Great Neck Plaza village trustees held off on imposing a law regulating unattended receptacles in the village on Wednesday night, following questions on whether or not it amounts to excessive regulation.
Richard Gabriele, the village’s attorney, said receptacles pertinent to the function of an institution – like a book bin for a library or garbage receptacle on private property – would remain allowed.
But “all others would be prohibited,” he said, including temporary bins for clothing collection.
“And even as to the allowed ones, except for trash receptacles on residential property, it requires that they come in front of this board for review,” Gabriele said.
Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender said people forget about temporary collection bins, leading them to become a “public nuisance.”
There are also “appropriate places” to do collection drives like in Village Hall and in houses of worship, Celender said.
Deputy Mayor Ted Rosen said that there should be a provision to allow for collection bins in wake of national emergencies, considering the impact hurricanes had on Texas and Puerto Rico last year.
He also said he would prefer for the Board of Trustees to not become “the accessory bin board.”
“I understand what the board’s trying to do with collection bins,” Rosen said, “but personally I think this is overregulation.”
Trustee Pamela Marksheid also asked if it was possible to allow the bins for emergency situations.
When the Board of Trustees was asked how many unattended collection bins they have seen in the village, they said “at least one” and that “there may be others.”
One collection bin specifically cited was on Cutter Mill Road near the corner of Bayview Avenue in front of the old Stanton Cleaners site.
“It’s a bit of a nuisance,” Trustee Gerry Schneiderman said.
Rosen also said the law is geared toward fighting against “consumer fraud,” such as when a company solicits donations for a cause but then sells those donations for a profit.
Trustees also mulled over whether to carve out certain categories of bins, how to possibly go after a property’s landlord, and if the District Attorney’s Office or Nassau County Police Department could enforce laws against the collection bins.
Public Services Commissioner Michael Sweeney, when asked, said there are parts of state property maintenance law and village law that could allow them to issue violations if a structure is not properly maintained.
The board ultimately decided to adjourn the matter to Sept. 5 to potentially “tailor down” the proposal. Trustees also requested Gabriele call the District Attorney’s office.
