In order to make it safer on the busy road of Willis Avenue in front of the Willis Avenue School, which houses the Mineola School District's pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students as well as central administration, the Village of Mineola Board of Trustees passed a resolution to lower the speed limit in front of the school.

The request was made to the Mineola Village Board by Mineola School Superintendent Dr. Larry Licopoli. Although Willis Avenue is a county road, Mineola Mayor Jack M. Martins said it was within the village's right to post 20 mph signs in front of the school.

The signs indicated a 20 mph zone will be posted 300 feet north and south of the school between Jefferson and Lincoln avenues. Dr. Licopoli thanked the village board for helping to enhance the safety and security of the students. Assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction Sherri Goffman thanked parents Denise Savarese and Barbara Eccher as well as Nassau Police Officer John Larson for their assistance in the creation of a speed zone.

RFP for Station Plaza Revitalization

The village board voted to put out a request for proposal for a project that includes sidewalk paving and streetscape reconstruction including decorative pavements, curbs, lighting fixtures, concrete driveways and aprons, clock installation and street repaving of Station Plaza North between the west side of the Mineola Boulevard bridge to 3rd Avenue and 2nd Street (south) to Station Plaza North.

Budget Discussions Scheduled for Next Month

It's almost time to start discussing the village budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, which begins June 1, 2007 and ends May 31, 2008. Each member of the board received a tentative budget and the mayor has scheduled budget discussions for April 18, 19, 25 and 26.

The village board unanimously adopted a local law that allows the village board to seek amenities for developers looking to come into the village in return for flexibility in the zoning code.

The mayor briefly discussed the governor's cuts to the school district and Winthrop-University Hospital. Under the governor's budget proposal, Winthrop-University Hospital would see a $7 million cut and the Mineola School District would see $216,562 less in state aid. Residents can contact their local state legislators to express their concerns. They are Senator Craig Johnson, Assemblyman Tom McKevitt and newly elected Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel.

Resident Ed Savarese said that particularly around the time the school budget is being discussed, residents who cannot make the school board meetings should know what's going on. He suggested that the school board tape its meetings and show them on the village's public access channels. Mayor Martins said he would have no issue with televising the school board's meeting. That decision would have to be up to the school board.

Dr. Licopoli said it would be just a matter of matching the district's technology to the village's technology in order to show the meetings.