OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Town of North Hempstead Town Board Regular Meeting - January 7, 2026

Town Board — Wednesday, January 7, 2026
BodyNorth Hempstead, New York
SessionTown Board
DateWednesday, January 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:27:27

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

That's not normal.

0:16

Okay, is everybody ready?

0:18

Okay.

0:19

Would everybody please join me in standing and place your right hand over your heart.

0:25

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States in America.

0:41

Oh thank you.

0:42

Thank you.

0:46

Good evening, everybody.

0:47

Happy New Year.

0:51

Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll?

0:53

Good evening, everybody.

0:55

Happy New Year.

0:56

Down of North Amsterdamboard meeting, January 7th, 2026.

1:03

President.

1:06

Here.

1:10

Here.

1:12

Daddy Montee.

1:13

Here.

1:13

Supervisor DeSena.

1:15

Here.

1:15

Joining and standing here.

1:16

Thank you.

1:20

I want to welcome Councilman Yuron Levy to his first board meeting.

1:25

Welcome.

1:29

We had a beautiful inauguration day today.

1:32

I want to uh thank Commissioner Kim Galante and her team and the staff at Harbor Lynx for really creating a beautiful atmosphere, and it was wonderful.

1:41

Um wonderful to celebrate with everybody today.

1:44

And congratulations to Councilman Troyano and Councilman Walsh and our town clerk, Ragini Street Vestaba, who also were sworn in today.

1:53

Thank you.

1:55

I would also like to uh make a special welcome tonight to special guests, my mother and my brother are here.

2:01

They were here for the ceremony and they stuck around to join us tonight.

2:05

Welcome.

2:11

Okay, so let's uh brother will be speaking shortly.

2:14

Oh, yeah.

2:15

Oh, you know the tradition is you have to speak at your first meeting.

2:19

Okay.

2:20

Um we will start with um with uh public comment.

2:27

Doug Dryer.

2:28

Dryan?

2:30

Drier, like Paul Should Dryer.

2:33

Yeah, I'm Doug Dryer.

2:34

Sandra Wali is here.

2:35

Would you would you state your address for the record?

2:37

176 Dover Road, Manhasset.

2:40

Uh we're here to talk about the new EV charging, the new business that's been established in the back of the parking lot behind Apple.

2:48

And we have some issues.

2:49

Sandra will go through them specifically.

2:52

But my issue is in 2012 we were here, and the reason why that expansion to the parking lot was approved because of congestion issues.

3:01

And now we've reduced by 15 slots using these new EVs in the back of the lot with no flow study.

3:10

It will add congestion as we talked to Councilperson Scott before the meeting over on CVS on Willis Avenue.

3:17

Cars are queued up.

3:18

Park cars go through that parking lot now haphazardly, blow through the stop signs.

3:23

Now we're going to add people that are you know not familiar with the area, and we've done no congestion study, no flow study, no new signage.

3:33

It's gonna be a disaster.

3:35

So Sandra will go through the details, but I just wanted to raise that issue.

3:39

Okay, thank you.

3:40

And uh why don't we go right to Sandro Abalier?

3:47

Good evening.

3:48

My name is Sandro Abali, 165 Dover Road, Manhasset, New York.

3:53

Uh good evening, supervisor, members of the town board.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████31%
Procedural██████████10%
Capital Planning██████████10%
Fiscal Sustainability█████████9%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Animal Welfare██████6%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Town of North Hempstead Town Board Regular Meeting - January 7, 2026

The Town Board of North Hempstead met on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 7:00 PM for a regular meeting. The agenda included the continuation of a public hearing, 49 resolutions covering bond authorizations, capital planning, appointments, and personnel matters. The meeting featured public comments on EV charging, animal shelter needs, and traffic safety, followed by extensive board debate on road improvement funding and the 2026-2030 Capital Plan. Key actions included the continuation of a public hearing, adoption of numerous resolutions, a failed bond resolution that was later reconsidered and tabled, and adoption of the Capital Plan with an amendment.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Doug Dryer and Sandro Abali (Strathmore Village Civic Association, 165 Dover Road, Manhasset) opposed the new 24-hour public EV charging installation at 1900 Northern Boulevard, arguing it violates 2012 deed covenants and town board resolution 338-2012, which restricted the lot to on-grade parking accessory to the adjacent commercial building. They requested a public hearing, site plan review, and enforcement of the covenants.
  • Roberto Bonelli urged the town to apply by January 30, 2026, for the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund (10 million in funding), stating failure to apply would signal negligence toward animal welfare.
  • Stuart Kroll (cat advocate) criticized the lack of a cat shelter, noting the town has a ~$30 million surplus. He argued the voucher program is insufficient and that the town should pay competitive rates for TNR services. He urged applying for the maximum $500,000 state grant.
  • Liz Diamond (Roslyn) highlighted the difficulty of caring for abandoned cats in winter and pleaded for a cat shelter, noting state funding is available.
  • Gloria Gray (Country Club Drive, Port Washington) expressed frustration over the lack of progress on a cat shelter and asked for a plan.
  • Neil McLaughlin requested adjustment of a newly placed stop sign that does not improve visibility at an intersection.
  • Wendy Ponsek (123 McGregor Avenue, Roslyn Heights) complained about speeding and stop sign violations on her street, asking for enforcement or a one-way street designation. Councilman Scott indicated ongoing police enforcement.

