The Mineola American has learned that the village and Winthrop-University Hospital have reached an agreement with regard to the parking garage located at 3rd Avenue and First Street. The details of the agreement should be announced at the village meeting on Dec. 10.

Mayor Jack M. Martins had been negotiating with representatives from Winthrop-University Hospital and met with hospital president Daniel Walsh on Thursday.

The village owns the land the parking garage is on and leased out air rights in 1972 in a 30-year lease for the garage. The hospital acquired the parking garage in 1979 and maintained it until 2002, when the lease expired.

Currently, the hospital uses slightly less than 300 spots whereas the village uses about 100 spots in the garage.

In 2002, the village board voted to renew the lease for 20 years. However, the renewed lease called for ownership of the garage to be transferred to the village and the hospital to act as a tenant in the garage. As a result of the ownership of the garage being transferred to the village, the village accepted the responsibility of maintaining the garage.

Mayor Martins believed that the cost of maintaining the garage would be more than the $40,000 a year the village is collecting in rent from the hospital.

The mayor felt the lease wasn't properly renewed and fought the validity of the resolution passed on June 19, 2002 renewing the lease, which had expired on April 30, 2002.

However, Winthrop Hospital Vice President of External Affairs John Broder said that the hospital felt the board affirmed the legitimacy of the lease agreement when it voted to renew it on June 19, 2002 as the village recognized being the owner of the garage. The two sides have been negotiating as to who should be responsible for the maintenance of the parking garage. It appears, however, that an agreement has been reached without the need for litigation.

Broder said Winthrop has always acted in good faith and has tried to be a good neighbor in the village.

A book author brunch slated for Saturday, Dec. 6 at the library was canceled due to the snow. However, author John Q. Barrett will be coming to the Mineola Library on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. instead to speak about That Man, a newly discovered manuscript by Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson.

The Hibernian Festival Singers were also scheduled to give a holiday concert on Dec. 6. The concert was canceled due to snow. The concert has also been rescheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m.

Just before 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, the village responded to Pennsylvania Avenue where a contractor was pouring concrete. The noise was a nuisance to neighbors who wished to sleep late on the holiday and brings into question a quality of life issue. The question is how should residents be able to have work done on their homes while not interfering in the quality of life of their neighbors. The mayor and the board of trustees were in agreement that having work done before 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning is unacceptable.

Therefore, the board of trustees passed a resolution that construction work not begin before 11 a.m. on Sundays as well as December 24, December 25, during Hanukah, December 31 and January 1. The village board will then hold a hearing in January to hear public comment on a possible permanent law.

* The village plans to use some of its community development grant money for Jericho Turnpike between Willis Avenue and Mineola Boulevard. The sidewalk area will be done similar to the way it was on Main Street with brick pavement.

* The village board voted to give AARP chapter #5202 a $2,500 stipend with the condition that it must be used for operations within the village. Currently, the Mineola Leisure Club and Mineola Golden Age Club also receive a $2,500 stipend each.

* Superintendent of Public Works Tom Rini asked the board to consider an emergency purchase of a new sand spreader in case of snow at a cost of $13,725. The board approved the purchase. The new spreader would have come in handy this past weekend.

* The village board voted to add an agent called Calciquest to Well #1. The agent doesn't allow oxygen to bond with iron or manganese and may prevent rusty water.

* The application for a chocolate store at 166 Jericho Turnpike was approved unanimously by the board of trustees. Residents of Andrews Road will be running the store.

* Village residents are reminded that during snowfalls such as we had this past Friday and Saturday, cars must be taken off the streets so that the streets can be plowed effectively.

* The new 7-11 store on Mineola Boulevard and Jericho Turnpike received in Certificate of Occupancy from the village and can open when the store is ready.

* Mineola resident Kevin Murray suggested making a dog run out of Field #3 behind the pool.

* The Mineola Boulevard Bridge should be completed by the end of the month.

* Walter Crosby spoke to the board about the traffic violations on Maple Place. In some cases, the ex-chief of the Mineola Fire Department said that cars drive backwards on Maple Place and Jackson Avenue in violations of the one-way street signs.

* According to the agreement between the village and Cablevision, Cablevision is supposed to show village events on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 to 10 p.m. on channel 18. Cablevision also gave the village times that the September 11 ceremony was supposed to air. Resident Sal Cataldo said he didn't see the event air. He said whenever he puts on the channel, all he sees is people playing cards, dancing and drinking coffee. Mr. Cataldo said its the worst channel he has ever seen. Mayor Martins said he would try to meet with a representative from Cablevision.

* Mr. Cataldo said since there is no way the village can win when it comes to applications for cell phone antennas, the village should suggest having them put on village property so that the village can collect rent.