Residents who regularly attend Village Board of Trustees' meetings in Village Hall will tell you that lately the Village Board has developed a much appreciated efficient approach to moving through the evening's agenda. Even with such weighty issues on the list as the Village Hall Expansion Project and the Streetscape Beautification Project and providing time for public commentary and questions, the meetings have achieved a new brevity, which has become quite popular with residents, who want issues of concern dealt with thoroughly, but would rather it didn't take all night. Well, at the Feb. 18 meeting Deputy Mayor Hal Hecken kept things moving so swiftly the meeting, which began at 8 p.m., was completed by 8:30 p.m., allowing the trustees to meet for executive session and be home early.

Trustee Robert H. Lewis commented that the prior evening was dedicated to hearing the complaints of residents related to their tax assessments, and had taken five hours. He joked that they were exhausted and had asked Hecken to help them out by keeping everything brief, a request he met beyond anyone's expectations. Executive session was well under way before the clock struck 9 p.m.

During the meeting site plans for 855 and 870-888 Franklin Avenue were approved, allowing the Albanese Development Corporation to complete their renovations of these buildings. Approval was given to the allocation of $950 to send two people to the Eastern States Building Officials Federation School and Conference to be held March 17 through March 19 in Atlantic City. Also, $450 was approved for attendance at the American Water Works New York Section Spring Meeting, scheduled for April 27 through April 29 in Saratoga Springs.

An amendment to an agreement with the traffic consultant, Greenman Pedersen, Inc., was approved in the amount of $1,350,000. A bid at an estimated cost of $24,000 was awarded to Joseph G. Pollard, Co., Inc. for underground utility products for waterworks (excepting hydrants and hydrant parts). The 1999 planting of trees and shrubs work was bidded out and awarded to Soundview Construction Corp/Island Wide Nursery for a total cost of $76,620. Bids were renewed with Eberhard-Voellm Nurseries, Inc. for perennials, trees, and shrubs and Balance of 1999 Bissett Wholesale Nursery Catalog at 10 percent discounts. The bid with K. VanBourgondien & Sons, Inc. was renewed for bulbs at a 20 percent discount.

Deputy Mayor Hecken reminded those assembled in the Board Room that the Franklin Avenue Streetscape Beautification has begun and assured the residents and merchants that the Village and architect will be working to keep communication flowing to help everyone who might be temporarily impacted by the work. He stressed that at no time will Franklin Avenue be completely closed and that as the project will be moving essentially block to block, the entire Avenue will not be disturbed at one time. As the project moves in front of different stores the merchants will be notified and dialogue will be opened about the best ways to make this as painless for everyone as possible.

He also notified residents that the next part of the budget to be reviewed is the Operating Budget. The approval date for the Budget is April 5 and will not take place without the opportunity for public discussion. He also stressed that the POAs and Chamber of Commerce will be thoroughly briefed before the Budget is approved.

The meeting concluded with a reminder to file for STAR before March 1 and an invitation to all to attend the next meeting on March 4.

Also, all residents are reminded that the Roosevelt Field Mall expansion hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 3 at 3 p.m. in the pavilion behind Town Hall in Hempstead and all residents can come and sign up for time to speak. All residents are also encouraged to write to the Town Zoning Board of Appeals and express their views.