Grappling with Village's Billing Policies

By Kathianne Boniello

If the first Village Board meeting of 1998 is any indication, Garden City is in for a smooth and swift year.

The Board of Trustees approved most of the items on their agenda last night without discussion, except for the issue of billing.

The billing issue, raised by Trustee Bruce A. Torino, concerns the format of the village bills seen by the trustees and the amount of detailed information included in them.

Trustee Harold P. Hecken, acting in his capacity as deputy mayor for the absent Mayor Tauches, said, "The question is the format of the billing, not the performance."

Torino's discussion arose not only from a desire to improve the way the Village conducts itself, but concerns about business vendors, or those providing services to the Village.

"In this particular case, I'm trying to get more detail," Torino said in reference to his desire to alter the billing format.

Trustee Peter A. Bee, head of the Finance Committee, said, "I know that Trustee Torino is discouraged and disappointed that the committee didn't move more quickly, but just because the committee hasn't come back and said, 'Yes, let's change it' doesn't mean that the committee hasn't grappled with the issues."

However, efforts have been made to include detail in the billing format, according to Counsel Gary Fishberg.

"We have tried to increase the detail in the response to the trustee's comments and will continue to try to increase the detail," he said.

In other news, the traffic committee agreed earlier that night to institute changes in parking field 7S. (The municipal parking lot behind the stores on the south side of Seventh Street.)

Trustee Eileen Collins reported to the board that the committee agreed to change parking field 7S to one row each of one, two, and three hour parking.

"We are hoping that this change can accommodate the restaurants and beauty parlors who need the longer time, and increase the flow of traffic for those businesses that are more in and out," Collins explained.

The board also announced the members of this year's Grievance Day Committee, which includes Trustees Harold Hecken, Eileen Collins, Robert Lewis, Lawrence Kettner, and Village Administrator Robert Schoelle.

According to Village Clerk Joan Gallaer, the Grievance Committee will be available for four hours on Tuesday, Feb. 17 to hear taxpayers' objections to their property assessments.