A public hearing was held to discuss the stop sign situation on Roosevelt Street/Lincoln Place prior to the Glen Cove City Council regular meeting on July 24. Councilwoman MaryAnn Holzkamp presided over the meeting in the absence of Mayor Thomas Suozzi. As is customary when any topic related to vehicular matters is the focus of debate, a large number of people attended the meeting. The majority of opinions offered was in favor of leaving the "stop" sign currently on Roosevelt Street while supporting the placement of another one on Grant. Everyone speaking agreed that the "right of way" confusion caused by the intense intersection at Cottage Row was also a source of major concern.

The hearing was prompted by recent letters and phone calls to City Hall by Paul Capobianco whose home is the closest to the stop sign. For the hearing record, Mr. Capobianco told the city council that his and his family's health continues to be compromised by the fumes and noise generated by an inordinate number of cars, trucks, school buses and motorcycles using Roosevelt and stopping at the sign. He said that the sign was illegal because it is being used to slow down traffic rather than the intent of a stop sign which is to control traffic flow at an intersection. Mr. Capobianco gave the city council medical findings documenting the negative effects of exhaust fumes on human health. Jack Manero, who lives within 50 feet of the sign, said Roosevelt Street is a speedway for cars coming through Crescent Beach Road and Chestnut Street. "The stop sign is the only deterrent to the speeders in cars, 18-wheelers and on motorcycles. Between 4 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. about 40 school buses come through the street¬and that's diesel fumes. I agree [with Mr. Capobianco] about the pollution." (The buses are taking children to North Shore Day School during the school year and its camp during the summer. The number of buses is increased in the fall.)

Mr. Manero said the stop sign was put in its present location 15 years ago after a terrible accident at that spot. He added that there are many children in the neighborhood as well as hearing impaired patients visiting a doctor with an office on Roosevelt Street. Mr. Manero said perhaps a committee, whose goal would be to make the area safe for everyone, should be appointed by the city council. Another resident, later echoed by two other speakers, said there is a definite need to slow down traffic on Roosevelt and another stop sign on Grant Place was not a bad idea. She said the "no through trucking" signs in the area are in terrible condition and largely ignored by truckers. Linda Capobianco said she has called North Shore Day School about their buses but she did not get any response from the school's director. "The stop sign doesn't slow down traffic¬-it's being disregarded by drivers so there's no point to having it," said Mrs. Capobianco. Dr. Frederick Ruffen, (Ruffen Hearing Services on Roosevelt Street), said he was wrong for being against the stop sign in making comments for a hearing held during former mayor Don DeRiggi's administration. He said his opinion was changed because of the neighborhood's transformation caused by an increased number of children and because of a near tragedy which would have been caused if a truck had indeed hit his then 5-year-old child. The accident didn't happen, said Dr. Ruffen, because the trucker had stopped at the sign and in so doing had not sped up which in turn allowed him to hit the brakes in time to avoid hitting the child. John Galeski read a letter to the city council and said it was written on behalf of homeowners on Roosevelt Street in favor of the stop sign.

Taking the microphone against leaving the stop sign in place was Dave Nieri who has lived in the neighborhood for 50 years. Mr. Nieri said Roosevelt is a through street and is the main way to get to Crescent Beach Road to Cottage Row to the downtown area. "Homeowners should realize that they have attributed qualities to a stop sign, [littering, speeding], that it can't possibly have. The stop sign won't control trucking and speeding and it doesn't have magic powers. We should enforce the laws or make new ones," said Mr. Nieri.

The city council didn't vote on the stop sign issue and Councilwoman Holzkamp said that she would have the mayor's office call North Shore Day School to see if the number of buses and their routes could be addressed in a mutually beneficial way.

The city council approved the sale of bonds/BANS in the amount of $869,000 for the payment of tax certioraris. Councilman Mike Norman said, "As bad as the amount is, the good news is that through the reassessment process we are finding that most of these certs will be eliminated as the taxes collected going forward will be more in line with the true value of the commercial property."

Approved by the council was the authorization for the mayor to enter into an intermunicipal agreement with the Village of Sea Cliff regarding connecting homes along Sea Cliff's The Boulevard to Glen Cove's sewer system. Sea Cliff will pay for the design, construction and installation of 1,100 linear feet of sewer main and will be permitted to connect to Glen Cove's sewer system. A minimum of 27 connections/spurs will service the Sea Cliff Pavilion property, the Sea Cliff Yacht Club and up to 24 homes. Sea Cliff will pay Glen Cove an annual maintenance fee. The city council made several seasonal appointments and adjustments to the salaries of several employees.

During public comments Marie Cocchiola asked to be provided with the financial details of the New London ferry agreement. She also asked the city council when was the last time they took the ferry to Foxwoods because she has learned that the ferry to Foxwoods was scheduled for only two Saturdays in July and two Saturdays in August. Ms. Cocchiola wondered what all the "big deal, big splash" launching the ferry was about when there was such limited service. City Attorney Dan Deegan said he would provide the details to her and that the New London ferry was to be the catalyst for the Manhattan commuter ferry which is enjoying success.

Janet Blatt said the city council should authorize an air quality study for Roosevelt Street and maybe even the entire city. Ms. Blatt said that the mayor and Councilwoman Holzkamp have yet to learn that when "the people" come to city council meetings the two of them shouldn't laugh or talk through their comments as the mayor and councilwoman have done during past meetings. "You have an obligation to "the people" whether you like them or not. Just listen to them and you should know what is on the agenda," said Ms. Blatt.