At the last New Hyde Park Village Board meeting, Mayor Daniel Petruccio requested that residents go out and obtain more signatures on petitions to be presented at an anticipated meeting with Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy. The petitions request that McCarthy join with her constituents in opposing, publicly, the MTA Third Track Project. As of now Congresswoman McCarthy has said she is going to remain "neutral."

CARE, (Citizens Against Rail Expansion) an organization of all the villages affected by the Third Track Project, has requested a meeting with Congresswoman McCarthy and it is the hope of the village that she receives so many petitions from New Hyde Park that she will take action to help the village to be able to at least scale back the plans that the MTA has to take so many properties from New Hyde Park residents in order to facilitate this massive project.

Prior to the meeting the board held a hearing to amend seven local laws. Steve Cabrera, of the engineering firm of D'Virka and Bartilucci, was on hand to explain the laws.

The laws pertain to the erosion of the pollutants into storm water drains on construction sites.

The first was a local law to amend the municipal code to prohibit illicit discharges and activities and connection to the village's municipal separate storm sewer system.

The second was a proposed local law amending the municipal code to create Chapter 7-A to be entitled "Storm Water Management, Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations."

The third law amends the municipal code of Chapter 6 entitled "Architectural and Preliminary Site Review" to establish the requirement that all applicants for site plan approval provide a storm water pollution prevention plan.

The next law was similar in that it amends the municipal code Chapter 6 entitled Architectural and Preliminary Site Review to create Section 6-15 entitled "subdivision review" to establish the requirement that all subdivision applicants for preliminary and/or final subdivision approval provide a storm water pollution prevention plan.

The next law amended the Incorporated Village of New Hyde Park law Chapter No. 122 entitled "noise." This law will regulate the hours during which construction and repairs may be performed within the village on legal holidays.

The final law entitled "streets and sidewalks" amended that law to provide that there shall not be more than one curb cut per residentially zoned property.

All the laws were approved by the board with no objections or comments from the public.

The regular meeting was opened and at the public portion of that meeting several residents complained about potholes on their streets. Department of Public Works Supervisor James McCloat was on hand and took down all the information and will survey the streets in question.

One resident wanted to know why the streets were not being renovated and Mayor Petruccio said that the village has an outline to do the worst roads every other year and that seems to fit in a little better with the village finances.

Mayor Petruccio then called for trustee reports.

Reporting on Parks and Recreation trustee Coppola said that the Youth Night at the William Gill Theater went very well and was a big success. He said that, thanks to village clerk Patrick Farrell the kids now have a Ping Pong table and an Air Hockey table. He said what they do now need are chaperone for future youth nights and the village plans to schedule a Youth Night.

Coppola announced that the New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce would hold its Annual Installation Dinner on January 17 at the Inn at New Hyde Park.

Once again trustee Coppola, on behalf of the New Hyde Park Fire Department, warned all village residents regarding fire hazards especially during the holidays.

He warned of overloading outlets, unattended lit candles and to be sure to keep a live tree watered and most especially do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace.

He said that the police reported a burglary, numerous traffic tickets and some accidents.

Further, he reminded all residents, that since this is a time when scams surface, to not give anyone who calls you on the telephone or e-mails you any personal information and most importantly do not give anyone your Social Security number.

Deputy Mayor Robert Lofaro's report was conveyed by Mayor Daniel Petruccio who said that Lofaro wanted to thank the head of the Beautification Committee, Rich Pallisco for the wonderful job he and his committee have done in decorating outside village hall for the holidays.

Trustee Donald Barbieri reported that New York State Senator Chuck Schumer is proposing a bill that will address the issue of helicopters as they fly out east over the LIRR. According to the new bill, the number of helicopters flying over Long Island will be less and they won't be allowed to fly so close to the ground and therefore the noise will be less.

Barbieri said that he is setting up a meeting with the attorney for the town and moving ahead with the pocket park on the far end of the Hillside Library parking lot. He said that he thought the Town of North Hempstead would help with the funding. He said that would be the third pocket park that the town has helped develop. The first was the one at Holy Spirit Church, the second at Starbucks and now the third at the Hillside Library parking lot.

Trustee Montreuil reported that the Zoning Board heard four cases. He also reported on the Architectural Review Board and he announced that their meetings for the New Year, so far, would be held on Jan. 9, Feb. 5, March 4, April 1, June 3 and July 9,

Mayor Daniel Petruccio thanked trustee Montreuil for appearing before the MTA Board and disputing the remarks they made regarding New Hyde Park. (Full contents of article in the Dec. 21 issue of the Illustrated News, page 3).

Mayor Petruccio said that the next meeting of CARE (Citizens Against Rail Expansion) would be held on Jan. 10 in Floral Park and it is the hope of all the members of CARE that United States Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy will meet with the group and at that time state her exact position on the Third Track Expansion. He expressed again how important it was for residents to get out there and get signed petitions so that mayor Petruccio could show them to the Congresswoman and perhaps that will make a difference.

One audience member wanted to know what the chances are of getting the MTA to stop the construction of the third track?

Mayor Petruccio said that anything is possible, but petitions are vital in letting both the MTA and Congresswoman McCarthy know what New Hyde Park is thinking.