Debate over Schumer visit marks Jericho board meeting Town Board considers restaurant application

BY RIKKI MASSAND

At the Oyster Bay Town Board meeting held on Tuesday, April 18, an application for a special use permit requested by Platia Greek Kitchen at 4 Berry Hill Road in Syosset was presented. Following a detailed review of operations and activities of the restaurant, the Board closed the public portion of the hearing and the record will be kept open for 30 days, until the third week of May.

Jericho Board members Sam Perlman and Jennifer Vartanov were critical of the Schumer visit.

BY GEORGE HABER

A vigorous debate over a visit to the Jericho School District by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) marked a highlight of the April 19th Jericho School Board meeting.

Sen. Schumer came to Jericho April 6th to announce his plan to authorize funding for an FBI program to prevent and detect false reports of shootings and bomb threats at schools across the country.

Appearing at a televised press conference in front of Jericho High School, along with Sen. Schumer, were Jericho Superintendent Hank Grishman and School Board President Jill Citron. No other Board members attended the event.

At the April 19th Board meeting, Board vice president Jennifer Vartanov and Board member Sam Perlman criticized the process by which the senator was able to use Jericho High School as a backdrop for his remarks, especially in light of the fact that the problem his proposed legislation was designed to solve does not exist in the Jericho district.

“Why would you put an X on your back, talking about a problem that doesn't exist in the place you're making your statement?” asked Sam Perlman, who added that “Senator Schumer has done a good job of representing New

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The Town Board heard from attorney for the applicant Diana Prevete of Garden City-based law firm Albanese & Albanese, as she described the special use permit, including occupancy for over 75 people, and to maintain a 46-foothigh by 7.5-foot wide addition to the restaurant building off Berry Hill Road. She noted that the restaurant’s existing occupancy is for 94 occupants, and the application before the board also requested site plan approval of the related site improvements.

Attorney Prevete addressed the Town Board and Supervisor Joseph Saladino with one of Platia’s principals and managers, Greg Spanos, seated in the audience at Town Hall.

In the beginning of 2018, without obtaining a building permit, the owners of Platia enclosed a patio area at the restaurant, which has a “knee wall and surface area patio, creating the 7.5 foot by 46-foot addition which is 345 square feet.” In March of 2019 Platia was issued a Town violation for the addition and interior alteration sans-permit, and also for its use and occupancy and

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