North Hempstead Town Board Meeting: Budget Certification, Parking Law, Street Honor, and Nets Agreement (October 13, 2026)

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM, the Town of North Hempstead Town Board held its regular meeting in Manhasset. The board adopted a Port Washington parking restriction, approved an honorary street name and two traffic ordinances, certified the 2027 preliminary budget (by a 4–3 vote), authorized GIS software maintenance, and approved the Long Island Nets’ continued use of the “Yes We Can” Community Center as its practice facility. The meeting included one public commenter on the budget and special district oversight.

Public Hearings & Continuations

• Port Washington Public Parking District (Local Law 4-2026) – The board adopted Resolution 489-2026 by a 7–0 vote, amending Article IX of the Town Code to limit parking in Area 8 of the Port Washington Public Parking District to commuters who use the Long Island Rail Road prior to 7:45 a.m., Monday through Friday.
• Honorary street name “Detective Charles Vroom Road” – The board adopted Resolution 490-2026 by a 7–0 vote, designating a secondary honorary street name for Armstrong Road at the intersection of Washington Avenue, Garden City Park. Councilman Dennis Walsh, who petitioned for the name, and public speaker Sean McCarthy of Port Washington spoke in support, recalling Detective Vroom’s service in the Third Precinct.
• North Street / Maple Lane, New Hyde Park – The board adopted Traffic Ordinance No. 13-2026 by a 7–0 vote, creating an all-way stop at the intersection of North Street and Maple Lane.
• Pond Hill Road, Great Neck – The board adopted Traffic Ordinance No. 14-2026 by a 7–0 vote, changing signs to prohibit stopping from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on the first and third Wednesday of each month for street sweeping.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Steven Sombrato, Port Washington resident and taxpayer – Commenting on the 2027 budget resolution, he urged the board to scrutinize the Port Washington Water Pollution Control District’s proposed budget increase of approximately 12 percent for 2027. He said FOIL requests for district documents had gone unanswered, and he questioned whether the district was spending outside its statutory authority by maintaining Sunset Park as a park rather than focusing on sewer/water pollution control. He argued taxpayers do not distinguish between town taxes and special district charges on their tax bills.

Discussion Items

• 2027 Tentative Budget Certification and Public Hearing Date – The board debated Resolution 491-2026. Town Attorney staff explained that certifying review converts the tentative budget into the preliminary budget and triggers the public hearing. Councilman Robert Troiano and Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte said they had not completed a review, with Troiano noting that past work sessions on the budget had not been held. Supervisor Jennifer DeSena called the objections “playing games with words.” The resolution passed 4–3 (Ayes: Walsh, DeSena, Scott, Levy; Nays: Troiano, Liu, Dalimonte). The preliminary budget hearing was set for October 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The resolution also published proposed elected-officer salaries: Supervisor $133,000; Town Clerk $115,000; Councilmembers $49,000; Receiver of Taxes $115,000.
• Port Washington Water Pollution Control District Oversight – During public comment and board discussion, the Town Attorney clarified that special districts are independent and governed by elected commissioners, but the Town Board does have a statutory role in reviewing and voting on their budgets. Councilwoman Dalimonte said she would contact the district’s commissioners to understand the 12 percent increase and would not vote for it if unsatisfied. Councilman Troiano recalled that the board used to conduct detailed reviews of special district budgets. Dalimonte defended the district’s maintenance of Sunset Park as a valuable community asset.
• GIS Software Maintenance and Licenses – Deputy Town Attorney Deborah Algios announced an amendment to Resolution 492-2026 to include five omitted annual ArcGIS licenses for $3,445.65, making the total purchase amount $21,847.71 ($18,402.06 for maintenance and support). The board moved and approved the amendment, then adopted the resolution as amended by a 7–0 vote.
• Long Island Nets Agreement – The board voted to untable item 7, then adopted Resolution 493-2026 by a 7–0 vote. The agreement allows the Long Island Nets, through Brooklyn Nets LLC, to use the North Hempstead “Yes We Can” Community Center as their official practice facility from September 1, 2026, through April 15, 2027, with payments to the Town based on actual hours at agreed hourly rates. Councilman Troiano said his prior concern about the Nets having exclusive use of a locker room was resolved: the space is a previously unused conference room (formerly an emergency management room), and players use the same locker room as residents if they need showers.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 489-2026 / Local Law 4-2026 – Adopted 7–0 (parking limit in Port Washington Parking District Area 8).
• Resolution 490-2026 – Adopted 7–0 (honorary street name “Detective Charles Vroom Road”).
• Traffic Ordinance No. 13-2026 – Adopted 7–0 (all-way stop, North Street & Maple Lane).
• Traffic Ordinance No. 14-2026 – Adopted 7–0 (Pond Hill Road street-sweeping no stopping).
• Resolution 491-2026 – Adopted 4–3 (initial 2027 budget certification and October 28 public hearing).
• Resolution 492-2026, as amended – Adopted 7–0 (ArcGIS maintenance and five licenses; total $21,847.71).
• Resolution 493-2026 – Adopted 7–0 after untabling (Long Island Nets practice facility agreement).