The Mineola Board of Trustees voted last Wednesday to remove 55 parking meters on the north and south side of Station Road between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue.
These spots will be designated “Commuter Permit Parking Only” Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“For everyone out there, myself and my family included, that has had problems parking in commuter spots because there are not enough … hopefully there will be some relief on the way,” said Mayor Scott Strauss.
To aid with commuter parking, the board also voted to install “No parking from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.” signs on Station Road between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue. Strauss said the plan is to prevent people from storing their cars in these spots overnight.
Jennifer Galanga, a village resident, came before the board along with her son, Jackson, to ask for assistance for another issue commuters are causing – speeding on residential blocks.
Galanga said Wilson Street, where she lives, is used by commuters as a shortcut to bypass traffic. According to Galanga, more than 80 cars pass her home between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. She said she would be surprised if any of them are driving below the speed limit.
“Speeding is not even the word for it. There’s a complete disregard of the speed limit,” Galanga said. “I hate sitting in traffic too, but I’m not willing to put someone’s life at risk.”
Galanga said she has called the 3rd Precinct, but has not seen a police presence. She asked the board to take action, perhaps urging the county to add more stop signs.
Strauss said he recognizes the issue on the busy residential street and will put in calls to try to remedy the issue.
Additionally, during the meeting William Barrett, an accountant with Rynkar, Vail & Barrett, gave the annual audit report, saying the village is in “excellent financial standing.”
Barrett said the village is currently below $10 million in debt service and decreased the debt by over $1 million in the past year.
