By Sam Glasser
The state Transportation Department has apparently begun work on a long-sought traffic study in Lake Success, the first step in an effort to untangle rush-hour congestion at the intersection of the Long Island Expressway service road and Lakeville Road, the Lake Success village board was told Monday night.
Mayor Adam Hoffman said village officials, including the Police Department, recently met with state transportation representatives to discuss the scope of the study. “They will get back to us in two or three months with recommendations,” Hoffman said.
He explained that when the Long Island Expressway was widened a few years ago one exit was eliminated and others were repositioned, which has caused traffic jams at the intersection, particularly in the morning.
The board also reported that police overtime was cut approximately in half for the 18-month period that ended Dec. 31, 2017, compared with the previous 18 months. The department has hired more dispatchers and changed the way it deployed officers, Hoffman said.
In unrelated business, the board also decided to defer repairs to the Golf Club shower room so as not to interfere with the upcoming golf season. The area was flooded more than a year ago because of a problem on the floor above.
The renovations are estimated at about $125,000, but Hoffman said the village was trying to keep the project cost within the insurance reimbursement.
The board also approved the renewal of the 2011 contract with Worldwide Security, which provides security monitoring for village residents with a direct connection to the village Police Department. The cost to subscribing homeowners is unchanged, Hoffman said.
ExteNet Systems, a telecommunications company, is also working with the village to improve cellphone service. The company plans to install network nodes – essentially small antennas that are connected to a communications hub that helps distribute the signals from various wireless service providers. They are typically located on utility poles, street lamps or traffic signal poles, enhancing the coverage of wireless service.
Village officials had some concerns about Extenet’s proposed locations and said they drove around the area with company representatives to review the plans and suggest alternate placement of the equipment. A public hearing on the project is scheduled for March 12.
In other action, the board set April 5 as the date for the sale of tax liens. As of Monday, five properties were in arrears.
The board also set June 19 as Election Day for village offices. Voting will be held at the Village Hall.
