Sea Cliff Village Board Conference

SEA CLIFF VILLAGE BOARD CONFERENCE, 2.3.15

NY AMERICAN WATER ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SELL PROSPECT AVENUE PROPERTY IN SEA CLIFF

February 4, 2015 -- In a meeting with the Trustees and Mayor at Tuesday evening's Sea Cliff Village Board Conference, representatives of New York American Water announced their intention to sell the water company's Prospect Avenue property in Sea Cliff. Brian Bruce, New York American Water's Vice President of Operations spoke of the company's plans after presenting on the various capital improvements the company has made and intends to make in this service area which includes Sea Cliff and Glen Head as well as sections of Old Brookville and Glenwood Landing and a very small part of Glen Cove.

Currently two brick structures stand on the one acre plus triangle where Laurel Avenue meets Prospect. The pump house and well at the site are no longer operational. Mr. Bruce explained that the property is "way too big" for what the company needs. Their intention is to move to a smaller space within the service area. Any proceeds from the sale, he said, would be returned to rate payers.

Mr. Bruce said that the company had the property appraised, and that he believed that it was worth about $2 million, but that the initial asking price would probably be around $1.7 million.

Mayor Bruce Kennedy said that while he could not speak on behalf of others, he thought that the property would be something the Village would "definitely" be interested in acquiring, but said that the board would have to discuss the issue.

Both Mayor Kennedy and Trustee Carol Vogt, expressed fondness for the pump house building which they agreed was an architecturally beautiful structure, and said that many residents would be very unhappy for anything to happen to it. The Board speculated briefly about the variety of possible public uses for the land which overlooks Hempstead Harbor.

The Mayor said that he had heard, but was unsure of whether it was true, that there was some sort of covenant that in the event the utility wanted to unload the property it would go to the Village.

As for capital improvements in the water district, Mr. Bruce said that the company has invested about $800,000 since taking over from Aqua two years ago with most going toward water main improvements in the area, and another $400,000 for the construction of a new treatment building at the Sea Cliff water tower site. He said the company would work to improve the landscaping and fencing around that site.

Future capital improvements included in the 5 year plan for this area, Mr. Bruce said, include water main improvements on Highland Avenue and Daniel Place in Sea Cliff and drilling a third well, as well as replacing the Glen Head water tower, which dates back to the 1930s. The well is expected to cost $800-$900,000 and the tower about $2.5 million.

As for applying to the New York State Public Service Commission to raise rates, Mr. Bruce said that the Company had not done so since taking over from Aqua two years ago, and would not say if there were plans to do so in the near future.

BACK TO WEEKLY

BACK TO HOME PAGE

TRUSTEES AGREE TO NEW TREE LAW FEES; TO ADOPT LAW AT THIS TUESDAY'S MEETING
At Tuesday's Conference, the Village Board agreed to tree removal permit application and "releafing" fees for the new tree regulations that will formally be passed into law at this Tuesday's Village Board Meeting. The application fee for a permit to remove a fourth tree with a diameter of 10 to 20 inches, any tree greater than 20 inches in diameter, or a Heritage Tree, will be $25.

Under the new law, residents who remove a tree for which a permit is required will be required to either plant a new tree or pay a fee that will go into a "releafing" fund for the planting of trees in the Village. The Board agreed on Tuesday that for those who elect to pay the fee, the amount will be $250 for each tree removed.

CLICK HERE FOR PAST ARTICLES ON THE NEW TREE LEGISLATION

CHANGES AT SEA CLIFF BEACH IN 2015 - FEES; SMOKING; BOAT RACKS; ONE WAY TRAFFIC
At Tuesday's Board Conference, the Village Board agreed to a Beach fee schedule for the 2015 summer season. The cost of a family and individual seasonal membership for residents will remain unchanged at $75 and $50 respectively, while for non residents it will increase from $325 to $350 and $200 to $225 respectively. For those who choose not to become beach members, the daily rate for adult residents will decline from $15 to $10, and for non-residents from $25 to $15. The daily rate for child residents will remain at $5 and for non-resident children and seniors decline to $10. Additionally a new category of seasonal membership will be created - students with a high school or college ID and active military personnel will receive the same rate as senior citizens - $25 for residents and $45 for non-residents.

Additionally the Village will add 18 new boat racks and extend the smoking ban from just the pavilion to the entire beach.

The trustees also discussed the possibility of transitioning Cliff Way and the Boulevard from two-way to one way traffic on April 1 rather than during the following month, and transitioning back to two-way after September 30. The issue will be addressed again at future board meetings.