Politics & Government

Mineola Village Board Notebook: January 16

Other news from the January 16 village board meeting.

The Mineola Village Board of Trustees held a meeting on Wednesday, January 16. Here are some of the things you may have missed.

Village Tax Payments

  • A resident questioned if the village could allow two payments for village taxes in a first-half/ second-half scenario instead of the current model where all village taxes are due in a single payment.
  • According to village attorney John Spellman, the village had in the past conducted an analysis on overhead costs to conduct payments twice per year instead of once.
  • “It was thought in various analysis that were undertaken, the board felt it was too expensive for manpower and so forth,” Spellman said. “So they held to the one-time payment.”
  • It was noted that the board could take the issue up again in the future at any time if it so desired.

Use Requests

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  • The County Seat Kiwanis requested use of the community center auditorium on Saturday, February 2 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, February 3 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. for its 23rd annual Super Bowl all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and $4 for children under 12.
  • The Mineola Junior Fire Department requested use of the community center auditorium on Saturday, March 9 at 8 a.m. and Sunday, March 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for its 17th annual pasta dinner.

2013 Village Election

  • The village board passed a resolution that the 2013 village election will be held on March 19 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the village hall for the election of two trustees and the mayor.
  • In addition to Mayor Scott Strauss, the seats currently occupied by trustees Lawrence Werther and George Durham are up for election.

December Village Justice Court Report

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During the month of December 2012, the village justice court heard and collected the following fines for the number of cases listed:

  • 46 moving violations for $3,625
  • 1,705 parking violations for $105,812
  • six suspension appearance fees for $350
  • for a total of $112,287.

Budget Transfers

  • A series of 2012/13 intra-fund transfers were approved as follows: $84,744.52 from the general fund; $5,599.61 from the water fund; $3,125 from the pool fund.
  • The board approved a transfer in the amount of $1,054 in the 2012/13 fiscal budget from the capital projects fund to the general fund to pay off bond anticipation notes relating to a bond the village paid off early.
  • The board approved a transfer in the amount of $6,949.64 in the 2012/13 fiscal budget from the pool fund to the general fund to pay off bond anticipation notes relating to a bond the village paid off early. The estimated savings from paying the bonds early is $520,000.

Curb Cuts

  • The board grated a request from a homeowner to expand a curb cut and driveway apron at 125 Roslyn Road located on Searing Avenue from the existing 12. ft to 16 ft.
  • The owner of the northwest corner property reportedly has a two-car garage and wishes to expand the cut to give additional room.
  • Superintendent of Public Works Tom Rini stated that he twice attempted to contact the owner of the property, noting some confusion that the application said the application requested expansion by 16 ft.
  • “We’ve never really approved anything beyond 16 ft. so at this point I would suggest that we just approve that as the largest that it could go,” he said.
  • Another resident’s request to close their existing 8 ft. curb cut and open a new 16 ft. curb cut to the north at 56 Colonial Ave. on Strand Place was approved.

Personnel

  • The board approved a payout of benefit time accrued to Ramon Carlopes, who resigned after 25 years of service.
  • The position was then moved from the parks budget to the highway department at the request of Rini to “give us a little more flexibility in getting employees with proper licenses to drive vehicles, things like that.”
  • There is no impact on the budget.
  • There was also an approval to advertise for two positions in the highway department.

Other Board News

  • The board authorized July Auto Wrecking as the village’s authorized tow car agent for the towing and storage of abandoned vehicles. This is an annual resolution and July Auto Wrecking has served in this capacity for more than 20 years. The business is also licensed as a vehicle dismantler. The village has waived the tow car license fee for the business since it serves in this capacity free of charge.
  • Gerard Loughran was appointed as a special hearing officer and John M. Donnelly as counsel for a disciplinary appeal regarding a member of the village force.
  • Neil Young has stepped down as president of the Mineola Historical Society. Vice-president Tom Murtha will act as interim president until the next elections in March/ April. The group is hoping to hold a presentation at the Mineola Library in hopes that residents can help to identify some of its newly digitally enhanced photographs in its collection.
  • The fire department’s 2013 fund drive is now in progress. Letters should be received by residents by sometime this week.
  • The spring registration is open for the Mineola Athletic Association for baseball, softball and soccer.
  • Boy Scout Troop 45 will hold their Eagle Court of Honor on April 12, 2013. It was moved due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy. Troop 45 will also defend its title in the Klondike Derby on January 26.

The next meeting of the Mineola Village Board will be on Wednesday, February 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the village hall.

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