Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, October 18, 2019
Vol. 68, No. 42
N E W H Y D E PA R K
FORUM ON STATE CLIMATE CHANGE MEASURES
GILLEN SUES CHEMICAL COMPANIES
ASSESSMENT BILL OVERRIDE FAILS
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Work changes not disclosed: De Giorgio
RE-ENACTING HISTORY
Says board members kept in dark about Clinton Martin overruns BY R O S E W E L D ON No change orders for the problem-fraught Clinton G. Martin Park project were brought before the North Hempstead Town Board, according to Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio. The New Hyde Park public park and pool is the subject of a hotly contested legal case between the town and Wantagh-based contractor Gramercy Group. The town originally granted a contract to Gramercy in 2017 for a $19.4 million bid to renovate the then50-year-old park, which increased to $23 million once additional refurbishments and additions were built. In May, Public Works Commissioner Paul DiMaria, whose office oversaw the repairs, wrote in a letter to Gramercy that some work, including domestic water piping, the pool’s overflow system and a sump that was not connected to a drain, had not been completed on
time. The contractor replied in a letter that there were discrepancies between what was presented in the contract and what was present on site. Now, the town is withholding $1.3 million for what it considers unfinished business, and Gramercy Group is claiming an additional $1.5 million in unpaid debts, a conflict that will play out in Bankruptcy Court. DiMaria resigned from his post effective Oct. 4. De Giorgio, whose 6th District represents Port Washington, Plandome and Flower Hill among other areas and who was a lawyer prior to her public service career, said in an interview that she had asked the town attorney about the matter in a series of emails. “The fact that we’re in court means somebody dropped the ball somewhere,” De Giorgio said. “So I’m sure there’s plenty of blame to go around, but the fact that we’re Continued on Page 51
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FLORAL PARK-BELLEROSE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Floral Park-Bellerose students were active participants in games Native Americans played in the past. See story on page 63.
Covert Ave. fully open after six months of work BY TOM MCCARTHY
reopened on Saturday with a two-lane underpass beneath the new Covert Avenue bridge, The parts of Covert Avenue the Metropolitan Transportaclosed between 1st and 5th av- tion Authority said. MTA spokesman Aaron enues in New Hyde Park since April for LIRR third track work Donovan said that Covert Av-
enue reopened shortly before 4 p.m. The agency said the underpass project was completed “on time and on budget.” “We’re delighted that Covert Avenue is open again,” Continued on Page 51
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