Island Park budget saves $10

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The Island Park Village Board adopted its budget for 2016-17, which Mayor Michael McGinty said would result in a tax savings of approximately $10 per household. The Mayor said the savings comes even though mandated State pensions increased 10.3 percent and health benefits increased 8.5 percent.

The privatization of health insurance for Village retirees resulted in a saving $8,000 in addition to saving $120,000 in salary costs.

McGinty called it a vigilant and aggressive approach to cash flow noting that every $20,000 in expenditure by the Village results in a one percent tax increase for residents.

Trustee Irene Naudus was praised for her work with the zoning board and buildings department, which McGinty said resulted in an increase in assessment value for the village. McGinty also noted that currently 53 houses are in the process of lifting.

McGinty also noted that Deputy Mayor Joseph Annarealla has reduced garbage and refuse costs $10,000 per year by using available services at transfer stations saving miles in truck wear and tear and labor costs.

The Village Board voted to award two contacts for sewer and road repairs, one at Truxton and Suffolk Roads for $4,500 and the other at Lancaster Road for $11,750 to Stasi Brothers Asphalt Corporation, which came in with the most competitive bids. Cross Island Irrigation was awarded the contract for turning on and off the sprinklers at municipal locations at a cost of $50 per property per year.

The Board also awarded a contract for $66,425 to Patriot Management Group for phase one of the drainage work to be paid for with the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds the village is receiving from FEMA. Patriot will assist the Village in coordinating project activities and preparing project documentation to ensure compliance with the Project requirements established by FEMA. The project includes a comprehensive evaluation of the Village’s storm water drainage system, development and evaluation of alternatives to provide flood protection, and analysis of the costs of the various alternatives and will address the widespread flooding resulting from Hurricanes Sandy and Irene.

Village Clerk Constance Conroy said the village advertised for the job contacted engineers asking for recommendations and sent out several requests for proposals, but only Patriot responded.

McGinty said this would allow Patriot to oversee the entire drainage project from beginning to end.

The Village also changed the fees it will charge for the Gazebo at Masone beach this summer, setting $125.00 for residents and $225.00 for non-residents.

Alternate side of the street parking hours were also changed from 9 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays to 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. The change went into effect last week.