Sea Cliff Village Board sets sights on surveying residents

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Deputy Mayor Kevin McGilloway shared the results of an e-survey regarding Littleworth Lane at the Village Board of Trustee meeting on Monday. The street, which sits between Sea Cliff School and its playground, is already closed Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Out of 89 responses, 56 percent were in favor of permanently closing the street and 20 percent were in favor of leaving the ordinance as is. Sixteen percent were in favor of extending the ordinance to seven days instead of five, and 4 percent were in favor of moving the playground back to its original location behind the school on Franklin Avenue.

“The fact that 72 percent are in favor of intensifying the closing sends a relatively clear message,” McGilloway said. He added that while walking past the elementary school last Saturday, he saw the evident risk factor many parents had been pleading to the board to remedy.

“We have good faith efforts in place to do the right thing long-term,” he said in reference to the joint taskforce that was formed to address the issue, “but there is a short-term exposure.”

Mayor Edward Lieberman said that the taskforce is in the process of coming up with a solution to the problem and will meet again on March 1.

During her report, Trustee Dina Epstein brought a motion to hold a public hearing for the board to consider adopting a “bring your own bag” ordinance for the village. The proposed law would impose a five-cent fee on single-use bags and promote sustainability. The public hearing will be held during the next public comment meeting on March 12. Residents can pick up copies of the proposed BYOB law in Village Hall.

The board continued its discussion on possibly implementing a strategic plan for Sea Cliff, which Trustee Deborah McDermott first brought to the table at a Jan. 8 meeting. Trustees intended to engage their respective committees and citizens in an effort to articulate a shared vision for the village.

McDermott said that other entities that adopt strategic plans usually have the help of a consultant. McGilloway asked if she could bring an estimate to the board about what hiring a consultant would cost.

Epstein voiced, as in previous meetings, that while soliciting input, the board should frame its questions more precisely. “Values are amorphous and hard to pin down,” she said. “We can’t make suppositions. We need statistical, factual data.”

Village Counsel Brian Stolar recommended that McDermott review the village code to define Sea Cliff’s values and see how its “elements and intentions” apply to the strategic plan.

The board agreed to perfect the plan at its next conference meeting on March 5.

Additionally, Lieberman announced a motion to mail a letter to state senators and assemblymen urging them to pass and enact legislation pertaining to using primary and secondary schools as voter registration and polling places during election seasons. Residents had voiced in prior public comment meetings that the existing ordinance poses a safety concern.

The legislation provides that no primary or secondary school shall be required to be open for voter registration or used as a polling place when school is in session or minors are scheduled to be present.

The board’s motion to mail the letter to lawmakers passed unanimously.