Message from Richard Nicolello, Presiding Officer, 9th Legislative District

March 18, 2020

Dear Neighbor,

Coronavirus Update:

As of today, there are 278 total confirmed cases in Nassau County, with 13 residents hospitalized, two in critical condition. Just today, there have been 142 more confirmed cases than yesterday (as of this morning). Dr Larry Eisenstein, Nassau’s Commissioner of Health, indicated that this large jump in confirmed case was primarily due to increased testing. More commercial labs have come online in recent days. Dr. Eisenstein believes that 70-80% of the new confirmed cases are from one of these labs (LabCorp). We continue to push to get information regarding those who have recovered from the virus. We believe that we cannot get a complete picture of the status of the virus from just confirmed cases alone.

Dr. Eisenstein also indicated that the average incubation period for those with the virus is 5-6 days. Individuals with the virus will likely begin to have symptoms within 5-6 days of exposure.

As most of you know, there is now a drive-thru Coronavirus testing site operating at Jones Beach, located at West End, 350 Bay Parkway, Field 2. Scheduling for the testing is being handled exclusively by the State of New York. If any residents have questions or believe they are showing symptoms, please contact the testing site at 1-888-364-3065 to make an appointment. Please be advised that appointments are necessary to get tested at Jones Beach.

Other testing sites have been opened at Urgent Care facilities in Little Neck and Jericho. These sites will also be open by appointment only, which can be scheduled by calling (516) 874-0411.

As of now, the Town of North Hempstead’s garbage collection schedule will continue as usual.

With respect to grocery stores for seniors and shoppers with vulnerabilities:

1. Target will reserve the first hour of shopping each Wednesday to support vulnerable guests, including the elderly and those with underlying health concerns.

2. Stew Leonards will open half an hour early each day to allow vulnerable shoppers – seniors and those with vulnerable immune systems – to shop in a less crowded environment.

3. Stop & Shop will allow shoppers, ages 60 and older as well as customers who may have weakened immune systems and are more susceptible to COVID-19. to shop in a less crowded environment between the hours of 6am-7:30am daily.

The following stores will also have "senior only" hours:

• Shop Rite 2335 New Hyde Park Rd New Hyde Park, NY 11042 Starting tomorrow 6AM -7AM

• C-Town Supermarkets 167 Tulip Ave, Floral Park, NY 11001 7AM open to Seniors. 7:30 AM General public

• Kings Food Markets 870 Franklin Ave Garden City 7AM -8AM only Seniors allowed to shop

• Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace 2330 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow 7AM-8AM

Effective immediately — the state will temporarily halt the collection of medical and student debt owed to the State of New York and referred to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for collection, for at least a 30-day period, in response to growing financial impairments resulting from the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts and ideas you have with respect to the county or on any particular issue where I may be of assistance. You may contact me at 516-571-6209 or by email. Thank you.

Rich Nicolello

Presiding Officer

Nassau County Legislature

Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building

1550 Franklin Avenue Mineola, New York 11501

Village Election Postponed

Dear Residents,

Governor Cuomo announced that all Village Elections would be postponed until April 28th due to precautionary measures to control the spread of COVID-19. 

Thank you.  Please stay safe and healthy.

The Village of Munsey Park

Village Hall

In order to mitigate the spread of COVID 19 to our staff, residents and visitors, Munsey Park Village Hall will be open by “Appointment Only” for the next two weeks, with the exception of the Village Election on March 18th from 12pm to 9pm.

If any resident in the Village needs support or assistance during this unusual time, please reach out to any of our Village staff by email tgibbons@munseypark.org and mpmclean@munseypark.org or call 516-365-7790.

 The Village of Munsey Park

Letter from NYS Department of Health Re: COVID-19

Please double click on the attached box to open a letter from Dr. Howard Zucker, Health Commissioner for New York State Department of Health.

Village Election March 18, 2020 - Noon to 9 PM

The Incorpoated Village of Munsey Park will hold an election on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at Village Hall - 1777 Northern Blvd. from noon to 9pm. The following are the candidates for the two open Trustee seats each for a two year term:

John Dellaquila

Regina Im

Gregory LiCalzi

Anthony M. Sabino

Board of Trustees Winter Update 2020

BOARD OF TRUSTEES WINTER 2020 UPDATE

The Board of Trustees hopes all our residents are enjoying this mild winter and are having a great start to the new year. Please see below for some Village highlights and what is going on around the Village. The Board is preparing the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year and the Village election will take place next month.

