Hewlett Harbor Discuss Renovations to Village Hall

A plan to renovate the grounds of Hewlett Harbor Village Hall is underway, according to board members at Thursday night’s trustees meeting.

Amir Gal, the village commissioner of public works, recently surveyed the property on Pepperidge Road and discussed his ideas and the estimated costs for the projects in question.

“We have to understand that we can do a lot," he said. "Our asphalt is breaking out of here. The more it breaks, the more pebbles we have. Then the pebbles break down. We can do some patches in the meantime, but it’s in fairly bad shape."

Other projects include improving the handicap accessible ramp entrance by making it wide enough for wheelchairs, giving it the proper incline and creating a much bigger landing. A fence will be built to separate the hall from an adjacent property.

The salt shed will be rearranged, where one side will house salt and sand, and the other side will accommodate storage containers that hold debris collected throughout the village until its time for carting. The board agreed that this would be more practical and sanitary than keeping the containers outside. The contractor suggested installing garage door openers as well. A new sidewalk was another project that is part of the overhaul.

Several other topics were discussed during the meeting:

• Drivers failing to adhere to stop signs throughout the village has been a big concern of the board for some time.
  
  During the comment period of the meeting, a resident explained that no one heeds the stop sign by his house on Seawane Drive. “The problem is, most people don’t stop,” said the resident, who did not identify himself. “I’m a little bit at risk when I back my car out. I know it’s not practical to put a police officer there, but they go down Seawane Place like a raceway.”
  
  Although initially considered by Mayor Mark Weiss, he and the resident agreed that moving the sign probably wouldn’t be a viable option. But the mayor did suggest adhering reflective tape down the length of the sign’s pole to give it more visibility.
  
  “Notify the police and ask them to put a presence on the side street over there, and catch the speeders,” was one of Weiss’ ideas for tackling the problem.
  
  In light of the situation, several board members were surprised that no moving violation citations were issued during the month. The mayor plans to review the records of moving violations from the past six months with someone from the Fourth Precinct.

• Finding a quality, fairly priced street sweeping service is a big priority. “We have been thoroughly disappointed in everyone we’ve ever used,” Weiss said. “I think this is the worst it’s ever been,” he said, in reference to the condition of village streets.
• The village has been reviewing their options for street light maintenance. A light bulb changing contract costs about $150 a month, which several board members said is too pricey considering the bulbs only cost about $25, and only about six bulbs go out a year. But the alternative of the village changing its own bulbs, which requires some kind of bucket truck, may not be an option.
  
  “How do we get up there to change the light bulb?” Weiss asked. “And the insurance policy you need for someone to go up there is probably $10,000.” The board of trustees plans to ask other villages, such as East Rockaway, how they handle street light maintenance.