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Record of Proceedings

North Hempstead Town Board Regular Meeting - October 16, 2025

Town Board — Thursday, October 16, 2025
BodyNorth Hempstead, New York
SessionTown Board
DateThursday, October 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 49:59

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

This inaugural Dragon Boat Festival was meaningful, it was enjoyable, it was a wonderful celebration of culture, of teamwork, and of community spirit.

0:10

And it really brought people together in such a positive way, and we know more than ever it's really important to bring people together in these positive ways.

0:18

Um events like this really reflect the diversity and the vitality of our town, and so we appreciate that very much.

0:25

That's my thank you.

0:27

My suggestion is that I do hope the board will consider bringing the Dragon Boat Festival back next year and making it a regular part of our community calendar.

0:36

Ideally, the festival should really should take place on both a Saturday and a Sunday.

0:41

So those observing the Sabbath Shabbat can be included.

0:45

Furthermore, it would be great if paddlers could have the opportunity to practice locally at Bar Beach rather than having to schlep to Queens, which really became a big hassle for some of our uh individuals who wanted to participate.

0:59

If that happens, more residents can participate and feel connected.

1:03

So that's my thing.

1:05

I wanted to say thank you for all that you do, uh, making our town as vibrant and as wonderful and inclusive as it is, and I really hope that you will consider bringing dragon boat back.

1:14

Thank you.

1:15

Thank you, Susan.

1:15

And thank you for all that you do.

1:17

Thank you.

1:17

So I just would like to say one thing.

1:19

Um your shirt, your t-shirt was the best.

1:23

I thought it was the most creative.

1:26

Thank you.

1:26

Um I know Jason Lou was a team members came up with it with it.

1:30

So it was absolutely great.

1:34

But um, I'm so glad that you're here, and I'm so I was there as my first time as well.

1:39

And you know, this was not a town event.

1:42

No.

1:43

Um, and Christine Liu.

1:45

Thank you.

1:46

I'm making Christianity.

1:47

She worked day and night on this, and I saw it, and I saw her office working on this.

1:53

It truly was an amazing day.

1:56

I really had such an amazing time there.

1:59

I mean, I think anyone who went to the festival could just see how joyous it was, how special it was, how inclusive it was, and learning about one another's cultures is so important.

2:09

The JCC was so proud to be there.

2:12

So, Christine, thank you for telling us about it and for allowing us to sponsor this event.

2:16

It was and I hope you'll join us for a lunar new year.

2:19

Uh and uh and we also have an uh Asian American festival in May at Bar Beach.

2:24

Count us in.

2:25

Yes, okay.

2:26

Thank you, Susan.

2:27

Thanks for sponsoring too.

2:29

Thank you.

2:31

Okay, Mr.

2:32

Gaffney.

2:40

Before Mr.

2:40

Gafney gets started, I just want to say that he sat through this whole event this morning, and he's back like a trooper again.

2:47

Thank you, Mr.

2:47

Gaffney's dedication being here.

2:49

Thanks very much.

2:50

I appreciate it.

2:51

Uh on call road, my name is Pete Gaffney, Westbury Call Place School District resident.

2:57

Uh on Call Road, it was recently paved uh and right at the stop sign, uh Tranverse Rumble strips were added to the by the village of Westbury.

3:06

They've used them in the past in other areas and actually has reduced accidents and fatalities and things like that.

3:13

So this is a great test.

3:14

What I would like you to do is to do a test at Cherry Lane School.

3:18

I live right there.

3:20

I watch people blow that stop sign, both residents and people that use that as a cut through to get to Old Country Road and Roosevelt Field and all the other shopping amenities.

3:31

With regards to the budget in 2026, uh many of the line items, they just seem to be as the same as last year.

3:39

That's just a little odd that I saw that many.

3:42

Uh supervisor, just regarding the budget.

3:45

Did you or does someone else from your office instruct the commissioners in guidelines on what the format should be?

3:53

And if so, what would they?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Energy Storage Systems█████████████████17%
Energy Storage Safety██████████████14%
Procedural██████████████14%
Community Engagement███████████11%
Transportation Safety███████████11%
Arts And Culture████████8%
Animal Welfare████████8%
Zoning And Land Use█████5%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

