Village Board Recap: Board Denies Special Use Permit for T-Mobile, Vows to Fight Proposed Water Rate Hike

The Lynbrook village board met on Monday. The following is a recap of the major news discussed:

Deputy Mayor Leads Meeting

Deputy Mayor Alan Beach assumed the mayor's duties in the absence of Mayor Bill Hendrick, who was .

Hendrick came out of surgery the same day and is being closely monitored  at a Long Island hospital.

Lynbrook to Fight Proposed Water Rate Hike

The Village of Lynbrook is taking the lead in .

The village has enlisted the services of Daniel Duthie, a private attorney who has worked similar cases on behalf of municipalities that seek to fight utility rate hikes. Village officials estimate the cost of opposing the rate hike to be about $95,000, which would be divided up among the different villages that participate in the Municipal Consortium in Support of Reasonable Water Rates, of which Lynbrook is a member.

Officials estimate the cost of fighting the rate hike would be far less than if the rate hike were to go into effect (a rate hike would cost the village an additional $64,000 per year).

The proposed 19.5 percent increase is currently being reviewed by the state Public Service Commission, which must authorize any rate increases.

Board Denies Special Use Permit for Cell Antennae

To the satisfaction of many residents, the board denied an application on behalf of T-Mobile, which sought the use of the roof at 875 Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook for the installation of cell antennae. 

Trustees ultimately determined that there was no gap in cell service coverage and that the village was in full compliance with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, contrary to testimony given by an attorney for T-Mobile during public hearings on the proposal.

Several area residents and business owners had spoken out against the cell antennae being erected, citing concerns about radiation and/or aesthetic presentation.

Proclamations

McGrath Brothers

The village board presented two village citations to brothers Shaun and Dan McGrath, both of whom took part in the Long Island Marathon.

Shaun finished first overall, with a time of 2:39:41; Dan completed the race 244th overall, with a time of 4:08:25.

Abraham Shenkman

The longtime Lynbrook resident was honored for serving as the grand marshal during the Centennial/Memorial Day Parade.

Shenkman, nearly 100 years old and a veteran of World War II, had the Village Hall audience laughing at his unique sense of humor.

Miscellaneous

For residents looking to vote on the sports complex proposal (Nassau Coliseum) on Aug. 1, Lynbrook Village Hall will be a polling place. Hours to be determined.

And don't miss the other village stories Patch has covered this week. They include:

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