At the last meeting of the New Hyde Park Village Board, the board members issued the following official public statement regarding the proposed Long Island Rail Road Mainline Corridor Project.

The statement, read by New Hyde Park Village Mayor Daniel Petruccio is as follows:

"On behalf of the 9,500 residents of the Incorporated Village of New Hyde Park, we the village board opposed the proposed Mainline Corridor Project through our community. Our position is based on a set of preliminary drawings received by the village board in a Dec. 4, 2006 meeting with representatives of the LIRR.

• We do not see any benefit from the third track expansion project for the Village of New Hyde Park.

• We are opposed to a plant that will bring additional freight through our community.

• We are opposed to a plant that fails to address the issue of noise pollution and vibration through our community.

• While we are in favor of the elimination of 'at-grade crossings,' we oppose any plan that calls for the condemnation and confiscation of private property both commercial and residential.

• We are concerned with the failure of this plan to address the issue of local commercial traffic flow through this village. (Specifically, the permanent closure of 2nd Avenue and 3rd Avenue at New Hyde Park Road and Covert Avenue.)

• The New Hyde Park Village Board seeks a dialogue with the LIRR to shape the plan into a project that will address the above concerns and will result in a mutually agreeable solution to these issues with a minimal impact on our community.

• Any Mainline Corridor Project plan must demonstrate a positive overall impact on our community in order to be viable."

The reading of the statement prompted many comments against the LIRR project from members of the audience, especially by the members of the Save Our Village (SOV), a new organization formed to try to prevent the railroad from at least condemning properties that have been owned by village residents for 40 or more years. (An article by SOV is elsewhere in the Illustrated News.)

In the open portion of the meeting longtime resident Kurt Langjahr pointed out that across the street, at the gas station, there is an easement that belongs to the Village of New Hyde Park, to be used as additional parking spaces.

Mayor Daniel Petruccio said that unfortunately there is no signage either in the village parking lot or across the street that states the fact that cars may park there. Department of Public Works Superintendent James McCloat said he would go talk to the owner of the Shell gas station and then look into erecting signs, in both spots, identifying the area as having additional spots for village parking.

Richard Coppola

New Hyde Park Firefighter Thomas Gentile to Celebrate 50 Years

Trustee Richard Coppola announced that on March 31 Thomas Gentile, a 50 year member of the New Hyde Park Fire Department, Protection Co. No. 2, will be honored at a dinner at the Inn at New Hyde Park.

He also said that due to the early arrival of Daylight Savings Time the Little League would probably start practice early. He urged all residents to come out and support the youth teams in the village.

Deputy Mayor Robert Lofaro

Road Project

Lofaro announced that due to the diligence of both the engineer and Superintendent McCloat the final price tag of the road project was $73, 893 lower than the bid. The bid came in at $1, 450,000. Lofaro added, "That $73, 000 will probably now be used to do another road reconstruction."

LIRR Corridor Project

Lofaro said, "In reference to the LIRR we are still trying to set up a follow-up meeting to the Dec. 4 and Dec. 6. meetings. Hopefully we will have something scheduled in the next 10 days. This will only be a meeting with the mayor and if that takes place the mayor will report, in detail, the results of that meeting.

Beautification Committee

Deputy Mayor Lofaro announced that on May 21, Earth Day, at 10 a.m. would be the village cleanup day. Lofaro added, "It may be 13 degrees out today, but spring is coming, so we look forward to our cleanup day."

Trustee Donald Barbieri

Trustee Barbieri said that he met with some of the Hillside Library officials and Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello to discuss the crossing area of the new library on Lakeville Road. He said, "We spoke to the county people as to ways we might put a traffic signal or put signage there that might make that crossing safer for residents. However, right now it's a work in progress. But, I think it was a good meeting."

He also announced that he would hold a meeting with representatives of the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) for them to reveal some of their preliminary ideas about the Jericho Turnpike renovation that is scheduled for 2008. He added, "I will be discussing that information at the next board meeting..."

Trustee Lawrence Montreuil

Trustee Montreuil reported on the Building Department. He said there had been 24 building permits issued. There was a healthy number of 41 certificates issued. Four Certificates of Occupany; 12 Certificates of Approval and 2 Special Exception Permits and 22 Certificates of Completion. Projects of note are 214 Jericho Turnpike, The Inn at New Hyde Park. A permit was issued for the foundation and steel framework for the underground parking garage. Plus, 117 South Second Street, known as Peace Management and now they are starting on the structural work for that building. Montreuil also said that 625 Jericho Turnpike, the Nuzzi Oil building, has started to renovate that building and it should be completed sometime in the very near future.

Further, regarding the temple project on 100 Lakeville Road, he said the village is still waiting to hear back from the architect regarding changes and also working on an alleged illegal residence.

Montreuil also announced that all the trustees have been invited to participate in "guest reader" week at the New Hyde Park Road School and he urged his board members to participate in their spare time.

Mayor Daniel Petruccio

Mayor Petruccio announced that the village trustees are in the "budget process." He added, "We are making an effort to again keep the tax base at a reasonable level. This is the tough part because we are at the point where we are sharpening our pencils and choices are being made between one project over another." He added that the budget meetings are open to the public.

Mayor Petruccio announced that the village election would be held at Marcus Christ Hall, adjacent to New Hyde Park Village Hall, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park from noon to 9 p.m. Due to the election, the regular meeting of the village will be held on March 22 at 8 p.m.

At the request of the Save Our Village Association the village has appointed Patricia Femminella to the New Hyde Park Village LIRR Task Force.

The New Hyde Park VFW, American Legion and Ladies Auxiliary asked the board and it was approved, to hold the Memorial Day Parade on May 26 to step off at 10 a.m. on Hillside Boulevard.

The Mr. Softee permit renewal was on the agenda and Trustee Richard Coppola said that they should not double-park any time they are parked or to block any of the walkways, but rather park at the curb, to ensure the safety of the children.

The New Hyde Park Village Board will hold its Annual Reorganizational meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Marcus Christ Hall, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park.

The board then adjourned its meeting to a budget meeting. A reminder the next regular board meeting will be held on March 22 at 8 p.m. at village hall, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park.