Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
$1
Friday, October 18, 2019
Vol. 68, No. 42
FORUM ON STATE CLIMATE CHANGE MEASURES
De GIORGIO SEES LACK OF CLINTON MARTIN DISCLOSURE
ASSESSMENT BILL OVERRIDE FAILS
PAGE 30
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
E.W. schools must get village approval: judge
G OP E Y ES ‘ D ECE P T IVE’ NOTIC ES
School board has month to file fence appeal: village attorney BY TOM M CC A RT HY The state Supreme Court has ruled that the East Williston school district must file a local zoning permit with the Village of East Williston over a proposed 6-foot aluminum fence at the North Side Elementary School, Mayor Bonnie Parente said Tuesday. The conflict between the village and the district is over the height of the fence. The current plans for the aluminum fence have it standing at 6 feet, violating the village code’s 4-foot maximum. “The school district has been ordered to halt construction and that has been upheld until a permit is sought and issued,” Parente said. “That doesn’t mean they’re going to get a permit or seek one.” Village Attorney Jeffrey Blinkoff said that the district has 30 days from the Oct. 4 decision to appeal. If the district decided to do that, Blinkoff said, then a decision on the appeal would take about
two years. He said that the lawsuit filed against the village by the district will likely end. Mark Kamberg, president of the East Williston school board, declined to comment on the court decision and what the district’s next move was. He said that the court’s decision will be discussed at the district’s Oct. 28 public meeting. The decision came in a lawsuit filed by 19 East Williston residents against the school district challenging its claim that no village permit was required for construction to move forward. Justice Sharon Gianelli ruled that the school district must abide by local zoning rules because there are no conflicting state education law requirements in this case. “We do not like or dislike the fence,” Parente said. The village’s argument is that it is merely asking for the fence to meet village zoning standards. Continued on Page 50
PHOTO BY TOM MCCARTHY
Members of the Republican majority in the Nassau County Legislature introduced legislation last Friday that they said would clarify “deceptive” assessment notices. See story on page 8.
Anthony Casella steps down as E.W. trustee BY TOM MCCARTHY
Mayor Bonnie Parente said Casella, a former mayor who is 82 years old, decided to step East Williston Trustee An- down from the board premathony Casella said Tuesday that turely because he wanted to alhe is stepping down from the low Parente to appoint a trustee with whom she can work well. village board.
His successor is East Williston resident James Lark, a vice president for Fidelity National Title Insurance Co. in New York City. Lark recently helped charter a Boy Scout troop for girls at Continued on Page 50
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D on’t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebo ok.com/theislandnow