Kensington board cuts generator fees

Dan Glaun

The Village of Kensington Board of Trustees slashed fees for residents who want to install generators in the wake of Hurricane Sandy at a meeting Wednesday.

Under the new rules, residents purchasing a generator will pay only a $100 completion fee. Another $195 in permit and plumbing fees will be waived through April 1.

“I think it [the rate cuts] should be for the next few months as people decide if they want to get a generator,” said Village of Kensington Mayor Susan Lopatkin shortly before the board unanimously approved the measure.

The cut was part of a board discussion on the steps the village could take to prepare for future storms. 

Lopatkin said that the village’s ability to change its electrical system was limited, as only LIPA could maintain or alter power lines.

Lopatkin endorsed the appointment of a village emergency manager and “block captains” to improve communication, saying that the current emergency response team essentially consisted of herself, Chief of Police Michael Conlon and Village Clerk Arlene Giniger, and was not sufficient for increasingly severe storm seasons.

“It was clear – crystal clear – that the calamity was such that it was unprecedented,” said Lopatkin about Sandy’s impact.

“One of the few things Gov. Cuomo said that I agree with is these hundred year storms seem to be coming every two years now,” said Village Attorney Peter Mineo.

Lopatkin said that residents had suggested moving power lines underground, but that doing so would cost millions of dollars and create huge logistical difficulties.

The Long Island Power Authority once again came under fire, as Lopatkin criticized the utility’s efforts to keep residents and municipal officials informed.

“Where LIPA really fell down was they did now have any effective communication,” she said, noting that she had to personally visit the local substation to inform power workers of Kensington’s borders.

One resident credited Lopatkin with working to resolve the outages, but attacked the efforts of town and state officials as inadequate.

“I don’t think any elected official other than you did anything for our village,” he said to the mayor.

Lopatkin disagreed, praising Nassau County Legislator Judi Bosworth (D-Great Neck), state Rep. Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) and Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman (D) for the advocacy on behalf of their constituents.

“These people were absolutely there for this village,” she said.

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