DeSena says town Dems are

Lurvey touts majority’s responsbility with Plandome Road sewer project

BY BRANDON DUFFY

North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said Democratic majority Town Board members are “committed to sabotaging” her administration following the second failed vote to allocate $3.1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the second phase of the Manhasset sewer project.

“It’s sad to see a group of elected officials who are so committed to sabotaging my administration that they are willing to sacrifice the future of our Manhasset business district in the process,” DeSena, a Republican, said in a statement Tuesday.

Matthew Donno, co-president of the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce, which has spearheaded the sewer project, said he too believed the proposal was not being considered on its merits.

“There’s a lot of politics in this and I still haven’t gotten to the reason behind it,” Donno said. “Why couldn’t you commit to just putting it into an account? You’re not committing to spending it at this time.”

Council Member Veronica Lurvey, a Democrat, said in a statement she’s committed to the best use of the funds for the town while accusing the supervisor of creating “political noise.”

“Enough already. The most basic facts about this project.m are un- known. Who will receive the money? How will it be spent? What controls will be in place? Is this a legally appropriate use of the funds? These are critically important questions to which there are no concrete answers,” Lurvey said.“My priority is and has always been allocating $3 million in a prudent way that best serves the Town. There should be no favoritism or politics at play. Our residents are sick and tired of petty squabbles. They want results, and it’s our job to deliver — in a responsible way, ignoring all the political noise and interference that the Supervisor keeps injecting with her coordinated attacks,” she continued.

DeSena and the four town Democrats have frequently clashed since she took office in January 2022 over a wide range of issues including the town Building Department, appointments to a town ethics board and the section of a town comptroller.

During the meeting Tuesday, the Town Board split 3-3 along party lines on a resolution to transfer the federal funds from the town’s general fund to the capital fund. Republicans voted for the funding and Democrats voted against it.

“Our businesses, our residents, our environment, and the future of our Plandome Road Business district de-

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