Department of Public Works – Deputy Mayor Fitzgerald
Deputy Mayor Fitzgerald commented that he would like to report on a few quick things. Luckily, the last few weeks have been snowless. The Highway Department is out there filling potholes as a result of all the rain, snow and deicing. I would like to thank them for their hard work. In the next couple of weeks, Spring tree planting will begin so if anyone would like a tree, please call DPW to be placed on the list. The last item is an update on the Floral Park Boulevard road project. In the next two weeks, the drainage piece and then the concrete curb will be done. Hopefully, by mid-April paving will commence and we will wrap it up by the end of April, early May weather permitting. Thank you.
Recreation Department – Trustee Pombonyo
Our Session II Winter Recreation Programs are underway. Fifteen different classes, offered multiple times on our rec schedule, are available for seniors, adults and youth. This session, we have 350 participating in the various fitness, wellness, sports, crafts and environmental classes, so many that our Recreation Department and instructors agreed to add sections to accommodate all who are interested in spending their days and evenings at our rec center, park or Centennial Gardens.
In other news, our Tiny Town playground is now open. After a lengthy snow and ice removal process, it’s playtime!
Be sure to bring your 2020 pool pass or 2021 resident leisure pass to use at any of our recreation facilities. Village residents may obtain free leisure passes at the pool building or shelter house, on the Village website at fpvillage.org, or by calling 326-6336.
Enjoy our Floral Park recreation activities throughout the winter and spring!
Conservation Society – Trustee Pombonyo
Congratulations to photographers Virginia Trinidad and Juliana Giani who won the Great Backyard Bird Count photo contest held on Valentine’s Day weekend! Virginia represented the 5 to 8 year old group and Juliana entered in the 9 to 13 year old group. Their beautiful photos of our Gardens birds, taken against the snowy backdrop, are posted on the Floral Park Centennial Gardens and Village of Floral Park Facebook pages and the fpvillage.org website Recreation/Centennial Gardens links. Both girls won Tulip Bake Shop gift certificates.
With spring coming in eighteen days, the opening of Centennial Gardens will follow during the first full week of April. Stay tuned for details.
Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce and Our Businesses – Trustee Pombonyo
Work on the reconstruction of our Covert Avenue businesses, devastated by the September 27th fire, is continuing. On February 24th, Floral Park’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) met with the public on zoom. At that meeting, the architect for the property owner of ten of the Covert Avenue businesses, displayed and described drawings of the proposed reconstruction which is very similar to the other businesses on the block. A one-story structure with similar architecture including the front decorative peaks, a partial brick facade, built on the same footprint was proposed. The ARB approved the proposal and offered suggestions (such as varying the peak designs to add variety). Construction drawings for the structure, interior fixtures, utilities, code compliance, etc. will follow. Clean-up of the interior debris will resume when the snow and ice are cleared.
The Building Department and DPW are looking into the possibility of other options to the chain-link fencing which now blocks the sidewalk, while providing for pedestrian safety. Inquiries to the Nassau County Department of Transportation, that has Covert Avenue jurisdiction and provided the Village of Floral Park with this original chain-link fencing plan, are now being made.
Renee Marcus, Village Superintendent of Buildings, will continue to provide updates regarding the status of reconstruction and the construction fencing. These updates will be posted on the fpvillage.org website, and the Village and Hillcrest Civic Facebook pages. You may also call the Building Department at 516-326-6319 or email FPBuildings@fpvillage.org with specific questions or comments.
And, most important, please continue to SHOP AND DINE LOCAL and patronize your favorite Floral Park and Stewart Manor businesses often!
Floral Park Fire Department – Trustee Cheng
The Fire Department has started their only fundraising campaign of the year. We all have seen their devotion, dedication and bravery throughout this past year. Whether it was answering calls for multiple fires or countless rescue calls during the pandemic, their commitment to service has not wavered. If you are financially able, please consider making a donation to our all-volunteer Fire Department.
