at 7:00 pm. at Town Hall. We urge all interested residents to attend. We will continue to report to you as we learn more about this situation.
ROADS: As we continue to address the infrastructure needs of the Village, we are focusing on the worst rated roads according to the VMP Road Ratings Map, which can be found on the Village’s website. As a result, the next project will be the resurfacing of Hunt Lane (Abbey Road East to Sully Drive), Earle Place and Morse Lane. The Village received numerous bids for this project and called a special meeting on October 2nd to select a contractor. The Village selected the lowest responsible bidder, United Paving Corp., at $118,750. This project consists of milling the road, repairing the concrete base and repaving the road with asphalt. It is expected that construction will begin sometime in November. The Village will be sending out more information to the residents in this area. The Village would like to thank Senator Elaine Phillips for the $150,000 road grant awarded to the Village which will assist us with this project.
INTRODUCTION OF TED BOUTZALIS: Recently, one of the Village’s maintenance crew left the Village to pursue other endeavors. After a thorough search for a new candidate, the Village hired Munsey Park resident Ted Boutzalis. Ted was born and raised in Astoria, Queens. He has lived in Manhasset since 1995 (the past 13 years residing in Munsey Park) with his wife Anna and his two children, William and Alexander. Ted worked in the Hunts Point Produce Market in the South Bronx for 35 years and retired in 2013. Ted continues to be an active Assistant Scout Master for Troop 71. If you see Ted around the Village, please extend him a warm welcome.
EXTENET: Counsel for ExteNet Systems, Inc. (“ExteNet”) recently contacted the Village regarding its reiterated proposal to install a “small cell” on a utility pole at the intersection of Park Avenue and Manhasset Woods Road. Earlier this year, ExteNet had submitted an application with the Village to install this same “small cell” in the Village. When the Village did not grant the application, ExteNet filed a lawsuit against the Village. After Village counsel effectively defended the lawsuit, ExteNet withdrew the request and discontinued the lawsuit. Due to ExteNet’s recent reiterated request to install the “small cell,” the Trustees and Village counsel are now considering the appropriate action to take, including inviting a representative from Extenet at an upcoming monthly meeting.
HALLOWEEN: Halloween will be here soon. As it falls during the week this year, expect activity after school hours during the day and into the evening. The Village of Munsey Park has not planned any event, sanctioned any event or issued permits for any event to occur on Halloween. However, the Village recognizes that children trick or treat on Halloween. Therefore, to keep our streets safe for trick or treaters, we have requested that the 6th/3rd precinct provide us with traffic control and patrols on Halloween night. Also, our traffic control officer and our maintenance crew will help with traffic control in the Village from 3pm-7pm. Please do your best to accompany your child trick-or-treating, where possible.
VILLAGE TREE LIGHTING/LIGHT THE NIGHT WITH MPWC: The Village of Munsey Park, along with the MPWC will reignite the annual tree lighting tradition that was once held in the Village. In conjunction with MPWC Light the Night on Sunday evening December 2nd, a tree lighting ceremony will be held at Copley Pond. All residents are invited to attend. There will be hot chocolate, carolers, games for the kids and a coat drive. More information to follow.
NYS REQUIREMNETS FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY: Earlier this year, the State Legislature, backed by the Governor, implemented new “Employer Requirements” concerning the adoption of a ‘Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy’, which is required to meet certain minimum standards as established by the Department of Labor and the NYS Human Rights Commission. Under the new law, every employer in New York State (including the Village) is required to establish a sexual harassment prevention policy meeting these standards. The Department of Labor in consultation with the Division of Human Rights has established a model sexual harassment prevention policy which meets the minimum requirements and in accordance with the new requirements, the Village has adopted the state recommended model Sexual Harassment Policy for the Village.
PWMOEM: At a recent meeting of the Port Washington Manhasset Office of Emergency Management, the Village participated in a productive discussion of emergency preparedness, and the physical assets possessed by various villages that might be available during a crisis. The PWMOEM hopes to have a representative of PSE & G Long Island attend the next meeting, so we might be updated on the utility’s emergency management plans. One of the keys to emergency management is having mutual aid agreements, and a comprehensive plan for emergency management in place. These are necessary precursors to, not only obtaining the use of emergency equipment, but obtaining reimbursement from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In that regard, our review of our existing agreements and plans is ongoing. We are pleased to confirm that the following agreements are in full force and effect: a) Intermunicipal Agreement with the Town of North Hempstead and the Village, as updated by Mayor DeMento, and running until 2022; b) Mutual Aid Agreement with the PWMOEM and its constituent villages; and c) Mutual Aid Agreement by and between Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Flower Hill, and VMP. A study of a comprehensive emergency management plan is underway, and we will continue to report on pertinent developments.
LEAF & BULK ITEM PICK UP: Arrangements have been made with Meadow Carting for special leaf collection on four consecutive Fridays beginning Friday, November 2nd. Leaves should be bagged in clear or black bags and placed at the curb. Residents are reminded that Meadow Carting is obligated to collect bulk items under our contract with them. Residents must schedule the pick-up with Meadow by calling 516-338-0121. Under no circumstances are items (other than leaves on the specified days) to be left at the curb (even on the day of pickup). Items should be left on the driveway near the house in view of the street. Please make sure that any cars or other items blocking the path to the street are moved so that Meadow can easily move the items down the driveway into the truck.
CAR AND HOME SAEFTY: As the holidays near and it gets darker earlier, we remind residents to be vigilant and lock their homes and cars. Do not leave any valuable items in your car. If you have a burglar alarm, use it whenever you go out and always at night.
TOYS FOR TOTS: The U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is collecting new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December. They plan to distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. Village Hall has a toy donation container if you wish to contribute during normal business hours of 9am – 4pm.
VOLUNTEERS: If any residents have a desire to get involved with the Village, please reach out to Mayor DeMento or any of the other Trustees.
NEXT MEETING: Our next meeting will be November 14th at 7:30pm.
For additional information please visit our website at www.Munseypark.org
VILLAGE OF MUNSEY PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
Frank DeMento, Mayor (fdemento@munseypark.org)
Jennifer Noone, Deputy Mayor (jnoone@munseypark.org)
Lawrence Ceriello, Trustee (lceriello@munseypark.org)
Antonio D'Angelo, Trustee (adangelo@munseypark.org)
Anthony M. Sabino, Trustee (amsabino@munseypark.org)