IN REMEMBRANCE: The Village of Munsey Park would like to take a moment to remember and honor one of our local heroes, Sgt. James “Jimmy” Regan. Sgt. Regan paid the ultimate sacrifice February 9th, 2007. This year marks the 13th anniversary of his death and we honor his sacrifice to our country. The Regan family began Lead the Way Fund in Jimmy’s honor and if you are interested in learning more about the great work they do, information can be found at Leadthewayfund.org.

BUDGET: The Board is in the process of preparing the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, which begins on June 1 of this year. We will present the budget at our next meeting in March and the board will be voting on the budget at the April meeting. The details of the budget discussion will be in our next update.

VILLAGE ELECTION: On Wednesday, March 18th, the Village will hold elections for two Board of Trustee positions. The polls will be open from 12pm to 9pm at Village Hall. Deputy Mayor Jennifer Noone will not be seeking re-election and the following have submitted petitions to be on the ballot. Current Trustee, Anthony M. Sabino will be running to retain his seat as Trustee. Munsey Park residents John DellAquila, Regina Im and Greg Licalzi will also be on the ballot. Please be reminded that election signs are not allowed on resident property. We hope to see everyone out on election day.

ROADS: The Village is in communication with the MLWD regarding a possible shared work project on the repaying of parts of Park Avenue, specifically Ridge Crescent to Manhasset Woods Road. MLWD intends to replace water main lines on Park Avenue in the fall of this year or in 2021. We are still in the preliminary phases of this project and will not know an exact time frame until further communication. The Village would like to repave the rest of Park Avenue during this project, but a review of the current budget and the final debt payment of current road bonds from 2007 will determine this decision. In the meantime, the Village plans on arranging another road project if the Park Avenue repave gets pushed off to 2021. Kensett Road and Bingham Circle are in need of a road improvement and the Village will begin working with the Village engineer to arrange this project. It is imperative to Village infrastructure needs that the Village execute various road projects every year. We will be discussing these issues at future board meetings and will keep you up to date with the Village road plans.

TRAFFIC & SAFETY: In response to continued residents complaints regarding traffic, speeding and pedestrian safety in the Village, the Board is currently considering engaging a traffic consultant to review the Village traffic and speeding issues. This will allow us to broaden our education on the various traffic issues in the Village, provide expert assessment and solutions to these problems, increase enforcement and enact appropriate traffic laws and policies. Please remember that safety begins with us - slow down, stop at stop signs and get off your phone. By driving safely through the neighborhood, we can all be an example of safe driving and we can ease the traffic of others behind us and around us, especially on Park Avenue. The Board will be discussing these issues at the March meeting, more to follow.

BAC APPOINTMENT: The Village would like to announce the appointment of Joanie Toth to the Building Advisory Committee. Joanie and her husband Robert moved to Munsey Park in 2013. They have two girls, ages four and one. We wish Joanie all the best in her new role and also thank all of our volunteers for their time and commitment to the betterment of the Village.

HAVING WORK DONE ON YOUR HOME?: The Village would like to remind residents of some of the Village rules while undergoing renovations in the Village. Did you know that:

• Contracting and professional landscaping working hours are Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm and no work allowed on Sundays.

• Contractors may not park on front lawns. If a resident has an issue with parking restrictions on the street please contact Village Hall to obtain a temporary parking pass.

• If you paint your house, same for same, you do not need to obtain a permit from the Village. However, if you plan to paint your house or front door a different color than what you currently have, you need to obtain a permit from the Village.

• Any modifications to your property six inches or more above property grade require BAC approval.

• Please remember to clean up leaves and other debris from your property to prevent any debris from migrating from your lawn onto the roadway.

PARK RECYCLE CANS: At our last meeting, Girl Scout Troop 548 member and MHS junior, Courtney Gibbons, presented an idea to the Board to obtain recyclable cans for the Village Parks. Courtney is in pursuit of obtaining the highest award a Girl Scout Senior can earn, the Gold Award. To achieve this goal, Courtney will conduct a fundraiser in the community to donate to the Village recyclable cans for Copley Pond and Waldmann Memorial Park. Currently, neither park has recyclable cans for bottles and cans, just one waste container that collects all waste. Her fundraising will cover all expenses for this environmental improvement project to the Village. If you would like to know more about this project or help Courtney achieve her goal, please contact her at courtneygibby11@gmail.com.

WALDMANN BRICK PROGRAM: This is a reminder that the "Name a Beautification Brick" program will continue until spring. The cost of an engraved brick at Waldmann Memorial Park is $100. You may find the beautification brick form on the Village website, please submit one form per donated brick to Village Hall. Participate in the beautification of the Village and be a part of history in Munsey Park, donate a brick today.

