Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, September 13, 2019
Vol. 68, No. 37
N E W H Y D E PA R K
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GUIDE TO STREET FAIRS
HEMPSTEAD OFFICIAL INDICTED
SCHNIRMAN GIVES BACK MONEY
PAGES 33-56
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F.P. challenges Belmont OK in state court
BACK TO SCHOOL
Claims state agency failed to address village concerns in project approval BY TOM M CC A RT HY The Village of Floral Park said Tuesday that it is seeking judicial review of the approval of the Belmont Park redevelopment project in state Supreme Court. In a newsletter, the village said that on Monday the village “commenced an article 78 proceeding in the Supreme Court of the State of New York” into the project’s approval by Empire State Development, a state agency. An Article 78 proceeding is used to appeal the decision of a state or local agency to the New York courts, according to LawNY. “The village was compelled to take this step because ESD failed to address the concerns of our residents and failed to mitigate the very real consequences to our village that will result from the massive size and scope of the project,” Floral Park Mayor Dominick Longobardi said in the newsletter. Jack Sterne, a spokesman for
Empire State Development, which is overseeing the project, said that the agency cannot comment on litigation, but said that the agency has been transparent and open to public comments, and has adhered to all state laws. “This project has gone through a transparent, public process over multiple years, and has adhered to all requirements under state law,” he said. “We look forward to moving forward with this project, which will deliver thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity to Nassau County.” The project includes a 19,000seat arena for the New York Islanders, 350,000 square feet of shops and restaurants, a hotel with 250 rooms and parking on 43 acres of vacant state-owned property at Belmont Park. Concerns have been raised by the village over the project’s impact on traffic, the constant influx of commuters coming into FloContinued on Page 74
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SEWANHAKA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Sewanhaka Central High School District welcomed its teaching staff back to school and honored faculty members. See story on page 22.
Custodial staff overpaid in overtime at Herricks: audit BY TOM MCCARTHY
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office has concluded in an audit. The comptroller’s report on The Herricks school district made overtime payments to Aug. 30 found that from July 1, custodial employees that may 2017, to Oct. 31, 2018, district not have been necessary, state officials did not preapprove and adequately monitor over-
time for custodial employees. Auditors found that the district’s budget for custodial employees’ overtime was exceeded in each of the last three years, by $192,608 in Continued on Page 74
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