Mayor on a mission
Hendrick speaks about his priorities in Lynbrook
Though it may be a new year, the village’s new mayor, William Hendrick, recognizes the challenges Lynbrook faces moving forward in what he calls “tough economic times.”
Hendrick, who took over as mayor on Jan. 1 after his predecessor, Brian Curran, was elected to the State Assembly, has a plan to tackle the challenges and continue improving the village, starting with an examination of the village budget.
“We have to continue to get the most services out of the least money we can because people need these services,” Hendrick said. “We have to control our budget, which is my No. 1 priority.” A key component in controlling the spending plan is to save every penny, which can help keep the tax rate as small as possible, he said.
Hendrick noted that residents should have access to the best services — more youth services, for example. One of his key concerns is to see the tax base grow, and he cited three locations that he would like to revitalize: Regal Cinemas on Merrick Road; the former site of the Mangrove Feather Company — commonly known as the “feather factory” — on Broadway, near the village’s Long Island Rail Road station; and the vacant stores under the railroad trestle on Atlantic Avenue.
“We want the feather factory to be developed, and we have plans to go forward to bring stores into that railroad area,” Hendrick said.
As reported in the Herald last summer, the village board met with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which issued a request for proposals from potential tenants of the vacant commercial properties under the railroad tracks.
Hendrick said he also wants to finish the streetscaping on Broadway and expand it to the end of town, though the timeline for the project could be longer than expected with a tight budget this year.
Allowing some building construction in the village can help keep residents’ taxes low, Hendrick said, which is one of his chief goals. He plans to meet with board trustees and examine the various areas of the village to get an idea of each area’s needs.