VILLAGE BOARD MEETING DATES:

• Board of Trustees. Meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm in Village Hall.

• Architectural Review Board. Meets the second Wednesday and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm in Village Hall. All applications must be complete and submitted by 2:30pm the Wednesday before each meeting.

• Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board. Meets as needed, as requested.

VILLAGE EMAIL: As always, we encourage you to tell your friends and neighbors about the Board of Trustees Update. To sign-up for our Village email list, please contact Village Hall at 516.365.7790 or email Deputy Clerk Maureen McLean at mpmclean@munseypark.org. Those on our list will receive timely communications from the Village. VOLUNTEERS: If any residents have a desire to get involved with the Village, please reach out to Mayor Ceriello or any of the other Trustees.

NEXT MEETING: Our next meeting will be Wednesday March 11th, at 7:30pm.

For additional information please visit our website at www.Munseypark.org.

THE VILLAGE OF MUNSEY PARK

Lawrence A. Ceriello, Mayor (lceriello@munseypark.org)

Jennifer Noone, Deputy Mayor (jnoone@munseypark.org)

Antonio D'Angelo, Trustee (adangelo@munseypark.org)

Anthony M. Sabino, Trustee (amsabino@munseypark.org)

Joseph P. Williams, Trustee (jwilliams@munsey park.org)

Munsey Park Christmas Tree Lighting and Light the Night

Beautification Brick Program and Form

Board of Trustees November 2019 Update

BOARD OF TRUSTEES NOVEMBER 2019 UPDATE

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and it provides us the opportunity to reflect on what we are thankful for. We have so much to be thankful for, but we are especially thankful for you, our residents, for your trust and support, as well as our hard working Village staff. We are also extremely thankful for everyone in our community who volunteers their time. Thank you for sharing your love with our Village and community and for being an inspiration to us all. It truly make this Village a great place to live and raise our families. May the good things of life be yours in abundance, not only at Thanksgiving but throughout the year. We hope you and your family and friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season!

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AND LIGHT THE NIGHT:  The Village is excited to announce that on Sunday, December 8th at 5:30pm the Village of Munsey Park and the Munsey Park Women's Club will hold the Second Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Copley Pond.  This great tradition was started last year and will coincide with Light the Night again.  Join in on the excitement of kicking-off the holiday season at Copley Pond as we wait for Santa to arrive and lighting of the Christmas Tree.  Cookies and hot chocolate will be served and the Boy Scouts will be singing Christmas carols.  Please join us in this new Village tradition and don't forget to bring an ornament to hang on the Copley Christmas tree.

Schedule of Activities:
• 5pm.  Place Light the Night Kits in front of your home.
• 5:30pm.  Gather in Copley Pond to decorate the tree, sing carols, cookies and hot chocolate will be served.
• 6pm.  Christmas Tree lighting begins.
• 6:15pm. Santa arrives with his helpers in the fire truck.

Light the Night celebrates unity and pride in our Village.  The front yards and parks of the Village and neighboring Villages are lit up by candlelight starting promptly at 5pm.  Light the night kits are $20 each, with additional kits for larger properties for an extra $10.  The contributions go towards the beautification of Munsey Park.  Light kits are available at Village Hall or you may contact Becky Tountas at becky.rubin@gmail.com.

ROADS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS:  As residents have probably noticed, the Village recently completed the curb-to-curb repaving of Eakins Road (south of Park Ave.), Bellows Lane (west of Manhasset Woods Road), Stuart Place (end to end).  This work entailed placement of Belgian-block curbs, repair of the original concrete road bed and an overlay of asphalt.   The Village also resurfaced Burnham Place and repaired large sections of Nassau Avenue.  The Village also rebuilt the decorative brick entrance walls at the eastern end of Park Avenue at Port Blvd.  The simultaneous occurrence of these improvement projects was a huge undertaking by the Village and illustrates the commitment of the Board of Trustees to repair, replace and restore the Village infrastructure.  The cost of the work was funded entirely by cash on hand.  The Board of Trustees is currently planning road improvements projects for 2020 and we expect to provide further information in future newsletters.

VILLAGE BEAUTIFICATION: This Autumn, the Village is continuing its efforts to beautify the parks, entrances and roads of the Village.  Readers will recall that in late 2018, the Village planted a total of 2500 daffodil bulbs in Waldmann Memorial Park and on the north-side hill of Park Avenue.  In April and May of this year, the resulting bloom was truly spectacular.   This Autumn, through the generosity of the Munsey Park Women’s Club, the Village is continuing that effort.  We expect to plant almost 5000 additional daffodils around the Village.  We would also like to acknowledge, with gratitude, the generosity of Jimmy Schimmenti of Grounds Guys who has donated the labor (and some material) to plant many of these daffodils and other flowering plants around the Village.
 
