Valley Stream trustees hear drug concern

Members of the Valley Stream Civilian Patrol brought up a concern about possible drug usage in the area of Cochran Place at Monday night’s village Board of Trustees meeting. Chris Kelly, a member of the organization, showed a bag of drug paraphernalia she has collected including nickel and dime bags, cigar wrappers and even a hypodermic needle.

Kelly said the activity is taking place on Cochran Place and Pine Lane, and at Peri and Wood lanes. She said she lives in the neighborhood and walks her dog twice a day, noticing the aftermath from when people hang out in their cars in the area. “When you’re on foot, you really see more of what goes on in the neighborhood by what’s in the streets,” she said.

Village Trustee John Tufarelli said the village will be in touch with the Problem Oriented Patrol unit of the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct. He said the village board takes pride in Valley Stream, and wants to know about these issues. He said in the future, anyone with a concern should contact a village official before waiting to come to a board meeting and letting a problem persist. “This is something we do want to take care of,” he said.

Village Clerk Vinny Ang said he will relay concerns to the Auxiliary Police and Public Safety, and asked them to step up patrols in that area as well.

Bids accepted

The Village Board accepted the low bid for the repair of the culvert on Valley Stream Boulevard near the Village Green. The deteriorating culvert will be replaced this winter.

The board awarded the job to Pratt Brothers, of Bay Shore, for $1,176,671. Deputy Mayor Joanne Antun said the bid was lower than what the village had expected the project to cost.

Village officials also accepted the low bid to plant 125 new trees throughout the village. That project was awarded to Soundview Construction Corp./Island Nursery of Fort Salonga for $13,140. Antun said the highest bid was more than twice the cost.

Public hearing

The village will hold a public hearing on Local Law C, titled “Garbage, Rubbish and Refuse.” The proposed law would add a section to the village code to regulate the use of dumpsters and roll-off containers on public streets and private property.

The public hearing will be held on Monday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Village Hall courtroom.