Third Track & LIRR – Trustee Cheng
Bird netting is still scheduled to be installed underneath the newly modified Plainfield Avenue Bridge this month. Intermittent lane closures will be necessary to facilitate this work. Crews are continuing the process of testing the new Floral Park Station elevators to ensure complete functionality and that safety requirements are met. According to the LIRR Expansion Project website & 3TC, the elevators are still expected to be open for public use this winter. Of course, winter ends and Spring begins on March 20, so we will have to wait and see if that prediction comes true. I just hope they don’t mean the winter of 2021 that starts in December. The long awaited sound and retaining wall construction behind the homes on Charles Street is still slated to begin this month. This work will be done from the railroad tracks and will occur on weekends. On the evening of March 19, 3TC is planning to transport a new substation through Floral Park via Tulip and Covert Avenues to New Hyde Park. Seven (7) wide load trucks will make their journey through the Village sometime between 8PM and midnight. The trucks will be escorted by NY State Police and augmented by our own Police Department. The caravan should only take about 15 minutes but we will see some parking on Tulip Avenue curtailed and several streets will be impacted.
Library – Trustee Chiara
The AARP Tax Assistance Program at our Library is now accepting appointments from our seniors. Following COVID-19 guidelines, the tax aid volunteers will have two brief, low contact meeting with the taxpayers to exchange documents and offer assistance with returns. Appointments will begin on March 9th and continue each Tuesday and Wednesday through April 14th. Residents must call the Library’s Reference Desk for information and to make appointments. Also, at the Library the St. Patrick’s Concert performed by Niamh Hyland will be held virtually on March 14th at 4pm. Patrons should call the Reference Desk to register or they can do so online.
Our Library has and continues to do a fantastic job keeping connected to our community. It has been 4 years since Libraries have received additional funds from New York State. Now the Governor has proposed cutting Library Aid. Our Library is asking its patrons to go on the Library home page for a link to voice your support in opposition to these cuts. Any funds the Library receives helps to contribute to the excellent service and the variety of programs that are offered here in the Village. Please consider showing your support to our Library by contacting your State Representatives and encourage them to continue funding to our library and not to make any cuts in this area.
Police Department – Trustee Chiara
Tomorrow evening, March 3, 2021 at 7pm we will have an open forum to discuss the Draft Documents on the New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaboration which was mandated by Executive Order from the Governor. This document was created by a Village Committee that was formed to address this order. The committee consists of members of the Police Dept. Representatives of our Local Government, Religious, Business, and Community Leaders as well as Residents of the Village. The document describes the current policies and practices of our Police Dept. and how they meet the needs of our Village community. It was crafted using the guidelines provided by the State. It has been available online, and hard copies are also available at Village Hall, the Library, and at the Pool Building. A most important part of this process is Community engagement. So, please consider either sending in comments, questions or recommendations via email at policereform@fpvillage.org and or coming to the forum to discuss the document. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Floral Park Police Dept. and how they protect and most importantly serve our community. The meeting will be held on zoom, and you can find the link on the home page of the Village website.
Please make an effort to attend or send comments on this document. We are eager to hear from our community and complete the process by submitting it the Village Board and sending it up to Albany by April 1, 2021.
Mayor’s Report – Mayor Longobardi
Mayor Longobardi reported that he would like to piggyback on Trustee Chiara’s praise for the Floral Park Police Department (FPPD) as it is designated one of the best police departments in the country. I would like to thank Trustee Chiara, as liaison to the Floral Park Police Department for leading the Community Police Advisory Committee (CPAC) in creating the Floral Park Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative draft report. I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their time, energy, opinions, concerns and forward thinking on behalf of our Village. Trustee Frank Chiara did a fantastic job as chair of this committee in guiding and spearheading this process. I also wish to thank Police Commissioner Stephen G. McAllister, Lieutenant William Doherty and Lieutenant Thomas McCarthy for all of their work, not only in creating this document, but their dedication and diligence in maintaining and improving the best police force anywhere.
This collaborative process will help us to design what the future of the FPPD could be and the final part of this process is to now seek input from all members of the community. Please review the draft report available on the Village website and email your comments to policereform@fpvillage.org. The community meeting is scheduled for tomorrow evening, March 3rd via zoom. We welcome your participation and comments.
The Village Election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 16, 2021 from noon to 9PM. Please exercise your right to vote.
It is soon time to enjoy Spring weather and I encourage all residents to drive slowly through the Village to provide for the safety of all drivers and pedestrians. There has been a recent increase in unnecessary motor vehicle accidents and please be considerate and drive slowly and safely.
I would personally like to thank the Floral Park Police Department, Fire Department and Rescue Squad for responding to an emergency call from my family last evening. Our first responders including volunteers were there for us when we truly needed them and their training and experience was evident in their care for my family. Word cannot express the gratitude from the Longobardi family. Thank you.
