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Fair City accepts gift for park in Canals
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Cindy Silvian, widow of Slomo Silvian, the owner of the King David Manor, told the city she will pick up the entire cost of rehabbing the public park on Clark Street on the city's eastern bayfront.
In exchange, the city agreed to dedicate the playground to Slomo and maintain it in perpetuity.
The City Council accepted the gift, totalling $338,648.46, with a unanimous vote Tuesday night.
The city also voted to accept a $12,161 Justice Assistance Grant from the federal government to go toward community policing initiatives.
While members of the council acknowledged that the amount of the grant wasn't great, City Manager Charles Theofan said every bit helps. "This may cover the police overtime at the St. Mary's Feast next month," he said.
The council also voted to buy 100 garbage cans for the West End at the eyebrow-raising cost of $830 each from Park, Playground and Recreation Products Inc. of Port Jefferson Station. While members of the public and the council agreed that the cost seemed high for garbage cans, members of the council promised the public that they were superbly durable and aesthetically pleasing.
Because the $83,000 for the cans was authorized out of Community Development funds, which come from the state and federal governments, and not the general fund, the cans can only go into areas of the city designated as eligible. Thus, the 100 cans will be installed in the city's West End.
Councilman Leonard Remo, a Democrat, was the only no vote on this item.
Causing slightly more discomfort was the council's resolution to spend up to $50,000 on outside lawyer fees to defend against a suit filed by several former city employees who were laid off. The employees, who were not protected by the city's civil service contract, are Maria Almonte, Mary Cammarato, Barbara Davis, Gregory Scott and Peter Snow, and they are suing the council and former City Manager Glen Spiritis.
The $50,000 was approved to be paid to the Garden City firm of Rosenberg Calica & Birney LLP. Democrats Remo and Denis Kelly, who voted against the budget cuts that caused the layoffs, abstained.
The empty store on West Park Avenue that was for years the home of Echo Stationers will be divided in half and become home to two businesses. After an uneventful pair of public hearings, the council voted to waive off-street parking regulations for the two businesses. One will be an insurance office and the other a real estate office. Both will be located on the ground floor of 30 W. Park Ave.
Republican Councilwoman Mona Goodman voted no, without comment, on the application of the real estate office.
Comments about this story? DMiller@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
In exchange, the city agreed to dedicate the playground to Slomo and maintain it in perpetuity.
The City Council accepted the gift, totalling $338,648.46, with a unanimous vote Tuesday night.
The city also voted to accept a $12,161 Justice Assistance Grant from the federal government to go toward community policing initiatives.
While members of the council acknowledged that the amount of the grant wasn't great, City Manager Charles Theofan said every bit helps. "This may cover the police overtime at the St. Mary's Feast next month," he said.
Because the $83,000 for the cans was authorized out of Community Development funds, which come from the state and federal governments, and not the general fund, the cans can only go into areas of the city designated as eligible. Thus, the 100 cans will be installed in the city's West End.
Councilman Leonard Remo, a Democrat, was the only no vote on this item.
Causing slightly more discomfort was the council's resolution to spend up to $50,000 on outside lawyer fees to defend against a suit filed by several former city employees who were laid off. The employees, who were not protected by the city's civil service contract, are Maria Almonte, Mary Cammarato, Barbara Davis, Gregory Scott and Peter Snow, and they are suing the council and former City Manager Glen Spiritis.
The $50,000 was approved to be paid to the Garden City firm of Rosenberg Calica & Birney LLP. Democrats Remo and Denis Kelly, who voted against the budget cuts that caused the layoffs, abstained.
The empty store on West Park Avenue that was for years the home of Echo Stationers will be divided in half and become home to two businesses. After an uneventful pair of public hearings, the council voted to waive off-street parking regulations for the two businesses. One will be an insurance office and the other a real estate office. Both will be located on the ground floor of 30 W. Park Ave.
Republican Councilwoman Mona Goodman voted no, without comment, on the application of the real estate office.
Comments about this story? DMiller@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.
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