Franklin Square/Elmont
HERALD Carey senior ranks in top 100
Horse racing to begin in June
elmonter to start training career
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Vol. 22 no. 21
MaY 21 - 27, 2020
Suits against Belmont Park are dismissed
Cawing for the class of 2020 H. Frank Carey’s Seahawk cheered on the graduating seniors at the Carey Dad’s Club Lemonade Parade on May 16. Story, more photos, Page 8.
Justice rules in favor of N.Y.
ed.” Plaintiffs in the case have expressed their dismay with A State Supreme Court jus- Mahon’s decision. “I think this is tice dismissed on May 11 the Vil- a disappointment to many of us lage of Floral Park’s and various in the community,” Aubrey PhilElmont civic assolips, vice president ciations’ lawsuits of the Parkhurst seeking to reverse Civic Association, state approvals of in Elmont, said. the Belmont Park F loral Park redevelopment Mayor Dominick project. They now Longobardi posted have 30 days to on the village’s challenge the rulwebsite that village ing. o f f i c i a l s wo u l d In his 13-page “continue to monidecision, Justice tor the developRoy Mahon noted, auBreY PHilliPs ment of the project “The Court recogas it moves forward VIce president, nizes that the and work tirelessly approval of the Parkhurst Civic to ensure any project g o e s Association effects on our qualiagainst the vilty of life are minilage’s legitimate mized to the greatconcerns with respect to the est extent possible.” impact on its residents. NonetheThe village officials filed the less, the Court’s review is limit- suit last Sept. 9, 2019, asking the ed to the evaluation of whether Supreme Court to overturn all the determination was made in prior approvals for the project, violation of lawful procedure, halt construction and restart the was affected by an error of the environmental review process. law or was arbitrary and capri- The suit alleged that state agencious or an abuse of discretion.” cies pushed the New York Arena “Accordingly,” Mahon wrote, Partners’ plans to develop a “the petition is denied, and the hockey arena for the New York motions to dismiss . . . are grantContinued on page 3
By Melissa Koenig koenig@liherald.com
i
think this decision is a disappointment to many of us in the community.
Christina Daly/Herald
Budgeting goes on despite virus Franklin Square officials approve spending plans By Melissa Koenig mkoenig@liherald.com
Franklin Square’s school district and library boards have approved their spending plans for the 2020-21 school year, amid the financial uncertainty of the continuing coronavirus pandemic. At its May 14 virtual budget hearing, the Franklin Square School District Board of Education approved a spending plan of just under $40.2 million budget,
which will be put to a public vote on June 9. The spending plan, which is 1.72 percent larger than the current budget, would enable the district to replace aging technology and support its STEM Discovery labs. Those costs would be offset by staff freezes, and the budget would be funded in part by a $29 million tax levy, a 2.33 percent increase over the current levy, which is below the state tax levy
cap for the district. The effect on individual residents will depend on Nassau County’s assessment of their property, Theresa Hennessy, the assistant superintendent for finance and management, noted. “Franklin Square has never exceeded its cap,” Hennessy said, “and is not proposing to this year.” The district was set to receive Continued on page 10