North Hempstead Town Board Regular Meeting - October 16, 2025

The Town of North Hempstead Town Board held a regular meeting on October 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The board unanimously adopted 49 resolutions, including setting public hearing dates for the 2026 budget and several local laws, awarding contracts, and approving personnel actions. Public comment covered the Dragon Boat Festival, the 2026 budget, the Propel cable project, battery storage moratorium, and a proposed cat shelter.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Susan (JCC representative) expressed full support for bringing the Dragon Boat Festival back next year, suggesting it be held on both Saturday and Sunday to include those observing Shabbat, and that paddlers be allowed to practice locally at Bar Beach rather than traveling to Queens. Councilmember Christine Liu was thanked for organizing the event.
  • Pete Gaffney (Westbury Carle Place School District resident) requested that transverse rumble strips be tested at Cherry Lane School to improve safety at a stop sign. He also criticized the 2026 tentative budget for line items that appear unchanged from the previous year, questioned the lack of budget guidelines from the Supervisor's office, and noted a $142,000 increase in printing costs, a flat $127,500 for business and tourism, and the failure to use a $4 million surplus for North Hempstead Beach Park's master plan. He indicated he would submit further comments in writing.
  • John Fabio (President, Greenvale Civic Association; Vice President, Glenwood-Glen Head Civic Council) expressed concern about the Propel Energy cable project, noting that two major cable routes would traverse 11 villages in North Hempstead. He stated the Town of North Hempstead is not represented in Article 7 settlement meetings, unlike the towns of Oyster Bay and Hempstead, and urged the board to convene meetings with affected village mayors, civic associations, and business chambers to coordinate a response.
  • George Palm Barrett (Glen Head, Glenwood Landing, and Greenvale civic associations) echoed concerns about the Propel cable project, stating the town must actively participate in settlement meetings rather than just dialing in. He urged the board to renew the moratorium on Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities at the November 18 hearing, citing fire risks and citing a recent fire in Arizona. He noted that a similar moratorium was just renewed by the Town of Oyster Bay.
  • Edward Chung (participant in Dragon Boat Festival) emphasized the Chinese cultural value of working together for common good and encouraged community harmony. He noted that the festival included teams from as far as Philadelphia.
  • Stuart Kroll (animal advocate) criticized Supervisor DeSena for lack of progress on constructing a cat shelter, stating the petition signed was for construction, not improvements. He noted that a previous shelter attempt 20 years ago failed and the town paid $130,000 to a contractor. He argued feral cats would not be housed there, only socialized domestic cats. He also alleged that Republican candidates (including the Supervisor) avoided a scheduled debate due to personal emergencies, calling it disrespectful to voters. He urged support for challenger Dave Kirpin.
  • Michael O'Donnell (on item 11) spoke in favor of rescinding a time-limit parking restriction on Cherry Lane, New Hyde Park, noting the bar that prompted the restriction closed years ago and residents want the restriction removed.
  • Christine Panzecka (on item 7) urged extension of the moratorium on battery storage facilities, arguing lithium batteries are not green due to mining and toxic waste, and citing fire risks and hydrofluoric acid contamination. She also criticized the Propel cable project for lack of community communication and health concerns from EMF radiation, stating that New York State produces only 0.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions and questioning the rush.
  • Alina Uzalov (civic leader) expressed gratitude for responsive town services, including quick removal of a fallen tree and sidewalk repairs. She thanked the board for approving playground equipment at Shepherd Lane Park (item 19) and noted that 23 miles of roadway were paved this year, triple the previous amount.
  • Thomas McDonald (President, CSEA Unit 7555) thanked the board for converting part-time employees to full-time and for positive actions in the employee resolution (item 44).

