Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
$1
Friday, October 18, 2019
Vol. 94, No. 42
FORUM ON STATE CLIMATE CHANGE MEASURES
PLAYHOUSE PROPOSAL HEARING POSTPONED
ASSESSMENT BILL OVERRIDE FAILS
PAGE 30
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
Board not told of work changes at park: De Giorgio
AND THE WINNER IS…
Councilwoman claims town council was unaware of Clinton Martin overruns BY R O S E W E L D ON No change orders for the problem-fraught Clinton G. Martin Park project were brought before the North Hempstead Town Board, according to Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio. The New Hyde Park public park and pool is the subject of a hotly contested legal case between the town and Wantagh-based contractor Gramercy Group. The town originally granted a contract to Gramercy in 2017 for a $19.4 million bid to renovate the then-50-year-old park, which increased to $23 million once additional refurbishments and additions were built. In May, Public Works Commissioner Paul DiMaria, whose office oversaw the repairs, wrote in a letter to Gramercy that some work, including domestic water piping, the pool’s overflow system and a sump that was not connected to a drain, had not been completed on time. The contractor replied in a
letter that there were discrepancies between what was presented in the contract and what was present on site. Now, the town is withholding $1.3 million for what it considers unfinished business, and Gramercy Group is claiming an additional $1.5 million in unpaid debts, a conflict that will play out in Bankruptcy Court. DiMaria resigned from his post effective Oct. 4. De Giorgio, whose 6th District represents Port Washington, Plandome and Flower Hill among other areas and who was a lawyer prior to her public service career, said in an interview that she had asked the town attorney about the matter in a series of emails. “The fact that we’re in court means somebody dropped the ball somewhere,” De Giorgio said. “So I’m sure there’s plenty of blame to go around, but the fact that we’re in litigation over this means that someone dropped the ball.” Gramercy Group says that Continued on Page 61
PHOTO BY ROBERT PELAEZ
Kensington resident Claudia Grunberger shares her journey of traveling Europe then becoming award-winning interior designer in the U.S. See story on page 4.
Plakstis added to state’s fallen firefighter memorial BY R OB E RT PELAEZ
firefighters whose names will be added to the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial, Ray Plakstis Jr., a longtime according to the office of Gov. member and former chief of the Andrew Cuomo. “New York’s firefighters Great Neck Alert Fire Company, is one of three Nassau County risk their lives every day, and
many have made the ultimate sacrifice while running toward danger to protect the communities they serve,” Cuomo said at a news conference last Tuesday. Continued on Page 61
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D on’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebo ok.com/theislandnow