TREES:   The Village is continuing its program of planting trees in the right-of-way around the Village.  If you would like a tree planted along the street adjacent to your home, let Maureen McLean in Village Hall know and you will be added to a list.

WALDMANN BRICK PROGRAM REOPENS:  Due to popular demand, the Village will be reopening the "Name a Beautification Brick" program.  When the renovation of Waldmann Memorial Park occurred few years ago, implemented by the Munsey Park Women's Club, residents 'donated a brick' which was engraved as requested and placed in the sitting area and walkway in the park.  Fortunately, there is more room in the park for engraved bricks.  The cost of an engraved brick is $100.  You may find the beatification brick form on the Village website, please submit one form per donated brick to Village Hall.  These bricks will be placed in the park in the spring of 2020.  Donating a brick makes a great holiday gift and provides a fun and memorable way for you to participate in the beautification of the Village.

TRAFFIC CONSULTANT:  The Village has begun the process of studying traffic patterns and issues in the Village with a particular emphasis on non-resident cut-through traffic (especially during rush hour), speed and safety.  The Board of Trustees is in the process of interviewing a well-known traffic engineer to advise the Village on methods to address some these issues.  While it is too early to provide additional details on this effort, expect to hear more about these efforts in future newsletters.
 
GARBAGE:  Reminder to all Residents: it is illegal to place any garbage or trash at the curb.  We know that in doing so, the homeowners are trying to ensure pick-up (and perhaps helping the crew from Meadow Carting) but putting anything at the curb is illegal, unsightly and dangerous.  The Board will enforce the Village Code and repeat offenders will receive summons.  If you are disposing of a large item, please call Meadow Carting at 516 - 338-0121 to inform them of the item and arrange pickup.  Please remember that there is no garbage or recycling pickup on holidays.

WATER DISTRICT UPDATE: At our last Board of Trustees meeting, Manhasset Lakeville Water Commissioner Steve Flynn appeared before the Board to discuss the Water District plans for replacing water mains along Park Avenue (from Manhasset Woods Road to Ridge Crescent) and to suggest ways for the Village and the Water District to work together to accomplish a repaving of Park Avenue.  The Board was particularly impressed with Steve’s familiarity of the issues and concerns of Village residents over the water tower and related issues and appreciated his concern for the interests of Village residents.  On a related note, Mr. Flynn, a lifetime Manhasset resident, is running for re-election as a water commissioner. Polling will take place on December 10th, 2019 at the Manhasset Fire Station on Bayview Avenue; polls are open from 12pm-9pm.

MACY'S REZONING: The Manhasset Times plans to hold an event to discuss the rezoning of Macy's from commercial property to residential property by Brookfield Development and the impact on Manhasset infrastructure, schools and residents. The initial event was postponed and we will notify you immediately when we hear when and where this meeting will take place.

BOY SCOUT OF AMERICA EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT:  Boy Scout Alexander Katsoulis attended our Village meeting to inform us of his Eagle Scout project.  Alex is a life scout going for his eagle.  To complete this, Alex needs to fundraise for, plan and execute a project that will add value to the community.  Alex has chosen to donate his time and efforts towards a project for the betterment of Munsey Park.  Alex is working on a compost mulching system for the Village; Village debris from leaves, grass and wood will compost to mulch in a developed area near Village Hall.  If you would like to know more about this project or would like to help Alex achieve his goal, please email him at alexanderkatsoulis04@gmail.com.

WINTER REMINDERS:  As Winter approaches, please remember:
• Residents are responsible for removing snow from the sidewalks in front of their homes.
• Parked vehicles must be moved from Village streets to enable snow plows to safely do their job.
• Make sure your house number is visible from the street and in the dark.  This is imperative in an emergency to find your house at night.
• Inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries.
• Keep hydrants close to your home clear of debris and snow.
• Keep emergency phone numbers near your phone.
• Lock your homes and cars. Do not leave any valuable in your car and if you have a burglar alarm for your home, use it. 
• Remember to drive safely through the Village, especially now that darkenss arrives early and the weather can be hazardous for all travelers.

TOYS FOR TOTS:  With the holidays right around the corner, the Village is now accepting donations for Toys for Tots.  New, unwrapped toys for children of all ages can be dropped off at the Village Hall through December 13.  Thank you for your generosity this holiday season.

VILLAGE BOARD MEETING DATES:
• Board of Trustees.  Meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm in Village Hall.
• Architectural Review Board. Meets the second Wednesday and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm in Village Hall.  All applications must be complete and submitted by 2:30pm the Wednesday before each meeting.
• Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board. Meets as needed, as requested.

