North Hempstead Town Board Regular Meeting - March 4, 2026

The Town Board of North Hempstead met at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The Board approved a large consent calendar, set multiple public hearings for April 21, 2026, and took separate contested votes on a paving contractor amendment, a sidewalk-fund truck purchase, gift acceptance, the Dragon Boat Festival, and a personnel resolution. Public comment focused heavily on the lack of a town cat shelter, sidewalk conditions, traffic enforcement, the Hometown Heroes banner fee, and community events.

Consent Calendar

• The Board adopted the bulk of the agenda as a consent calendar: resolutions 1-12, 14-29, 31-33, 35-36, 38-40, 42-46, 48-49, and 51-53, all by unanimous 7-0 votes.
• These included scheduling April 21, 2026 public hearings for: real property tax exemptions for seniors, surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty, and active-duty service members; an extension of the Huntington Coach school bus storage zoning exemption in Port Washington; Manhasset Bay Real Estate LLC's Inspiration Wharf mixed-use application at 403-415 Main Street; an increased 2026 fire protection agreement amount for Vigilant E.H. & L. Co.; Westbury Water District capital improvements; an all-stop intersection at Langdon Road and Garson Road in Carle Place; and a do-not-enter sign on Beverly Drive in Albertson.
• Resolutions 30 and 34 were stricken from the agenda. Item 30 was an entry-and-access agreement with Nassau County; item 34 was the parks fee schedule, which was pulled for further discussion with the Veterans Advisory Committee.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Liz Diamond, Gloria Grafer, Stuart Kroll, and Wendy Bonchek spoke about cats and the absence of a town cat shelter. Diamond said Supervisor DeSena had been rude to her at a prior meeting and argued residents deserved respect. Kroll said North Hempstead is the only town on Long Island with no cat shelter and criticized spending on the dog shelter while cats lacked services. Supervisor DeSena responded with trap-neuter-return voucher statistics: 13 vouchers were issued in February 2026 and only 1 was redeemed; 28 were issued in January 2026 and only 8 were redeemed.
• Michael O'Donnell questioned the Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce brick paver license on a Hillside Avenue traffic island, the flashing beacon near Manor Oaks School, and why the Harbor Links catering agreement was not with Brook Holdings LLC. Town officials said the beacon project required state permitting and grant procedures, and that Harbor Links Golf Group was the executed agreement party.
• Karen Blumenfeld, a junior and member of Kyra's Champions, supported Pinwheels in the Park for its sixth year, honoring Kira Franchetti and 767 New York children. Board members voiced strong support for the event.
• Rich DiMartino, representing veterans, said the $60 Hometown Heroes banner rehanging fee was exorbitant, proposed a $25 fee or business sponsorships, and thanked the Board for the banner program.
• Pete Gaffney and others criticized the use of sidewalk district funds and requested more traffic enforcement and sidewalk repairs.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 13, accepting gifts to the town, was pulled so the Board could honor Betty Liang. Eight organizations donated $5,000 for two benches in her memory at Clinton G. Martin Park and Michael Tully Park. The official minutes record a 4-3 vote, with Ayes from Walsh, DeSena, Scott, and Levy and Nays from Troiano, Liu, and Dalimonte; the transcript's roll call appears to show all seven members voting aye. This discrepancy is noted.
• Resolution 37, the Metro Paving milling and paving amendment, was pulled by Councilman Troiano. He said 42% of roads promised for 2025 were never touched, with district-level shortfalls including 45% in District 1, 41% in District 2, 46% in District 3, 32% in District 4, 76% in District 5, and 42% in District 6. Administration members said weather and asphalt plant closures prevented completion and that work would resume when weather permitted. Official minutes show the resolution passed 5-2, with Ayes from Walsh, DeSena, Scott, Liu, and Levy and Nays from Troiano and Dalimonte; the transcript suggests Liu voted no, making it 4-3. This discrepancy is noted.
• Resolution 41, co-sponsorship of the Dragon Boat Festival at North Hempstead Beach Park, received broad community support. Speakers credited Councilwoman Christine Liu, Ohana Paddling Association, Betty Liang's vision, and dozens of community organizations. The event was set for July 25, 2026, and the resolution passed unanimously 7-0.
• Resolution 47, transferring sidewalk district fund balance to purchase a heavy-duty truck, was pulled. Councilman Troiano, Councilwoman Liu, and Councilwoman Dalimonte opposed using sidewalk funds, citing poor sidewalk conditions and a resident whose home insurance was canceled because of an unrepaired sidewalk. Supporters said the truck was for the sidewalk division and was an appropriate use. The vote was 4-3: Ayes from Walsh, DeSena, Scott, and Levy; Nays from Troiano, Liu, and Dalimonte.
• Resolution 50, the omnibus personnel resolution, was approved. Councilmembers Troiano, Liu, and Dalimonte voted no only on line 50-241, a salary change for William Ross to Admin. Asst. to Town Supervisor at $4,398.23 bi-weekly / $114,354 annually, retroactive to 12/21/2025, saying repeated large raises were unjustified. The rest of the resolution passed with their support.

Key Outcomes

• Public hearings were scheduled for April 21, 2026 on tax exemptions, the bus storage zoning exemption, Inspiration Wharf, the fire protection contract amendment, Westbury Water District capital improvements, and two traffic ordinance changes.
• The Board approved the consent calendar and the separately considered resolutions for gifts, Metro Paving, the Dragon Boat Festival, the sidewalk fund truck, and personnel actions, with the split votes noted above.
• Items 30 and 34 were stricken; the parks fee schedule and Hometown Heroes banner fees will be discussed further with the Veterans Advisory Committee.