Flood mitigation project moves forward

Hewlett Harbor proposal advances to design phase

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Just weeks before the third anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, the Village of Hewlett Harbor is preparing to begin improving its infrastructure improvements to mitigate flooding. The project is being undertaken in conjunction with NY Rising and the state’s Community Reconstruction Program.
Hewlett Harbor is expected to receive $3 million in federal funding, distributed by the state, for the project. Mayor Mark Weiss said that the partnership between the village and NY Rising has been operating on an “adequate” timetable. The village submits its invoices for the project to the state’s Office of Storm Recovery for reimbursement.
“It might seem like the process is dragging on, but we’ve advanced the ball further than most because of three reasons, Weiss said. “One is that we did work outside before consulting with New York Rising. Second … the state and government agencies … have their own timelines to follow, and we need to wait for them. Third, we want to make sure we’re doing it right.”
The project involves drainage and pipe work. To jump-start the process, the village hired Woodbury-based consulting firm D+B Engineers and Architects P.C. The firm conducted a study on drainage in the village, and when it was completed last September, the village met with NY Rising to decide on the next steps to take in the rebuilding process.
“The village is currently in the implementation phase,” said Laura Munafo, the Nassau County regional lead for the Community Reconstruction Program. “We’ve worked into an agreement with Hewlett Harbor. There was an administrative piece through [the U.S. Department of] Housing and Urban Development, where paperwork had to be completed. The village went through a pre-application screening process, which [was] approved. We don’t anticipate anything stopping moving into the next step, the design phase.”
The project can officially begin once the village board meets on Oct. 8 to agree to the terms of the project application, and Weiss officially signs it. Then it will be sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.

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