Lynbrook Village Adopts 2013-14 Budget

Story by Steve Fiorentine:

The Lynbrook Board of Trustees adopted the budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year and held two public hearings at its board meeting Monday night at village hall.

After holding a public hearing at its April 8 meeting, the board adopted the budget for the 2013-14 budget for the fiscal year of June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014.

The board initially proposed a 5.8 percent tax increase at last week’s public hearing, but was able to reduce the tax increase to 4.89 percent.

Village Administrator and Budget Officer John Giordano also reported that Lynbrook maintained its AA bond rating that it received three years ago, the highest bond rating that Lynbrook had ever received.

Lynbrook Mayor William J. Hendrick noted that staffing levels are lower in every village department except the police department, where new police officers were added, and that the village is doing more with less.

Hendrick also pointed out that 22 percent of the village’s taxes are paid by the commercial area and encouraged residents to support local businesses by shopping locally.

The board also held two public hearings regarding properties at 173 Earle Ave. and 831-839 Sunrise Highway at the meeting.

In a continuation of its April 1 public hearing on the matter, the board approved an application for the building of three new colonial four-bedroom houses on the property of 173 Earle Ave.

Residents from the area voiced concern over the extension of the corner house’s porch by 5.5 feet. It was believed that the extended porch would obstruct the view of traffic at the stop sign on the corner of Earle Avenue and St. James Place.

However, Building Department Superintendent Brian Stanton and Chief of Police Joseph Neve believed that it should not present a problem to motorists’ line of site.

“I think having three brand new homes instead of a commercial property will enhance the neighborhood more so than you do realize,” Deputy Mayor Alan Beach said. “I think that they are nice looking homes. We’ve had them change those homes three times because we didn’t like what we saw at first.”

During the other public hearing, the board approved an application for a special use permit for the property at 831-839 Sunrise Highway, the former location of Sixth Avenue Electronics.

The applicants, who are leasing the property to The Tile Shop, wished to build an underground parking facility which requires the board of trustees’ special approval.

The underground parking facility will provide 15 more parking spots. Mayor Hendrick requested that the underground facility be used for employee parking only.

In honor of two upcoming dates, the board gave out proclamations for Holocaust Remembrance Day to members of the Lynbrook Jewish community and for Arbor Day to Superintendent Phil Healey and the Lynbrook Department of Public Works.