Port Washington North Board of Trustees accepted a state grant on Wednesday that provides funds for GIS based maps of the village’s storm sewer systems through the sate Department of Conservation.
“It’s something that we’ve been wanting to do, for a better part of three or four years but it’s mandated and we haven’t had the money or have been able to do it,” Port Washington North Mayor Bob Weitzner said. “It’s great that we are able to do that.”
The maps will benefit the village by helping village workers and residents locate storm water conveyances and water quality devices, he said.
Weitzner said the Town of North Hempstead applied for the grant and it was awarded to 21 villages in the area.
Also at the meeting, Traffic Safety Commissioner Steve Kaplan said he has concerns about what he believed to be a junk car in public view.
He said he saw a pick up truck parked in a resident’s driveway but is in plain sight of the public, and has a flat tire making it appear as inoperable. It is also missing the back license plate.
“It’s an eyesore,” Kaplan said.
Kaplan said he wants a revision to village law to prohibit broken cars from being parked in public view.
“A junk car shouldn’t be left out in public,” he said.
Village Attorney Stuart Besen said he doesn’t agree with Kaplan’s proposal.
“Until the inspection and registration expires, it’s still considered valid,” Besen said of the vehicle.
Kaplan said he agrees with him but still wants something to be done.
“And you’re right. If the transmission is shot, and I don’t think anyone really cares if the transmission is shot, or if the battery is dead. It’s sitting there, it works,” Kaplan said. “I’m not taking about aesthetics and I totally agree that an ugly car or a car in disrepair, it doesn’t matter, you know that starts to get very objective but we have a car with a flat tire that has been there for a month and it’s got junk all over it and it’s sitting there. I don’t think it belongs in our neighborhood.”
The trustees concluded that because the pick up truck doesn’t have a back license plate and also has a flat tire, it’s reason enough for them to take action and send the resident a letter.
“If there’s no plate on the car it is deemed unregistered,” Weitzner said.
Weitzner added that cars in disrepair in public view is not a major problem in the village.
“Thankfully Steve is concerned and right,” he said. “The car is actually almost onto the sidewalk that could be an issue as well, and it’s not safe but at this point you can take action.”
The trustees also discussed insurance renewals that totaled to $24,298, which is $1,700 more than last year, according to Weitzner.
He said he reached out to the village’s broker and was told the price was increased because of claims related to people tripping and falling.
Village Clerk Palma Torrisi said Shore Road seems to be the cause for a lot of the incidents.
“Not a ton but more than any other street,” Torrisi said.
Weitzner said he wants to look into these cases and know the cause of the falls so that they can work to limit it.
“I want to know what I can do to lower the liability,” Weitzner said. “I want to know where the trend are, I want to know the frequency, the duration and severity and I want to know what we can do to lower our liability.”
The trustees also noted that construction on Tropical Smoothie Cafe, located at 11 Old Shore Road, is nearing completion.
“Tropical Smoothie is coming along nicely,” Weitzner said.
