54.0°,
Mostly Cloudy Addressing the library, busting the cap, bonding with Israel
Village of Lawrence addresses its issues
An address — 200 Central Ave. — and a nickname — One Library Way — were among several items discussed and approved at the Village of Lawrence board of trustees meeting on Feb. 8.
It was Item No. 11 on the agenda, but the resolution concerning Peninsula Public Library was addressed earlier. Library Director Carolynn Mateluwicz said that architectural plans are being prepared, a public input survey will be sent out soon and the proposed bond vote is expected to be in October. “We are supportive of what you are doing and look forward to the new library,” Mayor Alex Edelman said.
Bust the cap
A.B. Bridge
Vincent Grasso, executive director of the Nassau County Bridge Authority that oversees the Atlantic Beach Bridge, spoke on several issues about the bridge. Grasso said that all options are the table concerning the tool plaza and whether
it could be switched to either using the E-ZPass system or open road tolling. The issues are financial and local as he said E-ZPass takes a percentage of the money collected, while installing open road tolling could cause an increase in speeding and possibly accidents as there is a blind spot to the extreme right of the road off the bridge heading into Atlantic Beach.
“Every option is open,” he said, adding that the need to make a definitive decision is roughly five years away. Grasso added that public hearings would be held. He did note that the A.B. Bridge and the Holland Tunnel both opened in 1952. The cost to cross the bridge is $2 one-way and the tunnel costs $15 for two trips.
Village roadwork
Lawrence officials said there are 70 locations where there double utility poles along the village’s streets. That’s 70 poles that are not needed and create an eyesore, the trustees said. Deputy Village Administrator Gerry Castro is working on getting them taken down by the summer. Potholes are being filled along Rockaway Turnpike and Broadway. Officials said they aim to do more in the spring.
Still no ambulance
The village has yet to have a positive result on the ambulance bid, receiving only one response and, once again, the specifications are not in compliance with what was requested. Approval of the bid was tabled.
Lawrence received a $300,000 grant through Nassau County with the assistance of County Legislators Denise Ford (R-Long Beach) and Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence) in 2016 for an emergency vehicle. Chavira Hatzalah of the Rockaways and Nassau County, the volunteer ambulance corps, will lease the ambulance from the village.
Twin cities
The Village of Lawrence and Ma’ Aleh Adumin entered into an agreement to be twin cities to promote the municipalities cultural and commercial ties. Ma’ Aleh Adumin is a city in the West Bank with 40,000 residents, nearly five miles from Jerusalem.
Raises and fee changes
Building Department employee Danny Vacchio received a raise from $72,000 to $85,000 for the job he has done increasing revenue for the village, officials said. Highway Department employees Raffaele Russo, the supervisor, and Attilio Cassetta, also were given increases. Russo now makes $79,000 and Cassetta $27,500.
A fee regarding generators is now only $150. The 1.5 percent added fee was eliminated. The trustees also approved new fees for tennis at the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club. The pickle ball courts are being installed.
