Friday, May 28, 2021
Vol. 98, No.39
FOUNDED 1923
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Stratford poets
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LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
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Car parade PAGE 3
$5 Million more approved for water treatment at two wells BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
The Garden City Board of Trustees approved a 10% increase in water utility rates for the village customers, both residential and commercial at its May 20th meeting, and also approved an additional $5 million to treat contaminants at additional wells. While the water rate increase was anticipated in the 2021-2022 village budget, the remaining costs for Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) treatment systems at two village wells located at the Garden City Golf Club have increased by $5 million over what was first projected. The allocation of additional village funds was made after the trustees learned about the multiple price factors involved from Village Administrator Ralph Suozzi. The Board then amended an earlier bod resolution for $8,800,000 to See page 33
Garden City Boys Lacrosse is back on the field after having missed last year’s season. This year’s compressed season began on May 7 against Port Washington. See page 52
New Trustee takes lead on revamped Third Track Committee BY RIKKI MASSAND
Village Trustee Bruce Chester, chair of the 2021 Village of Garden City LIRR Third Track Committee, updated the Board of Trustees on recent developments regarding the Long Island Rail Road third track construction project. Hours prior to the May 20 Board meeting, Trustee Chester attended a Zoom
meeting of officials from local villages and the towns of Hempstead and North Hempstead, organized with representatives of the LIRR and 3rd Track Constructors (3TC). One of the key takeaways Chester had -- which he explained during the Board meeting -- was from a side conversation he had with Village of Westbury Mayor
Bid to appoint Treasurer to Audit Committee voted down BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
Peter Cavallaro. “I was stunned to find out from the Village of Westbury mayor that the train station is valued at roughly $12 million from the LIRR for a parking garage. I also found out from the Mineola Village clerk that they got $35 million for two parking garages and they may have received funding from the state. Garden City
The Board of Trustees’ meeting agenda for Thursday May 20 called for the appointment of Village Treasurer Irene Woo to the Finance and Audit Committee, for the balance of this municipal year (through April 4, 2022). But, surprisingly, after discussion the Board voted 5-3 against the appointment. Garden City Mayor Cosmo Veneziale and Deputy Mayor Tom O’Brien were among the minority on this Board vote, and the three trustees who were serving terms on the Board prior to this March’s election -- Trustee John Delany, Trustee Colleen Foley and Trustee Louis Minuto -- each offered comments affirming their concerns over a possible conflict of interest with Treasurer Woo’s position on the executive staff. Trustee Foley said she prefers the clear “separation of Church and State” in this scenario, in case there are audit topics and discussion to take place in which Ms. Woo would have to recuse herself if the sub-
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Memorial Day ceremony planned PAGE 8 GCJC ends Religious School in person PAGES 30-31