A Word From Mayor John Watras

Call to Action - Binding Arbitration: For nearly four decades mayors and members of the village boards of trustees have reported frustration over the fact that within New York State the Police and Fire Unions are covered under a binding arbitration statute.

In the event an impasse is reached in collective bargaining with our Police or Fire Union, the final step in the impasse resolution process is the use of compulsory, or binding, interest arbitration. The three-person arbitration panel has significant power and may issue an award which requires tax increases. The panel is not responsible to the taxpayers nor responsible for its award.

The statute is due to expire on June 30, 2013, and your board of trustees has joined with its elected counterparts from throughout New York State in writing to the governor and our legislator urging them to be proactive in allowing the binding arbitration to expire.

Please join us by taking the time to contact Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, NYS State Capitol Building, Albany, NY 12224, Sen. Kemp Hannon, 595 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530 and Assembly Member, Edward P. Ra, 1225 Franklin Avenue, Suite 465, Garden City, NY 11530, asking for their support.

Annual Memorial Day Observance and Parade: On Monday, May 27, under the direction of the William Bradford Turner Post - American Legion, the annual Memorial Day observance in our village will commence with the interdenominational memorial church services at 9 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Incarnation.

The traditional Memorial Day parade will step off promptly at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Stewart and Cherry Valley Avenues. It will proceed north on Cherry Valley Avenue to Tenth Street, east on Tenth Street to Franklin Avenue, south on Franklin Avenue to Seventh Street, west on Seventh Street past the Reviewing Stand, which will be located at the village’s War Memorial, just west of the library, where official ceremonies will take place. Residents are urged to honor the men and women who gave their lives for our country by attending these services.

Retail sales will be prohibited in the village on May 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with certain exceptions. The village ordinance, which follows closely to the state statute, provides that all trades, manufacturers, agricultural or technical employments, are prohibited, as well as all manners of public sale or offering for sale of any property on Memorial Day between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Exceptions are: restaurants, catering services, prepared items such as tobacco, bread, milk, eggs, and so forth, service station products, medicines, delicatessen items and alcoholic beverages.

Members of the William Bradford Turner Post, The American Legion Auxiliary and I look forward to seeing you at the gathering at the War Memorial at 11 a.m. for services that will begin following the parade.

Memorial Day Information: Village offices will be closed on Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day and will reopen on Tuesday, May 28 at 8:30 a.m.  For your convenience, correspondence for the village may be placed in the “Letter” drop slot at the front door.

Residents are reminded that there will be no garbage or recycling pickup on Monday, May 27. Garbage will be collected Tuesday and Friday for the western half and Wednesday and Saturday for the eastern half of the village. Those scheduled for recycling are asked to put their recyclables out on Monday, June 3. Rubbish collection for the entire village will be on Thursday, May 30.

Backflow Tests Mandatory for Lawn Irrigation Systems: I would like to remind everyone that has an automatic lawn sprinkler system, that your backflow prevention assembly unit must be tested annually, as mandated by the Nassau County Health Department.

Notifications have been sent throughout the year to reach out and alert residents of this agreement. If you have still not done so, please have your backflow prevention assembly tested as soon as possible. The Nassau County Health Department has mandated all devices must be tested annually and has designated the water purveyor, (Village of Garden City) responsible for enforcement. The Health Department considers all untested devices a hazardous threat to the water supply. As such, they have given the authority to the village, to shut off water services to residences that do not conform. In addition, the village risks incurring a fine by the Nassau County Health Department which would be passed on to the residences.

If you have any questions or need a list of certified backflow testers, please do not hesitate to call Mr. Kevin Barry of the Garden City Public Works Department at 465 4005.

Shop Locally: Please continue to support the local merchants and I look forward to seeing everyone in town.

Board of Trustees Meeting: The next meetings of the board of trustees will be on Thursday, June 6 and on Thursday, June 20 at 8 p.m. I encourage all residents to attend board of trustees meetings so as to be thoroughly informed of village issues from a first-hand perspective.