After multiple meetings, the Security Commission at East Hills, established after a high profile burglary and robbery in the village, will hold a public presentation of its proposals and recommendations.
Deputy Mayor, Emmanuel Zuckerman who is in charge of security at East Hills said the commission had productive deliberations and is ready to present their proposals to residents.
“The commission has met three times and they’ve come up with concrete proposals,” Zuckerman said.
The main proposal, which Zuckerman has spoken publicly about is the use of security cameras at the entrance of each of the village’s developments.
He said two companies presented a security surveillance proposal to the security commission and although nothing is set in stone, the commission would like to get some feedback from residents.
Zuckerman who is running for re-election on March 15 has been criticized by his opponents for not making the committee meetings open to the public.
“It’s a very simple answer. The committee was new and we made it a closed meeting so that they could focus on the issues,” Zuckerman said.
Zuckerman said the meetings were basically a work session and meeting behind closed doors were the best way to accomplish their goals.
“The meetings were concentrated, quick and productive,” he said.
Zuckerman said there would be a public presentation by one of the companies bidding for the camera contracts during the April 5 meeting.
“People can come, ask questions and we’ll hear what people have to say about the bids,” said Zuckerman.
According to Zuckerman, a company which bid for the surveillance contract in January was asked to go back to the drawing board because they didn’t satisfy the village’s criteria.
“Nothing is set it stone and its open for discussion but we have a viable presentation that we feel that makes sense for the village,” Zuckerman said.
East Hills have budgeted about half a million dollars for the project.
Zuckerman said the village isn’t giving out a figure as to how much the project will cost but that they are looking at other avenues to supplements the amount budgeted for the program.
“Again, when we have major expenditures like this, we usually get grants from other places. We don’t just jump into taxpayer dollars,” Zuckerman said.
Zuckerman said East Hills is also exploring other multiple avenues to beef up security at East Hills.
According to Zuckerman, the commission is looking installing more street lights and giving vehicle bumper stickers to easily identify commuting residents.
Zuckerman said a security kit will also be sent out to residents containing numbers and information that will help residents in case of emergency.
The Security Commission at East Hills was first established in 1988 after the village took over policing from private security contractors.
Prior to that, Country Estates and Lakeville Estates, Northern Woods and Nobhill area all contracted private security being paid for by the civic association.
As security conditions improved in the area, residents became hesitant to contribute to a program that wasn’t needed, Zuckerman said.
He said lobbied the village to take over security for the entire village, which they did by also hiring a private security.
In 1998, the village hired a director of security for oversight of the program and disbanded the commission.
“We’re definitely a not high crime area,” Zuckerman said. “But after the high profile crime in the area, we had to look into additional and innovative ways to make the community safer.”
The village reinstated the committee after an East Hills resident was struck in the face several times and robbed in her own driveway after she was followed home from Wheatley Plaza in December.
The alleged attackers in the driveway robbery were later arrested by Nassau County Police.
The driveway robbery followed shortly after a burglary at an East Hills home in which a police officer was injured attempted to restrain a man found hiding there.
