Plandome Heights approves sharing services with Baxter Estates

Amelia Camurati
Plandome Heights Mayor Ken Riscica, left, discusses potentially sharing a road paving contract with the Village of Baxter Estates. (Photo by Amelia Camurati)

A Manhasset village on Monday approved sharing a road-paving contract with a Port Washington village.

The Plandome Heights Board of Trustees unanimously approved a conflict of interest waiver and a cooperation agreement with the Village of Baxter Estates, allowing the village to bypass the approximately $15,000 engineering fee and typical bidding process.

Mayor Ken Riscica said during a meeting of the Port Washington and Manhasset mayors, he recently spoke with Baxter Estates Mayor Nora Haagenson, who expressed concern about the village’s need for road work.

In the Plandome Heights capital road work contract with Stasi Brothers Asphalt Corp., other municipalities are allowed to use the same contract price since the work went through the bidding process.

“The law changed a couple of years ago where villages can share their competitively bid contracts with others,” Riscica said. “It’s part of the shared services concept. They can use our pricing because it was competitively bid — it was just bid by someone else.”

Village Attorney Christopher Prior, who also serves as village attorney for Baxter Estates, said he will draw up the agreement. When Trustee Dan Cataldo asked if Prior would be paid twice for the work, he said he would bill Baxter Estates for the time.

Riscica said the conflict of interest waiver covers Prior’s position as attorney for both villages.

Trustees saw the shared services plan as a way of helping the neighboring village less than three miles to the north.

“I think it’s nice that you’re starting it because there may be a day we need their help,” Trustee Dianne Sheehan said.

In other business, Riscica announced a $125,000 Transportation Infrastructure Economic Assistance grant through state Sen. Elaine Phillips for future road projects. Riscica said the money will likely be put toward the repaving of the Bournedale area.

Trustees also approved the use of some village roadways for the Don Scott Memorial Foundation 5K set for Sept. 16.

Reach reporter Amelia Camurati by email at acamurati@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516-307-1045, ext. 215, or follow her on Twitter @acamurati.

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