EPOA President James T. Brady rose during the April 16 Village Board of Trustees meeting in Garden City's Village Hall and read a letter he had written to Village Administrator Robert Schoelle. The letter opened with a reference to an earlier conversation in which Brady had discussed the Village Board's approval of proposed plans for Franklin Avenue which include layby parking to be created on Franklin Avenue. Brady thanked Schoelle for, "understanding the concern of the POAs concerning layby parking on Franklin Avenue."

The letter made it clear that the EPOA was in support of the idea to beautify Franklin Avenue and expressed gratitude to those who have worked to design the streetscape. Brady stated that while the EPOA wants to see the beautification happen, they feel that "before going ahead, it would be important for us to better understand the pros and cons of the layby parking component, which has been approved in concept by the trustees." He suggested that a meeting to discuss the subject would help address their concerns and still allow a speedy beginning to the project.

Brady concluded his letter by inviting Trustee Judi Asselta (as the Business Coalition trustee) and Architect Bill Kuhl, who designed the streetscape, as well as board members of the Estates POA, WPOA, and CPOA to all meet together with "knowledgeable spokespersons from each side of the issue." He indicated a desire to find a mutually convienent date for the meeting as soon as possible.

Trustee Lewis commented later in the meeting that a number of the trustees had gotten together informally to brainstorm about Village projects and issues and during this discussion they decided that when the new board was seated (when Trustee Jenkins was officially part of the board) that they would hold a meeting with the four POAs. This meeting was proposed for "sometime in May" and would afford the trustees and POAs to discuss the beautification project as well as "where tax dollars are going," and other Village business. He commented, "all good minds think alike" and thanked Brady for his letter.

EPOA Secretary Eileen Murphy asked Trustee Lewis to clarify if he was suggesting that the meeting proposed for May by the trustees was to take the place of the EPOA meeting discussed in Brady's letter. Lewis responded that, "one is not a reaction to the other" and Trustee Jenkins called it a "simultaneous coincidence." Murphy explained that her concern was that the Board was indicating that their meeting would be superimposed over the EPOA's meeting, which was designed to address one specific issue quickly and thoroughly. The EPOA had decided to host this meeting and was inviting the other POAs, Schoelle, Kuhl, and Asselta, but was not quite the same as a trustee-hosted meeting to discuss Village affairs with the POAs.

Murphy also explained that the EPOA had not voiced their concerns about layby parking during Kuhl's presentation of the plans because the slide show of beautiful landscaping and lightposts, etc. was not the right time. Aware that the issue needed to be discussed, and also aware that when residents began to become cognizant of the plans for layby parking on Franklin Avenue, they would start to "come out of the woodwork" and it was the opinion of the EPOA that it was better for this to occur now than when the jackhammers were already beginning to tear the sidewalks.

Trustee Hecken, acting as Deputy Mayor in Mayor Tauches' absence, as well as Trustee Lewis both stated in response to Murphy's comment, "We can have the meeting we're talking about, then have your meeting" that it was up to the mayor as it was "his agenda." The EPOA is able to host their meeting as they would any other POA meeting and only the other POAs, Trustee Asselta and Village Administrator Schoelle were specifically invited to the meeting, so the mayor's role in the planning of the EPOA meeting is still unclear.

Brady also asked the trustees about the sale of St. Mary's. Building Department Superintendent Michael D. Filippon stated that the Village has not been told who has purchased the land. He also explained that the zoning is primarily for one-family homes. Mort Yuter later asked how many homes could be constructed at the site. According to Filippon, if a simple and uncomplicated subdivision of the property is done it "would render eight houses," but if a more "imaginative" division method is employed, it could possibly create space for a ninth home.

Trustee Bee answered Brady's inquiries regarding the "fence, or poles on Stewart Avenue at the middle school" by informing the public that he has in fact discussed the subject at length with School Board Trustee Linda Leone. They both agreed to take suggestions made during their discussions back to their respective boards and informally poll them. Brady announced that Trustee Leone had told him that the poles were coming down and that a snow fence was going up. Trustee Bee said that this was a large part of the substance of their conversation and that the Village is working to help the school district in resolving the issue.

William Keagen discussed the abondoned LILCO site which he argued is "getting seedy." He said that now that there is no one at the site to ask to mow the lawn and clean up, the grass is growing taller and there are telephone poles and other unsightly debris strewn about the property. Despite a healthy relationship with LILCO in the past, he says that "presently LILCO is a bad neighbor" and urged the Village officials to put pressure on LILCO to clean it up and "do their part."

He also noted that the nine new homes built in that area were not given a sidewalk on the Second Street side. The Lucas Brothers who built the homes said, according to Keagan, that they would have installed one, but were told not to. Trustee Bee and Superintendent Filippon both made note of the sidewalk issue and Trustee Hecken thanked Keagen for his input.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Althea Robinson said that she feels that the Easter Old Car Parade is an event which accomplishes the mayor's message from his State of the Village Address to sell the Village. Car owners from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and all over New York see this event as a "dusting off" event to begin the car parade season. With all of the publicity the event received this year, the Chamber is certain that next year's event will be even brighter and the Village will get the recognition it deserves. Trustee Hecken commended the Chamber on their endeavors and expressed his personal enjoyment of the event and his opportunity to ride in the parade himself.

All residents were reminded that the Garden City Bird Sanctuary's Earth Fest will be April 25.

The next meeting will be held on May 7 in Village Hall.