CLIFF NOTES - SEA CLIFF VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING - September 9, 2013Present- Mayor Kennedy, Trustees Vogt, Powell, Hayes, and Lieberman, Sea Cliff Village Counsel Brian Stolar, and Village Clerk Marianne Lennon were all Present.
Mayor Kennedy's Report - Mayor Kennedy asked the Board and audience to observe a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Mr. Kennedy announced that there would be a 9/11 Rememberance Ceremony in front of the Children's Library on Wednesday Sept. 11 at 9:42 am. Mr. Kennedy announced that there would be a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, September 16 at 8 pm for an informal review and discussion of the Tree Ordinance (Link to article). Mr. Kennedy asked the Board to consider a motion to award the Scudders Pond Improvement Bid to Biltwell Genearl Contractor Corp, the lowest qualified bidder, in the amount of $1,784,270.00. Board unanimously approved the motion. The Village will contribute $145,000 to the project. Work is expected to take place between Nov. 1, 2013 - April 1, 2014. Mr. Kennedy announced that the Village had installed four radar speed display signs around the village (one on Laurel Ave., one on Prospect, and two on Downing). The signs were purchased from All Traffic Solutions and the program's "cloud" technology allows the village to monitor traffic speed and volume at any time of the day or week. The Mayor demonstrated how the program worked, showing average traffic speeds on a on the large monitor in the Village Court Room. Although the average speeds displayed were only a few mph above the speed limit, the Mayor reported that speeds as high as 60 mph had been recorded on both Downing and Prospect. He said that the information would be shared with the Nassau County Police to justify a need for having a partol car at a particular time and place. The signs also measure "effectiveness" - the extent to which the display causes a person to slow down as he passes through the radar zone. The Mayor reported that the signs have so far been effective 75% of the time. (Link to full article on speed display signs) Trustee Carol Vogt's Report - Trustee Vogt first reported on Sea Cliff Beach activities, thanking the Friends of Sea Cliff Beach for the work it had done in organizing the annual Family Fun Day and Kayak Race. Ms. Vogt announced that on September 21, the Sea Cliff Silly Shakespeare Company would be performing "The Real Housewives of Henry VIII" at 6 pm at the Arts Gazebo at the beach. The rain date is Sept. 22 at 6 pm. Ms. Vogt also announced that on the same day, Saturday, 9/21, from 9:30 - 11: 30 am, The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor would be organizing Beach clean-ups at both Tappen and Sea Cliff Beaches, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup sponsored by the Ocean Conservancy and in coooperation with the American Littoral Society. The various types of debris that are found will be collected, recorded and weighed to see if there have been any changes from previous years. The data will then be used to approach and encourage manufacturers to change the types of materials that frequently end up as floatable debris. Ms. Vogt said that if one would like to participate, he/she should just show up with a pair of gloves. Everything else sill be provided. Trustee Vogt then reported on Seniors Activities. She said that Sea Cliff Seniors are invited to attend a "Smart Senior Program on Thursday, 9/19 at 10:30 am at Village Hall. The program is intended to help seniors protect themselves from financial exploitation through identity theft, telemarketing and sweepstakes fraud, various types of home-improvement and internet scams, and physical abuse. Transportation to the program is available. Ms. Vogt then encouraged seniors to take advantage of the Senior Bus transportation. She said it is available for weekly shopping and the Senior Lunch program at St. Lukes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There were 27 individual rides on the Bus in August, despite the Senior Lunch Program having been closed for the summer. With regard to the Tree Committee, Ms Vogt encouraged audience members to come to the Town Meeting on Monday, Sept. 16. She said that in August the Committee made 23 visits and issued 17 permits for the removal of 46 trees; 10 trees will be replaced; three Village trees were put on the list for pruning; and three residents asked for and received advice on pruning. Trustee Powell's Report - Trustee Tom Power reported on the Fird Department. He said that there were 40 alarms - 13 general and 27 ambulance. In addition he said that the Fire Department Fundraiser at Sea Cliff Beach on Saturday was a huge success. Trustee Hayes' Report - Trustee Peter Hayes reported on Sanitation. He reminded those present of the new recycling procedures and that cardboard and paper no longer needs to be tied. He said that for the month of August, 14.9% of the waste stream was recycled which is a 1% increase over July. He stated that the target is to raise the percentage to at least 20%. The cost to dump Municipal Solid Waste is $84/ton, whereas the Village could get paid for recycled materials. Trustee Lieberman's Report - Trustee Ed Lieberman reported that the Methodist Church's 10th annual Pumpkin Sale would run from September 28 - October 31. Pumpkins and Halloween items will be available for sale Sunday-Friday, 12 noon to 6 pm. Mr. Lieberman also stated that the Beautification Committee would displaying the work of Sea Cliff Photographers in and Exhibit called "Sea Cliff in Bloom". Any photographer interested in submitting a photo should cal 671-4937 by Sept. 15. Mr. Lieberman reminded the audience that the Museum was celebrating its 35th anniversary and the exhibit "Secrets of Sea Cliff Museum" would be opening on Sept. 22. Mr. Lieberman also announced that a new event called "Chill Out in Sea Cliff" would take place on the evening of Friday, November 8th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. There will be musical performances on the Village Green, and local art galleries and shops will be encouraged to stay open late, and restaurants to offer special fare. Lastly, Trustee Lieberman reported that the Saturday Off Beat Artifacts Sales have resumed and will take place twice a month on the upper terrace of the Village Green from 10am to 4pm. PUBLIC COMMENT Scott Whitting, of the Committee for Veterans, stated that he recently attended Congressman Steve Israel's Conference on Homeless Veterans. Mr. Whitting stated that if anyone knows of a veteran in need of housing that he/she should contact him. Anthony Losquadro, Sea Cliff, asked questions directed towards Trustee Vogt regarding the tree committee. He asked if of the 23 tree removal applications, six had been denied. Trustee Vogt replied that the permit applications had not been denied. Three of the trees were village trees and were now scheduled to be pruned. The other three cases were residents who had filled out the applications, but when the committee arrived, the residents simply sought advice on pruning and did not want to remove the trees. Mr. Losquadro asked if a quorum of the committee was necessary to conduct a visit or make a decision. Ms. Vogt replied that it was not, but that if a committee member could not be there for the visit, he or she could visit the site at another time. Mr. Losquadro asked if there was a vote on whether to issue a permit. Ms. Vogt said it didn't work that way, and that the application was discussed and consensus built. Phil Como, Sea Cliff, thanked the board for allowing a September 11 remembrance ceremony to be held on Wednesday. He explained what would take place. He said he would offer a few brief words, followed by a moment of silence and the playing of taps. The ceremony would end with Village Administator John Mirando ringing the bell at the Village Green 12 times - once for each year that has passed since September 11, 2001. Mr. Como also stated that Sea Cliff Ave. would be closed from Aratas to Citibank. |