Though the public portion of the April 19 meeting of the Garden City Village Board was brief, many important issues were raised after the mayor and trustees returned from the one and a half hour executive session they took.

Mort Yuter, a resident who always raises questions about agenda items, was the first speaker to address the board after the executive session. Yuter noted that he did not have any questions because he had an hour and a half to speak to the various department heads about the items on the agenda. He noted in that time those present at the meeting had plenty of time to talk. "We don't like this," Yuter stated. "I think you should have a better system for doing this, either have a work session or use the telephone to communicate amongst yourselves, or the computer, or something but this is unconscionable."

Following Yuter's comments, Mayor Robert Lewis responded, "Mr. Yuter, I would remind you and the rest of the residents that this is a business meeting of the board in public, not a public meeting. If our agenda takes us out of this room to meet with counsel or for an executive session we will do that. We are all volunteers here."

Nick Episcopia, president of the Eastern Property Owners Association, also addressed this issue. "I understand the business of meeting in public and not a public meeting but there are a lot of us who come here all the time for a lot of reasons and we would appreciate it if you could make some kind of attempt not to have the meeting go on for an hour and a half," said Episcopia. "I don't think it's conducive to having people attend the meetings and I think that's what you want."

During his report, Mayor Lewis announced that he would be putting the acquisition of the easterly 100 feet of the Gardner Estate, 114 Sixth Street, either through negotiations or condemnation, on the agenda for the village's May 3 meeting. He added that this was ample notice for the public.

The board unanimously passed Local Law 1-2001, a zoning code change, which received a strong reaction at the March 1 public hearing. The vote on that item had been deferred by the board twice, most recently because two new trustees were not yet on the board when the public hearing about the law took place. The strongest reaction at the hearing, to the proposed change, had to do with the fact that a recreational vehicle (RV) could not be stored on a resident's property. Though this item was directed at an RV that is no longer stored in the village, it would have a profound effect on Edward Tacchi who currently owns the only RV stored in the village. Tachhi, a longtime resident and former school board member brought in a petition, signed by his neighbors, stating that they had no objection to his RV. Tacchi's neighbors and friends and people from throughout the village, some who did not even know him, spoke out in support of the board amending the law to make allowances for Tacchi's vehicle.

Yuter questioned the board, when they passed the law, about whether any changes had been made to the zoning law. Lewis responded that no changes had been made.

Tacchi stated, "I am at an absolute and complete loss. I can't believe what I just heard." He reminded the board that he is the only person in Garden City with a recreational vehicle. He added that he was told that this item would once again be deferred. "Now I'm just calmly told, 'You're moving, baby.' That's absolutely incredible," said Tacchi. He noted that he has had a RV for years and it has never bothered anyone. He went on to note that he is the only person who can even see the RV in his driveway, because it is set back so far. "How long do I have to move?" he questioned. When the mayor made a comment about a reasonable amount of time, Tacchi stated that he could not get anything for the RV if he tried to sell it at this time of year. "No one is asking you to sell your vehicle," said the mayor. Tacchi responded, "I don't have any choice, I don't think you understand that, my choice is to move."

Lewis explained to Tacchi that he could apply for a variance, and Tacchi reminded the mayor that at the public hearing it was explained that a variance would not be easy to get. When questioned by Lewis, Superintendent of Building Michael Filippon, stated that it has been the village's practice and policy to grant a stay on any action when an application is made to the board of zoning appeals, until a decision is made.

Another issue raised, by Nick Episcopia, was a recent article brought to him by one of the directors of the Eastern Property Owners' Association, about the Village Energy Group of Nassau County, a group that has been formed for villages to save on energy costs. Episcopia commented on the fact that this was being supported by the Nassau County Village Officials Association and that, according to the article people with natural gas could save between 5-7.5 percent per year on their gas bill. Episcopia, noting that the deadline for villages to join was the next day, questioned whether this was something that the Village of Garden City had considered. Lewis said that the board had discussed it, but based on the fact that residents would have to give their credit card numbers for direct payment, and the village would be responsible for sending out the preliminary mailing soliciting customers, they did not feel comfortable with it. Lewis stated that the village had no way of being certain that this offer was the best one on the market.

Episcopia further commented that this was something being supported by the Nassau County Village Officials Association, in which Garden City is very active, and once again questioned why Garden City wouldn't participate when other villages were. "I guess I'll have to repeat myself, " said Lewis. "We felt that the board did not have any way to evaluate the program. There may be better programs out there. To sign people up for any contract where there is direct payment with your credit card and someone could come down the road and offer you a great discount later, would we be doing a service to the community or a disservice?"

Robert Rothschild, then raised a question about the bond that the village board passed earlier in the month for the tennis structure. He questioned what the process would be and whether POAs would be involved. The mayor and Recreation Commissioner Paul Blake responded that in order to get this done quickly, so the tennis facility could be up and running in October, the board was following the recommendations of the tennis subcommittee of the recreation commission. Rothschild commented on the speed with which this was being done, without POA recommendations, when other issues that so long to be handled.

The next meeting of the board, at which the property acquisition of the portion of the Gardner estate will be on the agenda, will be held at 8 p.m. on May 3.