VILLAGE EMAIL:  As always, we encourage you to tell your friends and neighbors about the Board of Trustees Update.  To sign-up for our Village email list, please contact Village Hall at 516.365.7790 or email Deputy Clerk Maureen McLean at mpmclean@munseypark.org.  Those on our list will receive timely communications from the Village.

The Village office will be closed November 28-29.

For additional information please visit our website at www.Munseypark.org.

The Village of Munsey Park

Lawrence A. Ceriello, Mayor (lceriello@munseypark.org)
Jennifer Noone, Deputy Mayor (jnoone@munseypark.org)
Antonio D'Angelo, Trustee (adangelo@munseypark.org)
Anthony M. Sabino, Trustee (amsabino@munseypark.org)
Joseph P. Williams, Trustee (jwilliams@munsey park.org)

Village Hall Thanksgiving Holiday Hours

Thanksgiving Holiday Hours:

Wednesday, November 27th closed at 12 noon

Thursday, November 28th - Closed

Friday, November 29th - Closed

Board of Trustees September 2019 Update

BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEPTEMBER 2019 UPDATE

The Board of Trustees wishes everyone a great start to the school year and a happy first day of fall!  Summer is sadly over, but we are looking forward to what autumn brings to our Village.  The Board did not meet in August so we wanted to update you on issues discussed at our September meeting and other issues that are currently affecting the Village. 

REMEMBRANCE:  Please take the time to remember all the families that were affected by September 11, 2001, especially our Village residents.  They include Thomas Burke, Paul R. Casio, James Connor, Joseph D. Dickey Jr., John F. Iskyan, Timothy C. Kelly, and Frank Salvaterra.

TRAFFIC & SAFETY:  School is open and we ask all residents to SLOW DOWN.  Please take your time driving through the Village and be aware of children and pedestrians in the neighborhood.  Slow down, come to a complete stop at the stop signs and find a safe spot to drop off and pick up your student by the school.  Parking measures around the school are designed for the safety of the residents.  Speed control and safety starts with us.

ROADS: The South Eakins, Bellows Lane, Stuart Place road improvement project is currently underway and we thank all of the residents for their cooperation and patience during the construction.  Construction will continue for the next few weeks.  Burnham Place will be repaved at the same time the paving occurs on Eakins, Bellows and Stuart.  Minor road repairs will be also conducted this week and next on Nassau Avenue.   If possible, for your safety, we ask residents to avoid these areas during construction.  

MPWC KICK OFF PARTY:  Please join the Munsey Park Women’s Club as they host the annual MPWC Kick Off Cocktail Party.  Whether you have lived in the neighborhood for a short time or for many years, the party is great opportunity to catch up with friends old and new and to learn about the social and philanthropic events the MPWC has planned for the coming year. 

The party will be held on Wednesday, September 25th at the home of Valerie Siener, 271 Park Avenue, at 8pm.  The kickoff event is free and open to all. Please RSVP to mpwomensclub@yahoo.com. 

HALLOWEEN:  Halloween is a little more than a month away.  The Board of Trustees wishes to urge residents (especially those with small children) to be safe.  Nightfall comes earlier at that time of the year and it is often difficult for drivers to see those in dark costumes.  In planning your activities on that day, please bear this in mind.
 
In addition, we have noticed (as we are sure that you have) that large crowds gather on Ryder Road.  At first, this was charming.  But in the last few years, the crowds have increased beyond the point of it being fun and it is a growing concern in the community.   The situation is exacerbated by the fact that large groups visit us from outside Munsey Park.  While we welcome all to our community, unfortunately, the large crowds come with heavy traffic increasing the chances of injury on our narrow roads.   While the activities on Ryder Road are not sponsored or encouraged by the Village, we will continue to monitor the situation.  We urge all residents and visitors to avoid Ryder Road and trick or treat on Munsey Park’s other beautiful streets.  We are sure that you will find many treats on these other streets.

MOW, DON’T BLOW:  Mowing your leaves - also known as mulch mowing - into tiny pieces on your lawn, is healthier for your lawn and soil than piling or bagging them to be removed.  As the shredded leaves decompose, their nutrients enhance the soil and provide free organic mulch for your garden beds. The pollutants from leaf blowers and trucks are avoided.  If you use a landscaper, ask them to mulch mow your leaves instead of blowing the leaves into a pile at the curb.

