Hewlett Neck Adopts 2011-12 Budget

The board of trustees avoided drastic increases and cuts when it adopted its 2011-12 budget after a public hearing on Monday night, but the board did vote to raise the salaries of village employees by 2 percent.

A few lingering issues will be reflected in the village’s current finances, such as the snowstorms of last winter. Amid the expenditures set forth in the $290,000 account will be a street sweeping proposal to keep village roads clean and a bid to locate and repair the recurrent underground wiring problem between Adams Lane and Dolphin Drive that involves installation of a new utility pole.

“The year went pretty good,”  Mayor Stuart Troyetsky said. “The new budget has some line items that were adjusted this year due to unexpected snowstorms. There were also some underground wiring issues and lighting projects. Adams Lane historically has been a problem. The newer wire will be better.”

In other matters before the board, the village election has been scheduled for June 21 at the . Two trustee positions will be up for grabs when residents cast their votes. Villagers who plan to mark their ballots early in the day may be out of luck since voting is not scheduled to begin until noon. Election inspectors will be on hand to assist.

“We didn’t get that many people coming in early last time," Troyetsky said. "This year it’ll be noon to nine."

In an effort to avoid potential snafus, Village Attorney Anthony Guardino added, “We have the ability to use the old voting machines if needed.”

Meanwhile, has paid the Hewlett Neck $8,500 in permit fees for the proposed cell phone tower at the Keystone Yacht Club. The company has not finished reviewing all the engineering studies and compliance codes, according to the village. A wait and see approach has been adopted.

“They haven’t applied for anything,” the mayor said.

Guardino summed it up best when he commented, “They haven’t come back to us yet.”

The next Hewlett Neck board of trustees meeting is scheduled for May 2.