The impending "collapse" of Church Street, due to heavy rains, caused KeySpan Energy to unilaterally shut down the street last Sunday, Aug. 13. The shutdown caused some consternation among board of trustee members, since it was done without the village's prior knowledge and it happened on a day when many parishioners were attempting to attend Sunday services at Trinity Church, which is located on the street in question.

After the events on Sunday, the BOT requested that KeySpan personnel attend the Tuesday night public meeting to explain why the street was closed down. Gus Klidas, a KeySpan engineer, said the heavy rain had undermined the clay beneath the pavement. The street, he added, had already sunk 12 inches.

And so, KeySpan shut down the street in order to reinforce its underpadding. The street remained closed not only on Sunday but also throughout Tuesday, Aug. 15. At that evening's BOT meeting, Mr. Klidas said the road would be open to small-car traffic only by Wednesday night, Aug. 16. By this Saturday, Aug. 19, KeySpan hopes to open the road to any truck traffic that may come through the village.

The Brooklyn-based company is in Roslyn for two different projects. They have been working to install two pre-case concrete cabinets with aluminum cabinets on the edge of the sidewalk toward its property line on Witte Lane and Church Street. Earlier this summer, KeySpan had to destroy some trees on that property, trees that the company has promised to replace with four new trees. That tree planting will take place next month.

The project that caused the street to be closed has to do with work KeySpan is doing on a gas line that runs from Kings Point all the way to Hicksville. The gas line provides services for communities throughout the North Shore.

Mr. Klidas admitted that "miscommunication" had taken place between KeySpan and local officials. Gary Cummings, another KeySpan engineer, said the company had notified local fire companies about the road closing. Mr. Klidas also said new housing development is taking place near Church Street. As a result, more truck traffic than usual is taking place on Church Street. This was another factor in KeySpan's decision.

Beneath Church Street is a gas pipe that is 12 by 16 inches in size. Several BOT members noted that there was a gas leak "up and down Bryant Avenue" three weeks ago. Mr. Klidas said this was only gas being "expelled" into the atmosphere. Mr. Cummings said the company does not anticipate any more gas leaks occurring in Roslyn.

KeySpan had set Sept. 12 as the completion date for their current Roslyn project. However, Mr. Klidas said that company personnel were willing to work on Saturdays in order to complete the project by Sept. 7. The BOT granted KeySpan permission to work on Saturdays as long as any work did not start before 8 a.m. or continue after 5 p.m.

Either way, Mr. Klidas and other KeySpan people were told by BOT members to let the village be the first, not the "last to know" about any future gas leaks-or road closings. Deputy Mayor Nolan Myerson admitted that the BOT had been "naïve" in approaching the current KeySpan project, that the BOT was "not aware of the scope of the project." As such, the BOT, because they did not inform local neighbors of KeySpan activities, had to take some responsibility for recent events.