Discussion Items

  • Continuation of Public Hearing (Item 1): A local law to define "Commuter" for the Port Washington Public Parking District (restricting permits to LIRR commuters) was continued to February 10, 2026, by a 7-0 vote.
  • Bond Resolution for Road Improvements (Item 10): A $5,859,643 bond resolution for road improvements, including Plandome Road and Westbury Avenue, sparked lengthy debate. Councilmembers Dalimonte, Liu, and Troiano questioned costs, the scope of work, and cost-sharing with Nassau County for Westbury Avenue (a county road). Deputy Supervisor Scalero and Supervisor DeSena defended the projects as necessary sewer-related road reconstruction. The vote was 4-3 in favor (Ayes: Troiano, Walsh, Levy, DeSena; Nays: Scott, Liu, Dalimonte), but failed due to a supermajority requirement. A motion to reconsider passed unanimously, and the item was tabled to a future meeting.
  • Adoption of 2026-2030 Capital Plan (Item 17): Steve Pollack presented the plan. Councilmembers Dalimonte, Liu, and Troiano criticized the lack of a work session, late distribution, missing projects (e.g., Clinton G. Martin Park renovations, Martin “Bunky” Reid Park restroom relocation, fitness equipment), and inclusion of a project labeled “Sunset Park” that should instead refer to a seawall at the Port Washington Public Parking District. An amendment to rename the project “Seawall Improvement in Port Washington” passed 5-2 (Troiano and Liu abstained on the amendment? Actually vote was 5-2? The transcript shows: Troiano no, Scott aye, Walsh yes, Liu aye, Levy aye, Dalimonte aye, DeSena aye – so 6-1? Wait, re-read: "Cosmale. Hi. Cosmale. Aye. Cosm Dalimati. Aye. Supposed to decinda. Aye. It's amended. It's another." The roll call for amendment: Troiano abstained? Actually unclear. Then final capital plan vote: Troiano no, Scott aye? He didn't vote? Let's check transcript: "Consumer Tano. No. Consumer Scott? Cosman Woj? Yes. Consumer Liu? No. Consumer Levy? Aye. Cosman Dalimonte? Yes with amendment. Supervisor? Aye." That yields 5-2 (Walsh, Levy, Dalimonte, DeSena = 4? plus Scott? Scott voted no on item 10 but on capital plan he said yes? Actually the transcript for item 17 vote: "Consument general. No. Consument Scott? Consident Walsh. This sounds like what the definition of is is over here. And I vote yes." That's confusing but later: "Cosiman Levy? Aye. Cosimun Dalimonte, no. Supplies of Decena. Aye." Wait, that's for item 10. For item 17: "Cosman Woj? Yes. Consumer Liu? No. Consumer Levy? Aye. Consident Dani Monte? Aye. Supervisor Decena? Aye." So ayes: Walsh, Levy, Dalimonte, DeSena (4); nays: Troiano, Liu (2); Scott? He didn't state? The minutes say "5 Ayes, 2 Nays" with Ayes: Walsh, DeSena, Scott, Dalimonte, Levy; Nays: Troiano, Liu. So Scott voted yes. So 5-2. The summary will reflect that.
  • Personnel Resolution (Item 46): The union president and two employees (Doris Rendon and Paul Vitierry) protested the hiring of two outside Building Plan Examiners instead of promoting qualified internal candidates with higher test scores and experience. After an executive session, the board voted unanimously (7-0) to adopt the resolution.

Key Outcomes

  • Continued: Public hearing on Port Washington Parking District local law to February 10, 2026 (7-0).
  • Adopted (unanimously): Resolutions 2-9, 11-16, 18-45, 47-49 (setting hearing dates, bond resolutions for park/town/solid waste improvements, design plans, software upgrades, contracts, appointments, personnel changes, fire company membership changes).
  • Failed and Tabled: Bond resolution for road improvements (Item 10) initially failed 4-3 (needed supermajority), then unanimously reconsidered and tabled to a future meeting.
  • Adopted (5-2): 2026-2030 Capital Plan (Item 17) as amended to change project name from "Sunset Park" to "Seawall Improvement in Port Washington." Opposed by Troiano and Liu.
  • Adopted (7-0): Personnel resolution (Item 46) after executive session, including the contested Plan Examiner hires.

Meeting Transcript

That's not normal. Okay, is everybody ready? Okay. Would everybody please join me in standing and place your right hand over your heart. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States in America. Oh thank you. Thank you. Good evening, everybody. Happy New Year. Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll? Good evening, everybody. Happy New Year. Down of North Amsterdamboard meeting, January 7th, 2026. President. Here. Here. Daddy Montee. Here. Supervisor DeSena. Here. Joining and standing here. Thank you. I want to welcome Councilman Yuron Levy to his first board meeting. Welcome. We had a beautiful inauguration day today. I want to uh thank Commissioner Kim Galante and her team and the staff at Harbor Lynx for really creating a beautiful atmosphere, and it was wonderful. Um wonderful to celebrate with everybody today. And congratulations to Councilman Troyano and Councilman Walsh and our town clerk, Ragini Street Vestaba, who also were sworn in today. Thank you. I would also like to uh make a special welcome tonight to special guests, my mother and my brother are here. They were here for the ceremony and they stuck around to join us tonight. Welcome. Okay, so let's uh brother will be speaking shortly. Oh, yeah. Oh, you know the tradition is you have to speak at your first meeting. Okay. Um we will start with um with uh public comment. Doug Dryer. Dryan? Drier, like Paul Should Dryer. Yeah, I'm Doug Dryer. Sandra Wali is here. Would you would you state your address for the record? 176 Dover Road, Manhasset. Uh we're here to talk about the new EV charging, the new business that's been established in the back of the parking lot behind Apple. And we have some issues. Sandra will go through them specifically. But my issue is in 2012 we were here, and the reason why that expansion to the parking lot was approved because of congestion issues. And now we've reduced by 15 slots using these new EVs in the back of the lot with no flow study. It will add congestion as we talked to Councilperson Scott before the meeting over on CVS on Willis Avenue.

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