The Town of North Hempstead board unanimously approved a town-wide redistricting plan with minimal changes at its Tuesday night meeting, leaving Plandome Heights in town Council District 6 with sister villages Plandome and Plandome Manor after residents raised objections to moving their village into District 4.
The change, which was proposed by the nine-member bipartisan redistricting committee, sought to equalize the population in those respective districts, based on results of the 2010 census. The committee proposed moving the Village of Plandome Heights, with a population of 1,005, to District 4 and moving the Village of Munsey Park, with a population of 2,963, into District 6. The result would have been a net gain of approximately 1,000 residents to the 37,167 residents in District 6.
District 4, represented by town Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, comprises the villages of Kings Point, Great Neck, Great Neck Gardens, Kensington, Manhasset, North Hills, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn and Munsey Park. with a population of 40,061, according to the 2010 census. District 6, represented by Dina De Giorgio, comprises the villages of Sands Point, Manorhaven, Port Washington, Flower Hill and Glenwood Landing, in addition to the three Plandome villages has a total population of 37,167, according to the census
Christopher Prior, village attorney for Plandome Heights, submitted a petition to the board signed by 376 residents of Plandome Heights and 243 residents of other municipalities including New Hyde Park, Albertson, Williston Park and Mineola to keep Plandome Heights with Plandome and Plandome Manor in Council District 6, represented by De Giorgio.
“These villages work together, share resources and work together frequently,” Prior told the town board.
Prior urged the board to keep them together in “the core of the district” to maintain the district’s “compactness.”
Prior also submitted copies of letters sent to the town board by Village of Plandome Heights Mayor Kenneth Riscica and other town officials, the Greater Manhasset Chamber of Commerce and Village of Great Neck Ralph Kreitzman all supporting the retention of Plandome Heights in District 6.
The redistricting committee’s objective was to come as close as possible to equalizing the six town council districts at populations of 37,720 each without significantly disrupting existing districts, based on the town’s total population of 226,332 according to the 2010 census.
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman suggested the board amend the redistricting plan to keep Plandome Heights in District 6.
“District 6 will be slightly bigger than the others. The impact will have no bearing on this or other communities,” Kaiman said. “If this doesn’t make any difference, it certainly makes sense to amend the plan.”
Town attorney John Riordan, who was chairman of the redistricting committee, raised no objection, saying the committee had submitted recommendations on amending the district borders subject to board approval.
Munsey Park will become part of District 6, raising the population of the district from 37,107 according to census figures to 39,830. The resulting population in District 4 will be 37,368, down from 40,061, according to the census. In approving the amended plan, the board acceded to the committee’s suggestion to move one election district, known as the “Wickshire” or “Park Circle” area of Herricks from Council District 5 to Council District 2.
Council District 5, represented by town Councilwoman Lee Seeman, comprises the villages of Saddle Rock, Harbor Hills, Great Neck Estates, Thomaston, Russell Gardens, Lake Success, North New Hyde Park and small section of Floral Park with a population of 38,518. Council District 2, represented by town Councilman Thomas Dwyer, comprises Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Glenwood Landing, East Hills, Searingtow, Manhasset Hills, Herricks and East Williston with a population of 35,822
Riordan said the change would reduce the percentage deviation from the ideal district population in District 2 to less than a 5 percent. Riordan was unable to say exactly how many residents the north New Hyde Park election district would add to the 35,822 people residing in District 2, represented by Dwyer.
“I want to express my appreciation for the concern you’ve expressed. This was never about one person,” Riscica told the board.
Town Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, who represents District 4, thanked the redistricting committee for its work, as did De Giorgio.
“Welcome back,” said De Giorgio to Plandome Heights residents who were present at the meeting.
In the two districts that were not amended by the redistricting committee: District 1, represented by town Councilwoman Viviana Russell, comprises Old Westbury, Westbury, Carle Place and New Cassel with a total of 36,739 residents; District 3, represented by town Councilman Angelo Ferrara, comprises New Hyde Park, Garden City Park, Mineola and Williston Park with a population of 38,015 residents
The impetus for the redistricting initiative was based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s “one man, one vote” ruling which calls for uniformity between voting districts so that differences in population would not exceed more than a 10 percent discrepancy between districts.
In other developments:
• The town is co-producing a segment about North Hempstead an upcoming episode of Discovery Channel’s “Today in America” with United States Media Television.
“We will own our little piece of it,” Kaiman said.
The segment for the show, which highlights exemplary communities around the country, is scheduled to film the segment in two weeks in various town locations.
