The Garden City Board of Trustees approved a motion to proceed on the erection of a village memorial for village residents lost at the World Trade Center Sept. 11. The memorial will be located on village property on Seventh Street, north of the Long Island Rail Road and will consist of a flagpole, granite benches, bronze markers, a paved walkway and landscaping for approximately $20,000.

The June 6 board meeting was the first time officials discussed the memorial in public. Although it was not on the agenda, the motion was brought forth by village trustee Peter Negri in order to have the memorial completed and dedicated on or before Sept. 11, 2002.

Trustee John Mauk had a problem with the fact that the board would be rushing to complete the memorial without first contacting the local families who lost loved ones that day. "We owe them that respect," he said.

Negri wants the memorial completed in a timely fashion and said it would simply take too long to contact all of the families and get their input. He added that the memorial was very tastefully done. "It is not elaborate or in any way offensive," he said.

"What I find a little disconcerting here is that you are saying it's more important that we go ahead and meet this date and have something up here than take the considerations and concerns of the families about what we plan to do before we go forward," Mauk added. "I don't think that is at all appropriate."

Mayor Robert Lewis added his opinion, saying that people grieve at their own rate and it is not appropriate to enter their homes and back into their personal lives and ask them what they want when many of them are still grieving. "We should not stir up their emotions and thoughts," he said.

Trustee Barbara Miller agreed with the mayor's statement. "It's time for us to do something," she said. "This is appropriate and should be done. We really have to move on this."

Negri suggested the village should inform the families of victims of their intent and invite all of the families to the dedication ceremony when the memorial is complete. The motion passed with six votes in favor and one abstention from Mauk. The next board meeting is slated for Thursday, June 20.