Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, April 1, 2022
Vol. 71, No. 13
N E W H Y D E PA R K
GUIDE TO SPRING
D’ESPOSITO PICKED AS GOP’s CD4 CANDIDATE
KAIMAN TO KICK OFF TOWN HALL SERIES
PAGES 29-36
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DeSena calls for 2 building dept. fixes
THANK YOU DAISIES
Seeks to set some approval deadlines, restrict Town Board members’ role BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said last week she has submitted a resolution mandating the building commissioner make a decision on expedited permits within seven days and removing the Town Board’s ability to override the department’s decisions. DeSena said the changes were intended to streamline the application process and prevent corruption. “No other town on Long Island has a provision like this,” DeSena said regarding the ability of council members to override department decisions. “This arrangement is legally improper and leaves the door wide open for potential corruption, favoritism and the development of a pay-to-play atmosphere to ensure the approval of an expedited application.” DeSena said at a news conference outside Town Hall last Wednesday that since her administration began over 80 days ago her goal was to “streamline town government and make it more efficient whenever possible.” Under her proposed resolution, applicants would be able to submit an expedited permit request if it is an emergency or advances the public interest such as job creation and economic development. The current local law gives the
supervisor and council member from the district where the permit is being sought five days after a decision by the commissioner to offer comments and recommendations. According to Chapter 2 of the North Hempstead town code, the building commissioner’s determinations can be overridden by a contrary recommendation from either of the two elected officials. Over the past five years, 390 expedited permit requests were disapproved by the Building Department with 56, or 14.4 percent, of them being overridden by a member of the Town Board. In the same period, no expedited permits that were approved were overridden. DeSena said the current provision has hindered the department, which she said is referred to as one of the worst on Long Island, adding it is in need of a “culture change.” The local law was added on May 29, 2007, the same year five Building Department officials were indicted after a 16-month investigation by then Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice for receiving favors and payments in exchange for granting permits without inspections. All five were later convicted, including former Commissioner David Continued on Page 41
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE VIA INSTAGRAM @VILLAGEOFNHP
The New Hyde Park Board of Trustees recognized and thanked the Girl Scout Little Daisies for leading the village’s inaugural St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Martins seeks to reclaim Senate seat from Kaplan BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
him to run against incumbent Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) in the 7th Former state Sen. and Mine- Senate District last Friday. Martins, an Old Westbury resiola Mayor Jack Martins is eyeing a return to the Senate as the Nassau dent who represented the district County Republican Party endorsed from 2011 to 2016, started off his
introductory speech at the GOP’s Westbury headquarters by saying, “It’s great to be back” and addressed the questions he has received from others asking why he is choosing to Continued on Page 42
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