Lawrence village reorganizes

More than 20 items were addressed by the Village of Lawrence Board of Trustees during a reorganization meeting on July 12.

Mayor Martin Oliner appointed Trustee C. Simon Felder deputy mayor, newly elected Trustee Irving Langer is the board’s liaison to the village’s Department of Public Works and Parks Commission and Trustee Michael Fragin continues in his position as village fire Commissioner.

Former Deputy Mayor Joel Mael was given the appointments of village commissioner of Police and Sanitation. However, he declined those posts, without providing a reason. Though Felder volunteered to serve as the police commissioner, Oliner decided to keep both positions open until further notice.

Village resident Jackie Handel, a longtime member and officer of the Lawrence Association, was appointed to the Parks Commission. Handel’s appointment initiated a brief debate begun by Mael who opposed increasing the number of Parks Commission members to 11. However, the appointment was approved 3-2 as Mael and Fragin voted no.

By unanimous vote, the board adopted a revision to its village code that gives the village administrator (currently Dave Smollett) the power to authorize, modify or suspend parking restrictions when notified of an event that requires a parking waiver.

Trustees also unanimously ratified approval of a New York State Department of Environment Conservation consent order; a settlement of $10,000 for violations connected with the village’s former sewage treatment plant that is now under Nassau County’s ownership. The settlement saved Lawrence hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Oliner.

Regarding the two-way traffic experiment on William Street, there remains the problem of motorists not obeying the no left turn sign when coming out of the garage of the Central Plaza building. “We will be monitoring that closely,” said Oliner, who added that the street will remain two-way for the next few months.

The board is expected to hold a public hearing at a future meeting regarding a local law to allow the village to cut the grass of vacant homes.

Several items were tabled for discussion at another board meeting, including continuation of the public hearing concerning the contract with the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department.