The task force charged with overseeing the restoration of the Roslyn Viaduct bridge met recently to discuss, among other things, maintenance and other inspection projects, disaster prevention management and the idea of a ramp on West Shore Road to alleviate traffic going through the village while the restoration is taking place.

According to John Durkin, the Board of Trustee member serving as a liaison to the task force, the idea of the ramp was met with a "negative response" by other members. Task force members, Mr. Durkin said, thought the cost, which was not revealed at the meeting, for such a ramp wasn't worthwhile. BOT members, including Mayor Janet Galante and Mr. Durkin, believe the construction of a ramp would ease the traffic problem, while officials with the New York State Department of Transportation, the agency overseeing the project, are doubtful it would serve that purpose. Mr. Durkin said the DOT may still consider the idea at future meetings.

The task force also discussed the problem of temporary water drainage taking place on the bridge, a situation which can cause hazardous driving conditions. A resolution of the problem was estimated to cost $2 million by the year 2003, when the entire project is scheduled to be completed. Again, the task force deemed the number to be too costly and shelved the idea.

At earlier meetings, Trustee Durkin has reported that the DOT estimates the total cost of the project to be in the $60 to 80 million range.

The renovation will include a concrete board construction for the bridge's driving lanes. In the meantime, the DOT will build two additional lanes in order to keep four lanes open at all times during the renovation process. The DOT is also weighing the possibility of building a pedestrian walkway on the bridge.

In other news, the BOT approved a "Roslyn Vintage" postcard/phone address directory. The directory, which is to be designed by a Sea Cliff-based company, comes at no cost to taxpayers and, according to Mayor Janet Galante, will serve as public relations vehicle to help local businesses. The mayor called the directory a "lovely addition" to the village and a "wonderful opportunity" to help both residents and businesses, adding that it amounted to free advertising to promote the village.

The BOT also approved a request by Rallye Motors for an extension of time to secure a building permit for its new car wash. Nick Toomey, a Rallye executive, said that the establishment had recently undergone a change of ownership and all construction projects had been put on hold during that time of transition. Rallye received an extension of an unspecified amount of time from its previous May 16 deadline date.

Also at the meeting, a resolution prohibit commercial vehicles from parking on Skillman Street has been put off for a future date as has been the continuation of a public hearing concerning a local law for a special tax exemption for historic properties in the village. The proposed law, which was debated at the January meeting, would grant a five-year assessment moratorium on houses whose owners engage in certain renovation and restoration projects. BOT members have termed the proposal as an "incentive law," a tax incentive for people either restoring their homes or thinking of doing so and in the process, continuing historic preservation of such houses in the village.

The next BOT meeting is Tuesday, June 20 at 8 p.m. at the village hall.