East Williston Receives Money for 1 Grant

Timothy Meyer

Village of East Williston Trustee Michael Braito announced at Monday night’s village board meeting he was in receipt of a check for $100,000 for the Village Hall construction, and was hopeful that the village would receive other construction-related grants following reports that more than $8.5 million in grants secured by then state Sen. Craig Johnson had been rescinded by Senate Democrats after Johnson lost his 7th District re-election bid to former Mineola Mayor Jack Martins.

The board of trustees is still awaiting notice on the status of two other grants – $100,000 for refurbishing the library at village hall and the second for $150,000 for a new communications room and renovations at the fire department.

The work on the Village Hall and the library have already been completed.

“We’re not sure of the status of the other two $100,000 dollar grants,” Braito said. “Our new state senator,Jack Martins, is working on trying to get that money redirected back into our district.”

Braito said the situation not only effects East Williston but their schools and even few other communities in the surrounding area.

One resident expressed his dismay with Johnson, for his promise of grant money to the village that remains unfulfilled.

“It sounded like the people were being punished, because he didn’t win the election, pulling the rug from under us, because he didn’t get his way,” the resident said.

“I would say it’s probably a little of that, and a little of too many promises made, that could not be kept,” Village of East Williston Mayor Nancy Zolezzi replied. “Starting in June, we called regularly and we were assured there was no problem, we were getting that money and it was guaranteed.”

Zolezzi said that the board had not received a letter rescinding the other two grants as have other governments in Johnson’s district.

Village of East Williston Deputy Mayor James J. Daw, Jr. said the board had learned of a prospective grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation that could give the village money to do a tree-management and tree-inventory program.

“We thought it would be a useful thing for us to embark on after last summer’s storm,” Daw said. “We realized we might have some trees that need a second look.”

Daw also praised the village department of public works for their snow removal effort during the winter season.

“We are always very pleased with their work, but this year I have to say their response was absolutely heroic,” Daw said. “If you compare how we did against other villages, I think we have a lot to be proud of.”

Daw said it has been one of the worst winters ever and also said he enjoyed his tenure working with the department of public works.

“I’m coming down to the end of my tenure and of all the things I’ve enjoyed doing, working with DPW has been one the most satisfying in a lot of ways,” said Daw. “You can’t begin to know how good those guys are until you work with them and see them.”

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