Town of North Hempstead Town Board Meeting - April 15, 2026
Town of North Hempstead Town Board Regular Meeting – April 15, 2026\n\nThe Town Board met on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The board considered 76 resolutions, including public hearings, grants, agreements, personnel actions, and a settlement with the Hillside Islamic Center. Several votes were split along party lines.\n\n### Consent Calendar\nThe following resolutions were adopted unanimously (7-0) after being pulled together: Resolutions 1, 3, 4, 6-13, 15-58, 60-63, 65, 67-70, 72, 74-76. Notable items include:\n- Resolution 1: Setting a public hearing for May 12, 2026 on amending the Port Washington Public Parking District traffic code.\n- Resolution 3-5: Setting public hearings for parking spot changes in Floral Park, Westbury, and New Hyde Park.\n- Resolution 6-11: Authorizing grant applications and budget appropriations.\n- Resolution 12-13: Awarding bids for fire extinguisher services and sign blanks.\n- Resolution 14-38: Authorizing numerous agreements for events, environmental services, and more.\n- Resolution 39-55: Approving amendments to various service contracts.\n- Resolution 56-58: Miscellaneous purchases and event co-sponsorship.\n- Resolution 60-63: Appointments to boards and insurance placement.\n- Resolution 65: Authorizing comptroller to obtain a credit card.\n- Resolution 67-70: Property address establishment, personnel arrangements, and payment of claims.\n- Resolution 72: Payment of claims.\n- Resolution 74-76: Fire department membership changes.\n\nNote: Resolution 2 (ordinance on IU Willets Road commercial traffic) was stricken from the agenda.\n\n### Public Comments & Testimony\n- Mike Prunus (40-year resident, representing concerned golfers): Expressed that Harbor Links Golf Course is being run as a private events business, excluding residents from public parkland. He stated that the town's agreement with Brook Management violates the public trust doctrine and constitutes unlawful parkland alienation. He requested limiting private outings after Labor Day. The town attorney offered to meet.\n- Jim McHugh (New Hyde Park): Spoke on Resolution 71 (Hillside Islamic Center settlement), stating that the amended site plan requires a public hearing and that traffic studies are outdated. He raised concerns about code violations and false environmental documents.\n- Roberto Bernelli (cat rescue advocate): Urged the town to establish a cat shelter, noting that the town spends $1M annually on the dog shelter but nothing on cats. He cited a recent rescue of a cat with a broken jaw and argued that the town's lack of cat services is disgraceful.\n- Shannaz Ots (Mitchell Farms Neighborhood Association): Expressed relief that the public hearing for a development was canceled, and requested that any rescheduled hearing be held in the evening for public participation.\n- Noah Strauss (Carle Place): Requested removal of 90-minute parking signs on his street, stating they prevent him from parking near his apartment. The board agreed to investigate.\n- Sharda Jay Gopal (East Williston): Repeated calls for a cat shelter, requesting a meeting with the board.\n- Stephen Grief (retired lawyer, golfer): Supported Mr. Prunus's comments, stating that Harbor Links excludes the public on two-thirds of fall weekdays, which is unfair and illegal. He cited case law and requested a meeting.\n- Tom McDonough (CSEA union president): Objected to the number of part-time and seasonal hires in the personnel resolution, advocating for union positions.\n\n### Discussion Items\n- Resolution 59 – Appointment of Luigi DeVito as Comptroller: Supervisor DeSena moved to amend the salary from $160,000 to $170,000 to correct a scrivener's error. The amendment passed 4-3 (Walsh, Scott, Levy, DeSena in favor; Troiano, Liu, Dalimonte opposed). The resolution as amended then passed 4-3 along the same lines. Councilwoman Liu and Dalimonte expressed concerns about the salary.\n- Resolution 64 – Retention of Special Counsel for Litigation: Town Attorney explained the need to retain the firm Marit Hawk to defend the town in federal court against a lawsuit by the Hillside Islamic Center under RLUIPA. The firm previously represented the Town of Oyster Bay in a similar matter. Councilwoman Liu questioned the selection, noting Oyster Bay paid $5 million in settlement. The resolution passed 4-3 (Walsh, Scott, Levy, DeSena in favor; Troiano, Liu, Dalimonte opposed).\n- Resolution 66 – Assignment of Agreement for Parking Meter Services: Councilwoman Dalimonte raised concerns about failing muni meters in Port Washington, noting that some are bagged and not collecting revenue. Deputy Supervisor explained that parts are running low and a transition to digital meters is being planned, but a vendor selection has not been finalized. The resolution was adopted unanimously.