At a meeting of the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association last week, Nassau County Legislator Edward P. Mangano (R, 17th L.D.) addressed the key issues residents want corrected before local elections this November.

The list of concerns was compiled during a previous civic association meeting where members and residents met to discuss changes they feel need to be made in the Hicksville community. Among the residents' most pressing concerns were the Twin County Asphalt Plant, the Hicksville Freight Yard, the Grumman property and the Kozy Shack factory as well as illegal dumping and illegal housing and the Hicksville Long Island Rail Road station.

The Twin County Asphalt Plant, located on West John Street near the post office, has concerned many Hicksville residents and civic members. Mangano agreed that it is an unsightly area and told residents, "This has been an area of contention for over a decade." Twin County is due in court on July 15 for two violations, specifically for the height of the piles of gravel on the site. Despite these existing violations, Mangano said, "Each time Twin County seems to prevail and stay in business."

The Nassau County Planning Division, according to Mangano, has voted against the proposal to build a senior housing facility on the Twin County property. Including its location and proximity to retail and industrial facilities, the planning division voted against the proposal, failing it on seven grounds. In response to residents' concerns about the vote, Mangano urged them to get involved, saying, "Everything that the Nassau County Planning Division does is a matter of public record, they hold public meetings..."

The Hicksville Freight Yard issue provoked residents to voice their dissatisfaction with its relocation from Garden City to Hicksville. Mangano echoed the feelings of most residents, stating, "It's objectionable. If it's not good enough for Garden City, it's not good enough for Hicksville."

Mangano contacted Assemblyman Marc Herbst (14th A.D.) who said there is no change on the matter. Mangano said Herbst has a bill in the New York State Assembly requiring the elimination of environmental hazardous wastes there. "The freight issue is something that you have to keep your eye on and we certainly will do that," he said.

On the issue of illegal multi-family housing, Mangano said the Town of Oyster Bay has written 22 violations on Murray Road alone, and as of Jan. 1, 2002, they have all been addressed. To those residents who argued that illegal housing still exists in the area, Mangano said they should file new claims. "It takes a while," he said. "It is a process in my experience, but the town can get very tough ..."

Mangano also addressed the environmental issues existing on the Grumman property, explaining that the water underneath Northrop Grumman has a number of plumes, areas of contamination that are slowly moving. A pumping system, which was erected to fix the problem, pumps water into the air and forces heavy metals to dissipate as it falls to the ground. The process, however, could take 30 to 40 years. "That's the bad news...The good news is ... our water district makes certain we don't drink that water," said Mangano.

Another issue related to the Grumman property is the existence of mosquitoes and rodents near South Broadway. The Nassau County Department of Health will set up traps to collect the rodents, however it is a difficult problem to control. "We have had so many issues especially on the Grumman area where they have sumps and standing water...," said Mangano of the areas where mosquitoes thrive. "This is a tremendous fight ..."

Among the many high traffic areas in Hicksville, residents say the intersection at New South Road and Old Country Road needs a traffic light. Mangano said he has written to the Nassau County Traffic Safety Department twice on the matter and twice it has been denied. "Every time that they've come back with a negative decision, we have objected and appealed and we have now re-appealed..," he said, adding that the traffic safety department is currently doing the field data and he is hopeful that residents will get that traffic light.

Due to a large number of auto accidents, residents also want to see a turning lane or traffic light at the intersection of Route 107 and Gerald Street. "This one here is going to take my office a little bit of time," Mangano said, explaining that Route 107, a state road, falls under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Transportation.

Civic members also questioned whether more accidents have occurred at the intersection since the installation of a grass median, which replaced a once existing turning lane. "We're going to do the research for you and get that started," Mangano said.

Non-enforceable speed limits on New South Road and South Broadway were also listed on the civics' list of pressing issues. Mangano said he contacted the 8th Precinct requesting that the speed limit be strictly enforced and said a temporary speed sign will remind drivers to check their speed. "We'll get an awareness campaign going and we'll also get an enforcement campaign going," he said.

Henry Goessmann, vice president of the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association, said local schoolchildren are in danger when crossing South Broadway. Enforcing speed limits at both New South Road and South Broadway, he said, should be addressed before the end of the summer. "When the school season starts again, drivers [should] have some kind of awareness that they are being watched on their speeding," said Goessmann.

Maureen Bright, newly appointed superintendent of Hicksville Schools, attended the civic meeting and agreed that police enforcement of speed limits will protect students in front of the district's Division Avenue high school. Although police do not patrol as often as school administrators like, Bright said, "Police do periodically come out and they do sit on the side streets ... we've seen them ticket people."

Mangano said he will work on getting "stop" marks printed on the streets, an addition to the existing stop signs.

Residents said the Kozy Shack factory near South Broadway makes noise at all hours, violating town ordinances. Mangano said that town inspectors visited the site and said it is in compliance with town ordinances.

Recognizing that inspectors probably visited the site during normal business hours, residents suggested that inspectors visit the site on Sunday mornings or weeknights around 8 p.m.

"This is a problem that I've come across before where the disruption occurs when there are not any inspectors around...," said Mangano, adding that he will coordinate with the town since the issue lies under its jurisdiction.

Illegal dumping at the site of the former T.J. Courtney's restaurant, located on the west side of Route 107, also concerned the civic association. "It is definitely unsightly," said Mangano. "Perhaps if we can get it groomed, it would be less apt to get dumped upon." He explained that town ordinances do exist on such issues as grass height and urged residents to report incidents of dumping to the police. "It will go far in helping keep our community not only beautified, but [will] also keep down issues that we've had with rodents...," said Mangano.

The issue of drugs, needles and homelessness existing at the Long Island Rail Road station in Hicksville was also addressed. "I have certainly heard complaints not only in Hicksville, but also in Bethpage about vagrants and crack vials and these things," said Mangano. We've dispensed the police out there to address these individuals..."

Upon telling residents to call 911 if they see any misconduct, Mangano added, "It's a sad issue. We have to try to help someone that's living alongside the railroad ... sometimes they're not the source of the drugs."

One issue not on the list compiled by residents and the Hicksville Gardens Civic Association was the fee increase proposal for Cantiague Park. Mangano told residents that a new ordinance brought forth by the Nassau County Executive will increase usage fees of county-owned parks, pools and golf courses.

Mangano explained that the swimming pool seasonal pass for Cantiague Park is now $120, but could be increased to $200 if the increase takes effect. He said senior citizens, who rely on the use of the pools, have contacted him saying they cannot afford such an increase. "I am very upset by this new legislation," said Mangano in a prepared statement. "Nassau County residents pay more than enough for the right to use their facilities ... There has to be a better way."

A hearing, which will determine whether or not the fee increase will take effect, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 8 at the Nassau County Legislature, located at 1 West Street in Mineola.

"I would love to see people from Hicksville come out and voice their opinions onto whether there should be an increase on the park fees in the middle of the summer, something I'm not a proponent of," said Mangano. "Public involvement can really affect your rate of change here."

In response to all issues and concerns presented to him by the civic association and Hicksville residents, Mangano said, "One thing I can assure you is that we will not allow anything to be put by us without a fight."