NEW TO THE VILLAGE:  Have a new neighbor?  Please tell your new neighbors about the great place we call home, the Village of Munsey Park.   Encourage them to check out our website at www.Munseypark.org and to stop by Village Hall.  Tara and Maureen will give them a warm welcome and help them with any questions they may have.  New residents can join our Village email distribution list to receive Village updates and newsletters.  Welcome packets are also available to new residents at Village Hall.

STORM ASSISTANCE INFORMATION & IMPORTANT NUMBERS:
With the possibility of significant weather events approaching our area this season, it is a good time to revisit your family’s level of emergency prepared-ness.  Do you have a communications plan?  How about an emergency kit?  Have you practiced your plan?  The Village is here to help, but individual and family emergency preparation is critical to staying safe during a dangerous storm.  During an emergency situation in the Village, Village Hall will be open for shelter and for any power assistance a resident may need.  Here are some useful phone numbers to keep on hand.

Emergencies: Dial 911
To report power outages or downed power lines:
• PSEG 24 hour hotline: (800) 490-0075
To report gas outages or gas safety emergencies:
• National Grid 24 hour hotline: (800) 490-0045
Information on mass transit service:
• MTA/LIRR/NYC Transit: www.mta.info
• LIRR 24 hour travel information center: 718-217-5477
Up to the minute information about traffic conditions on Long Island’s major roads:
• NYS Department of Transportation’s 511 service: www.511ny.org or call 511.

NO SOLICITATION LIST: If you wish to be placed on a ‘Do Not Solicit List’ please contact Village Hall.

VOLUNTEERS: If any residents have a desire to get involved with the Village, please reach out to Mayor Ceriello or any of the other Trustees.

NEXT MEETING: Our next meeting will be Wednesday October 9, at 7:30pm.

For additional information please visit our website at www.Munseypark.org.

The Village of Munsey Park

Lawrence A. Ceriello,  Mayor (lceriello@munseypark.org)
Jennifer Noone, Deputy Mayor (jnoone@munseypark.org)
Antonio D'Angelo, Trustee (adangelo@munseypark.org)
Anthony M. Sabino, Trustee (amsabino@munseypark.org)
Joseph P. Williams, Trustee (jwilliams@munsey park.org)

ExteNet FAQ'S for Village Residents

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF MUNSEY PARK

FAQs For Distribution To Residents Regarding ExteNet

Does the Village have the legal authority to block the Cell Facility?

No. Cell facilities are regulated by federal law, and the Village has virtually no authority in this matter.

Can the Village regulate the level of Radio Frequency (“RF”) emissions from the Cell Facility?

No. RF emissions are set by federal law, and the Village has no authority to challenge a facility that otherwise complies with federal law.

Can the Village require Extenet to demonstrate its RF emissions fall within federal safety standards?

Yes. The Village has already required Extenet to certify that the Cell Facility’s RF emissions fall within federally mandated safety limits.

Has Extenet certified that the Cell Facility’s RF emissions fall within federal safety limits?

Yes. Extenet has certified that the Cell Facility’s RF emissions shall be less than one per cent of the federally allowed limit.

Will the RF emissions from the Cell Facility be at ground level?

No. Extenet has certified that all RF emissions will be at least thirty six (36) feet above the height of a six (6) foot tall person standing under the Cell Facility.

Why will the Cell Facility be in the shape of a flagpole with a pedestal?

Your Board negotiated with Extenet to have the Cell Facility comprised within a flagpole and a ground pedestal as the most aesthetically pleasing alternative, in keeping with the Village’s colonial architecture, and thus avoiding an unsightly and obtrusive cell tower or utility pole.

Has Extenet demonstrated a need for this Cell Facility within our Village?

Yes. Extenent has provided evidence, as required by federal law, to demonstrate its need for the Cell Facility within our Village, and that Extenet has no viable alternative to the proposed location.

Has Extenet certified that it has explored alternatives to placing this Cell Facility at this location, and within our Village?

Yes. Extenet has provided evidence, again as required by federal law, to demonstrate it has explored alternatives both within and outside our Village, and the proposed site is the only viable location.

Has Extenet certified that it will construct and operate the Cell Facility in accordance with applicable federal law?

Yes. Extenet has certified that the construction and operation of the Cell Facility will comply with applicable federal law.

Why the proposed location on the Village-owned triangle at the intersection of Park Avenue and Manhasset Woods Road?

Extenet originally proposed to place the Cell Facility on a utility pole in front of a private home. Your Board negotiated with Extenet to place the Cell Facility on public property and not in front of a residence.

Does the present application by Extenet permit it to erect additional cell facilities within the Village?

No. The current application is limited to this one site. If Extenet wishes to place additional cell facilities within the Village, Extenet must make a new application, which will be subject to the same laws and review process discussed here.

