During their meeting on Feb. 22, the Glen Cove City Council voted to adopt an amendment to the building code of ordinances which will triple building permit fees for illegal construction. The fee will defray the cost of permitting and inspecting existing buildings and structures and will discourage the practice of building without a permit. City Councilman Joseph Gioino, who seems to be taking the lead on all issues related to housing, illegal or otherwise, said, "There are additional administrative costs placed on city resources whenever a building is built, altered or demolished without the benefit of a building permit. This is an unfair burden on compliant taxpayers who are taxed for all improvements on their properties. Tripling the fees serves to discourage noncompliance while defraying the cost of permitting and inspecting." Councilman Gioino also cited safety issues as being part of this new legislation. The city council will allow a 90-day amnesty period to allow property owners to file for delinquent permits without paying the additional fee.

The city council also voted in favor of a major zoning and planning update of various commercial industrial and business districts in Glen Cove. The planning board will be making recommendations to the city council after conducting a study of the following: the waterfront, Cedar Swamp Road, Forest Avenue, Glen Cove Avenue, and Sea Cliff Avenue. As stated in Mayor Thomas Suozzi's inaugural address, the city will develop a long-term master plan for the commercial byways. The downtown will be retail and connected to the waterfront; Glen Street and Cedar Swamp will be developed on the Little Italy of Long Island theme; Forest Avenue will espouse a healthcare services theme; Glen Cove Avenue will receive a long overdue beautification and return to a residential character; and Sea Cliff Avenue east of the railroad tracks will become an industrial park, west of McGrady will be enhanced as a residential community.

Last month while making annual appointments, the city council once again retained the services of the environmentally savvy law firm of Twomey, Latham and Shea. In a move that may possibly be part of the city's strategy as the high speed ferry in the harbor debate continues, during the Feb. 22 city council meeting the mayor was authorized to enter into a retainer agreement with Reisman, Peirez and Reisman, an environmental law firm. The firm would be providing legal services with regard to the pollution of Hempstead Harbor.

The city council will hold a public hearing pursuant to the Eminent Domain Procedure Law, the first step in the condemnation proceedings regarding the property at 59 Forest Avenue. The planning board will be receiving a directive from the city council to consider and make recommendations regarding the creation of two dead-end streets. One dead end would be created at the intersection of Highland Road and Franklin Avenue, (the north side of Highland); the other at the intersection of Colonial Gate and Robinson Avenue. Mayor Suozzi said that during the last campaign, he heard many residents complain about neighborhood streets being used as a cut-through by drivers. "These are two of the most egregious cut-through situations. This happens when residential neighborhoods are sandwiched between commercial zones," said Mayor Suozzi. On this issue, resident Janet Blatt said the dead-ending was just another attempt, in a history of attempts, for residents of Thompson Park to close off their community from the rest of Glen Cove. She said the use of the roads through that particular community is to get people to where they are going by the most direct route.

The city's fee structure will be analyzed by Sector Management, a consulting service provider for revenue enhancement and cost reduction evaluation. For a fee not to exceed $20,000, the firm will be scrutinizing fees and policies on municipal services to make sure the funds are commensurate with the intensity of the service. The mayor said except for the golf course and water use by heavy industrial users, the fee structure in place has been amended in the past rather haphazardly. Charles Lavine was appointed to serve on the Glen Cove Planning Board. Former city councilman Steve Gonzalez asked why Mr. Lavine was being appointed and did Norm Dorf resign, or was he just not being re-appointed. Mayor Suozzi said Mr. Lavine is being appointed and did not elaborate further.

Proposals for the operation of the concession stands at Morgan Memorial Park and at Pryibil Beach will be advertised. Junior Football will be posting signs advertising their 2000 registration from March 15-April 30. The AOH will be posting signs heralding the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Glen Cove which will be held on March 19.