New Hyde Park Village Board Notebook: October 16

The New Hyde Park Village Board of Trustees held a meeting on October 16. Here are some things you may have missed.

Spotlight: New Hyde Park

• The village will host the “Spotlight: New Hyde Park” competition on January 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. in the William Guild Theater.
• The contest is open to youths ages 13-21 years old. Acts are not only limited to singing, but can include dance and instrumental talent.
• “We’re going to run a talent contest upstairs,” trustee Donald Barbieri said, noting that another audition segment will be held on Sunday, January 13 at 2 p.m. for those who are younger than age 13.
• Application and parental consent forms can be found on the village website and at village hall.
• The deadline for filing the application is December 21.
• “If there were groups of children, performing as groups, then each individual child who participates will have to have one of these forms filled out and returned to village hall,” Barbieri said. “They’ll be prizes. Exactly what they are... I’ll see if I can get that wrapped up.”

Certiorari Settlements

The board settled small claim grievances for the following properties:

• 104 Hillside Blvd. for the 2012-13 tax year in the amount of $100.40. The original assessment was $8,900 and was reduced to $8,400.
• 651 South 11th St. for the 2012-13 tax year in the amount of $85.14. The original assessment was $5,824 and was reduced to $5,400.
• 521 11th Ave. for the 2012-13 tax year in the amount of $122.49. The original assessment was $6,100 and was reduced to $5,490.
• 621 Stewart Ave. for the 2012-13 tax year in the amount of $255.02. The original assessment was $6,150 and was reduced to $4,880.
• PTRC Sean Acosta, representing a group of homeowners, for the 2012-13 tax year in the amount of $8,942.03. The original assessment was $413,958 and was reduced to $369,426.

“Companies solicit people to sign on with the promise of a reduction of tax assessment which will reduce their taxes,” Mayor Daniel Petruccio commented. “There are some settlements, no large amounts of money, but many of the grievances are zero refunds and the rate will not change. Of course, the company only promises a fixed percentage of money they receive for payment. Our overall tax roll is a fixed amount of money in order to support the infrastructure of the village. Just understand that as tax grievances are filed – not that I’m encouraging them, you have a right to do it – but the adjustments in tax certiorari amounts just get distributed among the remaining homeowners.”

Zoning Board

The zoning board of appeals met on October 10 and heard 3 cases:

• a baker at 1200 Jericho Turnpike (adjourned until November 14)
• 104 South Eighth St. (variance granted for the construction of a new one-family dwelling)
• 410 Central Blvd. (variance granted for a second story addition exceeding the floor-area ratio and encroaching)

The next meeting of the zoning board of appeals will be on November 14.

Other Board News

• The board tabled a new application for a taxi license to Richard Castro of Nassau Express, located at 1201 Second Avenue. Licensed vehicles will be stored at 1250 Grand Blvd. in Westbury. Frank Brint, the owner of 1201 Second Ave., said that his current tenant’s lease expires at the end of November. “We haven’t had time to discuss the proposal,” Mayor Petruccio said of the reason behind the measure being tabled, indicating that it would be brought up for the first meeting in November.
• The Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a grassroots environmental advocacy group, requested permission to canvass, door-to-door, from October 15 to November 2 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Canvassers will carry ID cards. This is an annual request. The board modified the hours to 7 p.m. from the original request of 9 p.m.
• The New Hyde Park Historical Society will hold an event on October 30 at the village hall with a group from the Town of North Hempstead holding a presentation and looking to sign people up on committees who want to participate.
• According to building superintendent Tom Gannon, Empire Billiards has been compliant with not utilizing its pool tables since the non-renewal of their gaming license. “I have made other visits, unexpectedly and the tables have not been used,” he said. “They’ve been compliant as far as I’m concerned.”

The next meeting of the New Hyde Park Village Board is on November 8 at 8 p.m. at the village hall.