Two incumbents in Manhasset’s special districts are seeking re-election next week for another three-year term.
Manhasset Park District Commissioner Kenneth Weigand is running for his second term, and Manhasset-Lakeville Water District Commissioner Mark S. Sauvigne his second term.
The Manhasset Park District serves the area except for Plandome and North Hills. The Manhasset-Lakeville Water District serves all of Manhasset and Lake Success as well as parts of New Hyde Park, North Hills and Great Neck.
Voting for the Manhasset special elections runs from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department’s Company No. 1 Firehouse at 35 Bayview Ave. in Manhasset.
Sauvigne, who also serves as Manhasset Park District treasurer, said during his time as water district commissioner the district has continued upgrades to the elevated tank in Munsey Park as well as the automated metering system and water main while keeping water rates steady.
Sauvigne said the smart water meters allow the district to notify customers when problems occur, such as leaks, and the district’s water distribution system improvements during his tenure have increased the ability to move water efficiently for domestic and fire department use.
Sauvigne was commissioner when the water tank, originally built in 1929, was replaced in Munsey Park earlier this year after years of planning and a temporary halt on construction by Nassau County State Supreme Court Judge R. Bruce Cozzens in 2014.
“Now that the project is complete, we had surprisingly little feedback although what we received was mostly positive,” Sauvigne said. “It was done in a manner to cause the least inconvenience to the local residents and we appreciate their cooperation, patience and understanding throughout the whole process.”
Sauvigne said during his next term, he plans to focus on the district’s “fairly aggressive capital improvement program.”
“As we move forward, I hope to continue to help build the infrastructure needed to insure our water supply distribution system will meet the ever increasing demands put upon it,” Sauvigne said.
Weigand, a second-generation Manhasset resident, said he has established a “more collaborative relationship” with the Town of North Hempstead and Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations. Through these relationships, Weigand said the district was able to reach an agreement in 2015 with the town to add 16 parking spaces to Field 3 behind Mary Jane Davies Green.
The plan to reconfigure several parking spots, close some existing entrance and exits on Memorial Place and Manhasset Avenue and redirect traffic through curb cuts is still ongoing.
Weigand said in 2015 the district also added 20 commuter spots to the Hillside Avenue parking lot adjacent to the Manhasset Long Island Rail Road station.
During his freshman term, Weigand said the district has also maintained resident parking fees while staying below the tax cap thanks to an increase in nonresident weekend parking fees.
“I have been instrumental in adding additional evening personnel to maintain the flow of traffic during our rush hour periods and added additional security to our lots for the benefits of our residents and nonresidents who take advantage of the railroad to the city,” Weigand said. “The increased traffic, U-turns, speeding and disregard to traffic stop signs and lights have made our streets a dangerous place for our families who are walking to school, train or local stores. We have seen inflated commercial property values due to illegal parking, store fronts remain vacant due to high rent demand and opportunities are lost to add needed business to the Manhasset residents.”
Weigand said he plans to continue supporting the local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts who are looking for projects to become Gold Scouts and Eagle Scouts respectively. Previously, Weigand said one Girl Scout project to build bird houses became a sanctuary that drew blue birds, which have recently declined in Manhasset, to the area.