Will the Cell Facility improve cell phone coverage?

Yes. Extenet has represented that this Cell Facility will improve coverage for cell phones and similar electronic devices, and will accommodate new advances in wireless technology.

Will the Cell Facility affect real estate values?

Extenet has provided evidence that the Cell Facility will not negatively affect real estate values, but rather should enhance them, given the improvement in telecommunications.

Are neighboring villages dealing with this issue?

Yes. Extenet has filed applications for multiple cell facilities with Flower Hill, Plandome, Manor, Plandome Heights, and more. It must be emphasized that local authority in this matter is severely limited by federal law. Nonetheless, as described above, your Board protected the interests of residents by, among other things, negotiating for the cell facility to not be in front of a residence, to assure Extenet certifies compliance with federal safety standards, and so forth. Notably, and as mentioned, other villages are dealing with applications for a dozen or more cell facilities, whereas the Village is dealing with only one at this time.

Is the Village permitted to charge Extenet a fee for placing this cell facility within the Village?

Yes, but in a very limited amount. Once again, federal law strictly controls, and it sharply limits any fee the Village might charge to a very modest amount. The precise dollar amount is still being discussed, and will be stipulated via contract. To be sure, the paramount concern of your Board has been and will always be the best interests of the residents, and not revenue.

When will the construction of the Cell Facility commence, and how long shall it take?

The exact start date of any construction is, of course, dependent upon completion of the Village review process. With respect to the duration of any work, we have inquired of Extenet as to a time frame. Please look for further updates from your Board.

Will construction of the Cell Facility negatively impact residents?

Your Board has emphasized to Extenent that it must take all steps necessary and appropriate to minimize any disruption or inconvenience to residents during construction of the Cell Facility.

Will the Board require Extenet to appear at a public hearing, and will the Board hear evidence from Extenet’s representatives at that public hearing?

Yes. Your Board is requiring Extenet to appear at a public hearing. At that hearing, Extenet will be required to have its representatives publicly testify with respect to many of the matters set forth above.

When would construction commence?

If and when the Village approves the Extenet application for the cell facility, thereafter Extenet will contact PSE&G and Verizon to “walk the site,” i.e., to coordinate with the other utilities. If the site does not require any preparatory work, then the utilities typically issue their own licenses within 45 days. If preparatory work is required, then that time frame is naturally extended.

Once the other utilities give permission, the cell facility is typically installed within seven (7) days.

How long would construction take?

Extenet’s construction for the cell facility should take approximately 4-8 hours. Thereafter, Verizon must place and splice fiber cable to the cell facility.

What steps will Extenet take to minimize disruption to traffic and inconvenience to residents?

Construction will be undertaken after the morning rush hour, and Extenet expects work to be completed prior to 3 P.M. the same day. Signs, cones, and traffic signals shall be employed in order to assure safety and good order. Prior to commencing construction, Extenet will give notice by distributing written flyers to nearby residents.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES SUMMER 2019 UPDATE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES SUMMER 2019 UPDATE

Summer is here!  Please take a moment to read about the various events and projects happening around the Village.  These include Movie Night at Waldman Park, Village tax reminder, infrastructure improvements, the Macys development and some other additional information.  If any resident has any questions or concerns, please contact Tara or Maureen at Village Hall.  Have a happy and safe summer. 

TAXES:  Village taxes are due no later than July 1st without penalty.  Taxes were mailed out a couple of weeks ago.  If you have not received your tax bill in the mail, please call Village Hall.  Village hall hours are listed below.

MOVIE NIGHT AT WALDMANN: The Village of Munsey Park and the Munsey Park Women’s Club invite you to attend the second annual Movie Night at Waldmann Memorial Park on Monday evening, June 24 at 8.30 pm.  Movie poster below.  Hope to see you there!

ROAD IMPROVEMENT:  The Village engineer is finalizing the bid books for the Stuart Place, South Eakins Road, Bellows Lane and Burnham Place road work.  We should be bidding for this project shortly.  As a result of the timing of the bids and then the board’s selection of a contractor, we are anticipating a construction date for August, a little later than originally anticipated.  The Village will send more information regarding the road project to all affected residents once we finalize the bid process. 

ENTRANCE IMPROVEMENT:  The final phase of entrance improvements to Manhasset Woods Road (at Northern Blvd) and at the bottom of the Park Avenue Hill have been completed with the installation of lighting on the brick pillars and entranceways.  This soft, LED lighting was intended to highlight the beauty of these elegant entrances while at the same time illuminating dark entrances.  We hope you enjoy the lighting.  In the future, we will be attending to the entrances at Park Avenue (on the Port Blvd end) and Copley Road (at Northern Blvd).