Discussion Items

  • 2026 Budget and Public Hearing Dates: The board certified the tentative budget as the preliminary budget and set a public hearing for October 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM. (Resolution 1)
  • Water Pollution Control District Assessments: A public hearing on assessment rolls for Belgrave, Great Neck, and Port Washington Water Pollution Control Districts was set for October 28, 2025. (Resolution 2)
  • Albertson Water District Bonding: A public hearing on bonding for facility improvements was set for November 18, 2025. (Resolution 3)
  • Local Law Amendments: Public hearings were set for November 18, 2025, on amendments to:
    • Chapter 24 (Governmental Operations) – prohibiting use of town resources for political advantage (Resolution 4)
    • Chapter 55 (Tow Trucks) – requiring credit card acceptance and barring transaction fees (Resolution 5)
    • Chapter 69 (Waterways and Boats) – codifying state navigation law (Resolution 6)
    • Chapter 76 (Battery Energy Storage Moratorium) – extending the moratorium (Resolution 7)
    • Article IX of Uniform Traffic Code (Port Washington Public Parking District) – defining “Commuter” as residents using parking for LIRR access (Resolution 8)
  • Handicap Parking Space: A public hearing for a reserved handicap spot at 23 Herbert Drive, New Hyde Park, was set for November 18. (Resolution 9)
  • Parking Restrictions: Public hearings on November 18 for a no-parking restriction on Rushmore Avenue, Carle Place (Resolution 10), and rescission of a time-limit restriction on Cherry Lane, New Hyde Park (Resolution 11).
  • Contracts and Agreements: Numerous resolutions were adopted authorizing intermunicipal agreements, professional services, and purchases, including:
    • Award of bid for Bayview Ave stabilization (DPW Project 16-02) to an unnamed contractor (Resolution 14)
    • Award of towing services bid to Bills Towing Service Inc. (Resolution 15)
    • Intermunicipal agreement with Nassau County for a digital kiosk in Albertson (Resolution 16)
    • Agreement with Port Washington Apartment Corp. for parking spaces (Resolution 17)
    • Agreement with Firefly Admin Inc. for Port Washington Fire Department Length of Service Award Program (Resolution 18)
    • Use of Town of Islip contract with American Recreation Products for playground equipment at Shepherd Lane Park, Roslyn Heights (Resolution 19)
    • Agreement with Baseline Health for OSHA respirator evaluations (Resolution 20)
    • Bond counsel services with Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP (Resolution 21)
    • Emergency repair of Northside diesel fuel pump with Island Pump & Tank (Resolution 22)
    • Partnership with Girl Scouts of Nassau County at Yes We Can Community Center (Resolution 23)
    • Intermunicipal salt storage agreement with Port Washington Union Free School District (Resolution 24)
    • Chanukah event with Chabad of Port Washington at North Hempstead Beach Park (Resolution 25)
    • Various agreements for fuel system maintenance, postage equipment lease, road salt purchase, and amendments to existing agreements (Resolutions 26-35)
  • Property Address: A new address of 38 Mountain Cut, Manhasset, was established (Resolution 36).
  • Proclamations: October 2025 declared Italian American Heritage Month (Resolution 40).
  • Fee Waiver: Building permit fees waived for Port Washington Police District’s new headquarters (Resolution 41).
  • Event Co-Sponsorship: Annual KarmAcue in Port Washington co-sponsored (Resolution 42).
  • Employee Resolution (Item 44): The board amended the resolution by striking two positions (items 11 and 12) and changing the term “termination” to “resignation” for item 31. The amended resolution was adopted unanimously.
  • Fire Company Membership Changes: Actions of various fire companies adding or removing members were approved (Resolutions 45-49).

Key Outcomes

  • All 49 resolutions were adopted unanimously (7-0) with the following details:
    • Resolution 1 (Budget hearing) passed 7-0.
    • Resolutions 2-43 and 45-49 passed 7-0.
    • Resolution 44 (Employee resolution) passed 7-0 after amendments were adopted 7-0.
  • The board did not allow additional public comment after the consent calendar, despite requests, citing time constraints and the availability of the upcoming public hearing on October 28.
  • The next public hearings are scheduled for October 28, 2025 (budget and water pollution control assessments) and November 18, 2025 (multiple local laws, parking ordinances, and the battery storage moratorium).

Meeting Transcript

This inaugural Dragon Boat Festival was meaningful, it was enjoyable, it was a wonderful celebration of culture, of teamwork, and of community spirit. And it really brought people together in such a positive way, and we know more than ever it's really important to bring people together in these positive ways. Um events like this really reflect the diversity and the vitality of our town, and so we appreciate that very much. That's my thank you. My suggestion is that I do hope the board will consider bringing the Dragon Boat Festival back next year and making it a regular part of our community calendar. Ideally, the festival should really should take place on both a Saturday and a Sunday. So those observing the Sabbath Shabbat can be included. Furthermore, it would be great if paddlers could have the opportunity to practice locally at Bar Beach rather than having to schlep to Queens, which really became a big hassle for some of our uh individuals who wanted to participate. If that happens, more residents can participate and feel connected. So that's my thing. I wanted to say thank you for all that you do, uh, making our town as vibrant and as wonderful and inclusive as it is, and I really hope that you will consider bringing dragon boat back. Thank you. Thank you, Susan. And thank you for all that you do. Thank you. So I just would like to say one thing. Um your shirt, your t-shirt was the best. I thought it was the most creative. Thank you. Um I know Jason Lou was a team members came up with it with it. So it was absolutely great. But um, I'm so glad that you're here, and I'm so I was there as my first time as well. And you know, this was not a town event. No. Um, and Christine Liu. Thank you. I'm making Christianity. She worked day and night on this, and I saw it, and I saw her office working on this. It truly was an amazing day. I really had such an amazing time there. I mean, I think anyone who went to the festival could just see how joyous it was, how special it was, how inclusive it was, and learning about one another's cultures is so important. The JCC was so proud to be there. So, Christine, thank you for telling us about it and for allowing us to sponsor this event. It was and I hope you'll join us for a lunar new year. Uh and uh and we also have an uh Asian American festival in May at Bar Beach. Count us in. Yes, okay. Thank you, Susan. Thanks for sponsoring too. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Gaffney. Before Mr. Gafney gets started, I just want to say that he sat through this whole event this morning, and he's back like a trooper again. Thank you, Mr. Gaffney's dedication being here. Thanks very much. I appreciate it. Uh on call road, my name is Pete Gaffney, Westbury Call Place School District resident. Uh on Call Road, it was recently paved uh and right at the stop sign, uh Tranverse Rumble strips were added to the by the village of Westbury.

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