Plandome project phase 2 on hold

BY BRANDON DUFFY

A tense Town of North Hempstead Town Board meeting Tuesday night saw a unanimous vote to support the installation of a sewer main along Plandome Road as part of the Manhasset Sewer Conversion Project and a split vote on party lines to block a resolution transferring $3.1 million in federal funds for phase two of the project.

The three-and-a-half-hour meeting included a more than hour-long discussion on whether the town can use American Rescue Plan Act money on behalf of private businesses for phase 2 of the project.

Town Attorney John Chiara has been having ongoing discussions on the question with an attorney for the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce, which has been spearheading the project.

The six-member board voted 3-3 on the resolution to use the federal funds, with Republicans voting for and Democrats voting against it.

Councilmember Robert Troiano, a Democrat, was not present at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Council Member Veronica Lurvey, a Democrat, said she intends to reintroduce the resolution to provide the ARPA funding at the April 4 meeting.

Supporters of the sewer project, including Manhasset Chamber of

Commerce member Robert Donno and Co-President Matthew Donno along with business owners on Plandome road, said the time is now to commit.

“For every reason under the sun this is a project that should move for- ward,” said Robert Donno, who has served as the chamber’s liaison for the project.

“Business owners are incredulous to hear we are on cesspools and they walk away,” said Lynn King, a property owner on Plandome. “It’s not the rent that is driving them away, it’s that they can’t operate in a reasonable capacity. If you turn this town, I don’t know how you’re going to explain this to your residents.”

Democrats voted in January to push the resolution to March to await a discussion with the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District for town board members to get answers to questions about the cost and funding of the project.

Phase one will be funded by a $5 million grant secured last year by state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (DPort Washington) and then-state Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills), which will cover the main sewer line.

Concerns about the cost of maintenance for private septic tanks have been expressed by businesses along Plandome Road, with some claiming pumps have to be examined on a weekly basis.

Matthew Donno previously told Blank Slate Media the project, which has been analyzed for more than five years, will provide economic and environmental benefits to Plandome Road’s business district.

Businesses and restaurants along Plandome Road can pay as much as $50,000 to $70,000 annually to pump their septic tanks. Some have also said they pay more than $500,000 a year to maintain their systems.

The system that Plandome busi- ness owners will be converting to will be a pump system that Donno said will connect to each building and essentially pump the water down the line to the district, where it will be treated.

Since the board officially supported the installation of a sewer main on Plandome, the district can get started on a design study to begin phase one.

The district’s study along with the physical application of pipes and hookups into businesses was once estimated to cost upwards of $12 million. Now, Donno said, the project should be fully funded by the proposed funds from the town and a $5 million state grant.

Lurvey and Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte, a Democrat, said they support the entire project and the decision to wait until April is a matter of making sure the money is used in an appropriate manner.

“I support putting the sewer line in, but I need to make sure we cross our T’s and dot our I’s to make sure this $3 million is okay to use,” Dalimonte said.

Chiara said he has been having ongoing discussions with counsel from the chamber to discuss the interpretation of the Clean Water Act and how it can be used with sewer laterals, which would connect the sewer line in Plandome to the businesses

Continued on Page 46

Port Washington | $1,329,000

Wonderful Colonial with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths ofers a generous approximately 2,826sf of living space and many updates. Centered on expansive 91’ x 134’ property with new landscaping and new terraces designed to provide privacy and ofer outdoor enjoyment. Prime location just a short distance to the center of town and the LIRR. Web# 3463451