Great Neck Village fills Planning Board vacancy

Janelle Clausen
Calvin Wong, the newest member of Great Neck Village's planning board, is flanked by village trustees. (Photo by Janelle Clausen)

The Great Neck Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Calvin Wong to the alternate position on the village Planning Board on Tuesday night, filling the last vacancy on that board.

Wong, a 28-year-old banker, is among the youngest members to join the Planning Board in recent memory, trustees said. He is Chinese-American, which adds diversity to the board.

Mayor Pedram Bral said that Wong struck him as a smart and committed young man willing to learn on the job.

“It’s not only the résumé that matters, but the personality and how much the person cares and how they come across to other people,” Bral said.

Trustee Bart Sobel, a longtime neighbor of the Wong family, highly recommended him. Sobel recalled asking Wong if he would be interested in joining one of the boards and said that he got his own start as an alternate on the Planning Board.

As an alternate, Wong would sit in for any absent members and vote on matters. He would review residential site plans, work with the village clerk, counsel and village architect, and learn more about how the village works.

“He’s very insightful and he was very enthusiastic about it, so I made the recommendation and he sent a résumé to the mayor,” Sobel said.

Wong, who has lived in Great Neck since 2001, earned his B.A. in economics from Queens College. He has seven years of banking experience, and said he looks forward to what his time on the planning board will bring.

“I’m excited and curious where it’s going to take [me],” Wong said.

Bral said he hopes Wong’s appointment will inspire younger people to get involved in village government.

“I don’t want people to think that it’s only for people in their 60s and 70s,” Bral said.

Steven Hope, who was appointed to the village board in April, previously served on the Planning Board. He started as an alternate on that board in 2015 and later filled a vacancy left by Raymond Iryami.

When Hope moved up to the village board in April, Meera Karwal, an attorney, filled his seat.

“Meera was a great addition, I think,” Sobel said. “And Calvin’s going to be terrific. He’s energetic, very eager.”

Village trustees also conducted an architectural review for 707-709 Middle Neck Road, approved a reduction for a building permit fee on 280 East Shore Road and heard concerns about a landlord’s parking arrangements.

They also authorized the village clerk to send a warning letter to 18 Park Circle about noxious weeds. If the owner does not respond, the village will be authorized to go onto the property, take care of the lawn and bill the owner.

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