Hewlett Harbor Notebook: Race Request, Budget Approved and Street Signs

officials are mulling over a request from an organization to hold a 5K walk and run in the village in September, with the main concern being the potential inconvenience a race may cause to residents.

“We’re an active community with an active country club,” Trustee Michael Yohai said at the board’s April 14 meeting. “There are a lot of logistics here.”

Two representatives from the National Council of Jewish Women, Carol Drecker and Shari Reich, sought permission from the officials to hold a 5K walk and run on Sept. 18 that could possibly start at village hall or and end at the high school. The organization had held the walk in Lawrence for the past two years, but the women said they believe holding it in Hewlett Harbor would be safer and have less turns.

“The route is flexible, we just need it to be 3.1 miles,” Drecker said.

The trustees said they would not decide whether to allow the race until the NCJW representatives submit a new route. As of late last week, that has yet to happen.

“The problem here is it would be easy to say no. We don’t want to,” Mayor Mark Weiss said. “We believe in the organization.”

Also discussed:

- The board of trustees approved a $1,092,574 budget for the next fiscal year, which starts on June 1. The village’s tax rate will remain the same. “We’re actually running a balanced budget,” Weiss said. “The White House would be envious.” The village is also trying to recoup money spent during the Dec. snowstorm from FEMA.

- The village is also faced with the question with what to do with a manhole on Pepperidge Road that needs to be replaced. The trustees debated whether to put the job out to bid or just let the water company fix it within the next few weeks. “If it is a three weak delay and we can prevent a headache down the road, we should do it,” Trustee Tom Cohen said.

- Letters have gone out to several utilities asking them to put bushes around their utility boxes in the village, which the trustees said are an eyesore. If the companies do not respond, village officials said they would send bills for the work.

- The trustees continued discussion of replacing the village’s street signs. Each sign is estimated to cost $42,000. However, before a final decision is made, Weiss said he wants to put together a panel of four village residents to choose which design will be picked. “This is going to be a big deal because this is going to be here for the next 50 years,” he said.

- Village elections were set for June 21. Yohai and Deputy Mayor Leonard Oppenheimer’s seats are seeking reelection. As of now, no one has filed to run against them, according to the village. Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m., as turnout in the morning has been low in prior elections. “It’s an outrageous cost and burden to the village to keep it open,” Cohen said about keeping polls open in the morning.