\n- Resolution 71 – Settlement with Hillside Islamic Center: Town Attorney outlined the settlement terms, which include an amended site plan with conditions (angled curb cut, landscaping, parking attendant during peak services, etc.). The town will withdraw its appeal of the state court decision and settle the federal lawsuit. Councilman Troiano moved to postpone to April 21 to comply with open meetings law, but that motion was tabled 4-3. The resolution then passed 4-0-3 (Scott, Walsh, Levy, DeSena aye; Troiano, Liu, Dalimonte abstained). Note: The minutes record 3 ayes and 0 nays, but the transcript shows 4 ayes and 3 abstentions, indicating a discrepancy.\n- Resolution 73 – Personnel Actions: Tom McDonough objected to the number of part-time hires. Councilmembers Liu, Dalimonte, and Troiano voted against hiring Luigi DeVito as Comptroller (item 73-2), Benjamin Fischer as Director of Finance (73-4), and Sean Dolan as Admin Assistant (73-7), citing excessive salaries. The resolution was adopted 4-3 on those items, with all others unanimous.\n\n### Key Outcomes\n- Resolution 59 adopted 4-3 appointing Luigi DeVito as Comptroller at $170,000 annually, effective April 16, 2026.\n- Resolution 64 adopted 4-3 authorizing retention of special counsel for federal litigation with the Hillside Islamic Center.\n- Resolution 71 adopted 4-0-3 (4 ayes, 3 abstentions) approving the settlement with the Hillside Islamic Center, including an amended site plan and withdrawal of the town's appeal. A motion to postpone was tabled.\n- Resolution 73 adopted with split votes on three positions (Comptroller, Director of Finance, Admin Assistant), which were approved 4-3.\n- All other resolutions on the consent calendar were adopted unanimously.\n- The board agreed to investigate parking sign removal for Noah Strauss and to meet with Harbor Links golfers.
Meeting Transcript
A couple of photos, in case you didn't know, this is America 250, and uh we have some very interesting old artifacts now hanging on the walls, and so we took a couple of photos. We're going to have we we have a tab on our website now that we will be posting various America 250 events going on around the town. The villages are sending us what they're doing, and um we want to make sure we all learn and and celebrate our country as much as we can this year. I think we're still missing Robert. Let me go Robert Traiano. Oh, that feels good. We finally got to just kick in. If we pass that, you know why there's no way out. We have uh special visitor tonight, Howard Kroplik, who was our town historian for many years, and uh a lot of a lot of the information we have on our website about the town is thanks to Howard's very dedicated work for many years. And he yes. And he brought his work to Roslyn, where he's doing incredible work helping to restore the grist mill in Roslin, um, the uh Hicks Bridge in Gary Pond Park, and all all sorts of things. So we appreciate that. That's that's hard work. Thank you. And we and we say thank you, it's important. And he brought us books about North Hempstead. Okay. Yeah, I guess we'll get started. If everyone would please rise and place their right hand over their heart. I just want to turn the phone. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all uh before we begin. I also wanted to uh remember somebody who uh many of us know from municipal government, uh John Spellman, who passed away last week. He was a teacher, turned lawyer. In addition to private clients, over his 30-year career, he served as a longtime counsel to the Long Island Rockville Center Diocese and numerous school districts and villages. His experience and service went beyond just dispensing legal advice. He was often a resource when local governments needed needed solutions, advice, and ideas. He was a friend to everyone and a mentor to many. He was fiercely loyal and supportive of his friends and the many, many charitable organizations he was involved with. It was often said that when you were John's friend, you were a friend for life, and he will be sorely missed by many in the community. So we are thinking of John and his wife, Kathleen, and their daughters. You know, I just want to add something to that out. I went to John's funeral and is in his wake, and um, you know, I know John Spelman for many years. I probably learned more from John Spelman than anybody else in the world, including how to drink beer and lemon cello at the same time. Uh John was a uh uh, you know, he's a tremendous guy, everybody loved him, and he really I mean John went through seven mayors in the village of Minneola. Nobody lasts seven mayors from both Democrat and Republican side. He was first hired by Ed Smith. So uh you know he's his Wolf Rub still represents Williston Park, see uh Rosalind, Stuart Manor, New Hart Park, the diocese, and many, many other places. But John was really uh a very close friend of mine and somebody that uh uh I I'll never learn as much from anybody else as I have from John. So I just wanted to add that thank you. Thank you. Okay, it's time for us to take the roll. Good evening, everybody. Town of North Hempstead Town Board meeting, April 15th, 2026. Consumman Channel. He's here. He's out in the hall. Councilman's Scott. Here. Councilman Walsh. Yeah.
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