TRAFFIC:  We have observed, as we are sure you have, an increase of traffic on Park Avenue and Manhasset Woods Road during the morning and evening commute.  A spot check of some of the license plates on such cars indicates that we are seeing commuters from communities east of Munsey Park using these streets as short-cuts to the LIRR train station and private parking lots near the train station.  We will not accept that Munsey Park residents must tolerate such traffic.  The Board is performing an assessment of measures that can be undertaken to control pass-through traffic, including, stricter enforcement of our traffic laws.  On a related note, we urge all Munsey Park residents to strictly observe speed limits, traffic lights and stop signs.  Driving at or under the speed limit may be a low-tech way of deterring drivers from using our streets as a “fast lane to the train”. 

Speaking of driving slowly, the end of school is approaching, so please SLOW DOWN.  Please take your time driving through the Village and be aware of pedestrians and children playing in the neighborhood.  Speed control and safety starts with us.

LOCAL ISSUES COMMITTEE:  In the future, you’ll be hearing more from this committee (and it may end up with a better name) but for now, some background.  In the past year, the Village has had to deal with matters which might fairly be viewed as threats to the quality of life in Munsey Park.  The recent proposal to open a Medmen store on Northern Blvd is a good example.  In response to community outcry, that proposal has been withdrawn and both the Village and the TONH enacted legislation designed to contain future similar threats.  Now comes the proposal to redevelop the Macys shopping center as “Manhasset Square”, a mixed use development containing 355 rental apartments, 72,000 sf of office space, 73,400 sf of retail and a 200-room hotel.  This development will potentially add heavy traffic on local roads, including Plandome Road, exacerbate the parking situation at the LIRR train station, adversely affect retail on Plandome Road and add unknown number of children to the Manhasset school system.  The Board of Trustees believes that this is precisely the type of proposal which, while outside the boundaries of Munsey Park, requires input from Munsey Park and an opportunity for the concerns of Munsey Park residents to be heard.  To that end, the Board has asked two prominent and active residents to form this committee to help protect the interests of Munsey Park residents.  John Dellaquila and Jeff Tantillo will co-chair this committee. This committee is in formation and if you’re interested in assisting, please let Village Hall know.  More to come.

To sign a petition against the re-zoning of the Macys property please visit https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-re-zoning-of-macys-from-commercial-to-residential-use.html.

MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY:  Thank you to Munsey Park resident Greg LiCalzi Jr. for leading the Memorial Day ceremony at Waldmann Memorial Park and for reminding us of the sacrifices so many have made for our country.  The picture below shows residents gathered in the park to read the names of the fallen heroes from our neighborhood. 

GUTTER IMPROVEMENT/ CLEANING and STREET SWEEPING:  The Village has been working on reinforcing various gutters in the Village with new concrete for support and stability.  We are also in the process of pumping and cleaning out the Village gutters.  These infrastructure improvements are necessary to allow for proper drainage in the Village.  Village street sweeping will follow this month. 

SAFTEY UPDATE:  The Village Clerk informed the board that an intruder recently entered a home on Burnham Place.  As far as we know, no one was hurt because the intruder was scared off by a family member still in the residence.  A close call, and, gladly everything seems to be alright.  But we take this opportunity to remind all residents to lock your house doors, front and back, lock up your vehicles, keep your home well lit and, when possible, let neighbors know when you are away.  It’s the summer, and as people go away for vacations and otherwise relax, it’s prime season for break ins.  You don’t know who is watching you pack for that long weekend and you are liable to come to home to nasty surprise.  So please, stay vigilant.

SUMMER SCHEDULE:  Village Hall will be open Monday through Thursday from 9am - 4pm and close at 12 pm on Fridays through Labor Day.   You may contact Village Hall at (516) 365 -7790.

VOLUNTEERS: If any residents have a desire to get involved with the Village, please reach out to Mayor Ceriello or any of the other Trustees.

NEXT MEETING: Our next meeting will be Wednesday, July 10 at 7:30pm.  Just a reminder that there is no board meeting in August, the next meeting following our July meeting will be in September.  

For additional information please visit our website at www.Munseypark.org.

The Village of Munsey Park

Lawrence A. Ceriello,  Mayor (lceriello@munseypark.org)

Jennifer Noone, Deputy Mayor (jnoone@munseypark.org)

Antonio D'Angelo, Trustee (adangelo@munseypark.org)

Anthony M. Sabino, Trustee (amsabino@munseypark.org)

Joseph P. Williams, Trustee (jwilliams@munseypark.org)