The East Williston Village Board left the door open for the possibility of permitting a village-wide garage sale day after a public hearing on Monday night to consider lifting an existing ban on garage sales.
The board adjourned the hearing without voting on a proposal to lift the ban or permit a village-wide garage sale day.
Local law currently prohibits garage sales except when residents are moving and have consummated a contract to sell a home.
Village of East Williston Mayor David Tanner said he wants to achieve a “compromise” on a “pilot program” that would allow all village residents to hold a garage sale on a single day.
“We would be able to evaluate it each year to see if it is a success or not,” Tanner said.
Deputy Mayor Bonnie Parente expressed reservations, but said she wanted to hear what residents were thinking. The rest of the board members favored the idea.
“It’s a time to meet your neighbors and it’s a positive idea,” said village Trustee Christopher Siciliano.
He said an annual garage sale day he’s experienced in Seacliff “just brings everyone together.”
Village trustee Robert Vella Jr. said he was originally opposed to the idea, but said conversations with fellow trustees Siciliano, Caroline DeBenedittis – and his wife – had swayed his opinion.
“I think it’s time for a change and I wholeheartedly support it,” Vella said.
DeBenedittis said some residents had expressed concerns to her about the traffic an annual village-wide garage sale day could generate and the prospect of burglaries occurring with an event that attracts many people from outside the village.
All residents who spoke during the hearing favored the idea, but offered alternatives to designating a single day of garage sales.
“If we have garage sales on the same day, it’s somehow doomed to fail,” East Williston resident Michael Guglielmo said.
He suggested a “pilot” of two days in July or August, with different households designated to hold the sales on each day.
Resident Laurie Baltzer said it was doubtful all residents would hold sales on one day and suggested holding the sales quarterly in designated “quadrants” of the village.
Resident Gred Sokon said a quarterly schedule would make it more convenient for residents. He said a single-day sale might decrease residents’ chances of making sales while a quarterly approach could encourage shoppers to return to spend more money.
“I think the prohibition against garage sales is an antiquated snobbery,” said resident Nancy Kirk.
He said simply removing the ban wouldn’t be a popular alternative. Based on conversations he’s had with residents, he said people want to preserve the “tenor “ of the community.
“As proposed, I think there’s a lot of support for it,” Vella said.
Village of East Williston Mayor David Tanner said holding garage sales on a single day “could put more forces to bear” on organizing it.
Village attorney Jeffrey Blinkoff suggested holding the hearing open for further consideration and the board voted unanimously to do that.
In other developments:
• East Williston Fire Department Chief Patrick Theodore reported the Nassau County Regional EMS Council had recently recognized three members of the East Williston Fire Department for outstanding service. Kevin Cramblitt, an emergency medical technician, was recognized as the Basic Life Support Provider of the Year for Nassau County for his quick actions in which he saved the life of a young cardiac arrest victim. East Williston firefighter Kevin O’Donnell was recognized for assisting Cramblitt. Thomas Devaney, the department’s Emergency Medical Services Captain for over 10 years, was given honorable mention in the category of Emergency Medical Services Leadership Award.
• Tanner swore in resident Daniel Roper as a member of the East Williston Historical Society.
• Siciliano said the village Department of Public Works is starting to remove uprooted trees on Ogden Avenue and other streets in the village.
He also said leaf bags were available for residents at Village Hall or could be picked up from the DPW on Saturday mornings.
He reported that fire hydrants throughout the village would be flushed during November and said residents would received notification in advance of the dates.
• A public hearing to consider amending parking fees throughout the village will be held at the next board meeting on Nov. 19.
