The New Hyde Park Village Board proposed a budget that has no increase in taxes to residents. But in a long discussion about the budget, some residents in the audience said that the board should reinstate part-time workers that were let go. One woman said that the village should increase its help, not decrease it. Mayor Daniel Petruccio said that the department heads are the ones who decide the needs of the department and if there is no need for additional help, it is not requested.

Deputy Mayor Robert Lofaro added, "How many people do you need to do a job? The Department of Public Works has basically one full-time position, the building department cut one part-timer and the clerk's office cut one part-timer. It has nothing to do with money. It has to do with how many people do you need to do a job? Don't the residents in the village want the village board to be very prudent on how many people they have and how much money they spend? We don't believe in big government, we believe in having the right amount of people. Some would say we need more code officers, get more. These are decisions that we will think about.

As a matter of fact, at our last meeting, we decided to instruct the superintendent of public works to utilize one of those requisitions that we were going to have him cut and to have him hire someone to more or less "police" Jericho Turnpike, but under the strict demands that summonses would be issued to the owners of buildings that refuse to keep them clean. But, where we had one full-timer and two part-timers, we lost a full-timer so we had to hire a full-timer to fill that position.

"That's really the way it works. It's not a matter of name, title or salaries, it's a matter of how many people you need to do a job and if you need fewer people then it becomes budget cuts and the bottom line is we are all trying to reduce, don't have to pay any more."

POP Officer (Problem Oriented Police) Nick Mosesso was a guest at the meeting, and he was introduced by trustee Richard Coppola. He spoke about the crimes that occur in various neighborhoods of New Hyde Park. He said that people should be "watchdogs" for each other and when someone is away notify a neighbor so that they are aware and will then know if there is suspicious action at the home.

Further, he spoke about various auto thefts and warned residents to be careful not to leave pocketbooks, wallets and valuables displayed in the car, and in some cases cars that are not even locked. He touched upon the fact that there has been a rash of GPS systems removed from cars and he suggested that when leaving the car you detach the system, if it is portable, and put it out of sight.

He pointed out that most burglaries are through a back door where the perpetrator cannot be seen. He said to cut shrubbery around the home, to keep bushes low and to install security lights. Further, he warned not to leave valuables that might be seen by peering through a window such as a pocketbook, a laptop, or other items. If you are going out for the day, leave a radio on and be sure to have newspapers stopped if you are away so that they don't collect in front of your premises.

Mosesso said the bottom line is if you see something suspicious or you think something is wrong, don't call police headquarters, but rather call 911. He said that is the number that goes straight to the patrol officers on duty who can get to the location the fastest.

Mayor Petruccio announced a meeting of what is being called The Brock Project, to be hosted by both the mayor and the Principal of the New Hyde Park Road School, Peggy Marenghi on April 30 at 8 p.m. at the New Hyde Park Inn. This project, which is hoped to be countywide, was created to help raise $1 million to assist in the rebuilding of Brock Elementary School in Slidell, Louisiana. The school was destroyed during the floods in New Orleans and both Mayor Petruccio and Principal Marenghi are working to help restore the school. The mayor urged all residents to try to attend to become involved in this worthwhile cause.

Deputy Mayor Lofaro said that the DPW would be planting trees in the next few weeks and so any residents that wish a tree planted on their property to please contact the DPW. He said it was the aim of the village board to try to maintain the look of suburbia.

Trustee Donald Barbieri said that New Hyde Park Cultural Commissioner Lisa Miranda is busy putting together the concerts in the park for the summer and the schedule should be ready shortly.

He also said that he and the board and the members of the Hillside Library Board are trying to work with the county to get a light at the library on Lakeville Road for the safety of the patrons of the library.

Trustee Lawrence Montreuil announced that the assets from the New Hyde Park Village library were originally to be absorbed by the new library. However, they didn't want a lot of the assets or books. So, the village will have to see how they can dispose of these assets.

Prior to the meeting there was a hearing to grant permission to construct a 2-story structure at 516 Cherry Lane. The trucks will be parked inside the structure and will be started up inside the structure, with the use of a venting system that will exit on the roof. It was established that the trucks would only be run for 5 to 10 minutes prior to the exit from the building. However, there will be a continuance hearing for the same structure prior to the next board meeting on May 1 at 7:45 p.m. at New Hyde Park Village Hall, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike.

The next hearing was to hear a request from Paul Wesoly to operate an Italian ice window on the premises of 470 Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park. It would be a walk-up window at the front of the building. Ices would be the only items served from two ice chests. The operation would be run 6 days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The only change in the structure would be to install a sliding window. The only things to be sold are Italian ices or closed water or soda bottles. One woman objected to the fact that cars would be stopping on Lakeville Road, close to the library, to buy the Italian ices. She said she felt it was dangerous. The board closed the hearing and the application will be sent to the Nassau County Planning Board for their approval and then back to the board for its final approval.

The meeting was finally adjourned and the next village meeting will be on May 1 at 7:45 p.m., for the continuance hearing, followed by the regular meeting, at New Hyde Park Village Hall, corner of New Hyde Park Road and Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park.