Youth Court Graduates and Pride of Clarkstown Winners Recognized

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA MIRAKAJ BROWNSELL

The Town of Clarkstown Board meeting on February 7 had two special presentations prior to regular business. The first was the presenting of the Clarkstown Youth Court Graduation, followed by the giving out the Pride of Clarkstown awards.

Detective Eileen Malloy announced the names of the 43rd class of Youth Court graduates. The program began in 1981 and there have been over 3,000 cases and 540 members since.

“These teens show up every week and volunteer their time to make our town a better place to live,” said Malloy.

Former Councilman Ralph Mandia came up with an idea to create the Pride of Clarkstown awards. He formed a committee in 2005 to gather nominees and select winners. The program serves as a stimulant and incentive to get commercial properties to beautify their properties.

There are nine categories that received awards. Albertus Magnus High School 9/11 Memorial Garden in Bardonia won for Community Project. Mandel, Katz & Brosnan, LLP, Mandel Family Realty in Valley Cottage won for Professional Office. Grande Centrale Restaurant in Congers won for Food/Hospitality. New City Fire Engine Company #1 won for Non-Profit. Teplitz Scrap Metal Recycling in Nanuet won for Industrial. Plastic-Craft Products Corp. in West Nyack won for Small Business. New City Stop & Shop, Alfred Weissman Real Estate Developer won for Shopping Center/Retail. TD Bank in New City won for Service Business. Dellwood Park Civic Youth Court graduates announced by Detective Eileen Malloy Association in New City won for Civic Pride.

After a few questions from citizens about the details, all resolutions were accepted. The resolutions were:

-The accepting of the minutes from January 3, 2012 and January 24, 2012, as submitted by the Town Clerk.

-The substitute appointment of Thomas C. McGovern as a Crossing Guard for the Clarkstown Police Department. The temporary appointment of Adam C. Kone as a Police Officer for Clarkstown Police Department. The temporary appointment of Kevin D. Shea as a Police Officer for the Clarkstown Police Department.

-The approving stipulation of settlement for Rockland County Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. There is one less lieutenant in the police department after one wasn’t replaced, so the stipend for that officer’s pay was divided between the other lieutenants taking on more tasks.

-The authorizing the Town to provide bond and Letter of Credit to New York State Department of Transportation. This had to do with the storing of fill in West Nyack.

– The authorizing the adoption of the revised Town of Clarkstown Sewer Department and Landfill Maintenance Confined Space Entry Program. This was for a safety protocol for town employees entering enclosed spaces.

-The granting certificate of registration to 12-30 – First Rate Landscaping & Construction, Inc.

– The authorizing the purchasing agent to advertise for Bid #10-2012, which is Cypress Street Interim Flood Mitigation in New City, Bid #11-2012, which is 396 Pleasant Hill Drive Drainage Improvements, and Bid #12-2012, which is refuse and bulk collection services for one, two and three-family homes in the unincorporated Town of Clarkstown. Also the authorizing the purchasing agent to advertise for Bid #13-2012, which is Curbside Recycling Collection, Bid #14-2012, which is to furnish and deliver precast concrete box culvert at Lake Nanuet Drive, Bid #15-2012, which is installation of box culvert and related work at Lake Nanuet Drive, and Bid #16-2012, which is Congers Lake Trail, West Side.

Albertus Magnus High School 9/11 Memorial Garden of Bardonia received the Pride of Clarkstown award in Community Project

– The amending of resolution No. 689-2011, which is the fee schedule for 2012. This was to adopt a consolidated fee schedule to put all fees on just one schedule, with special regards to replacing trees under the tree law. There were trees removed in New City during the revitalization but Supervisor Gromack assured there will be replanting.

– The adopting of the Tappan Zee Bridge Task Force Report.

– The amending of Resolution No. 680-2011, which is fixing a typographical error in the resolution.

– The prescribing of the rules and regulations governing departmental charges and discipline of members of the Clarkstown Police Department.

-The authorizing of the Settlement of Tri-Murti Associates, LLC, 445 Route 304, LLC, DMR Realty Group, LLC, and Volare Corp

– The authorizing of the town attorney to negotiate with the Reuben Gittelman School for land purchase. A third party had to be hired for the appraisal in order for it to be accepted.

During the open discussion for town residents, many residents chose to speak. Stephen Levine asked about the ongoing issue with putting the Town Board Meetings on cable television. Gromack explained that the television studio is complete and they are now meeting about cameras and other equipment. Levine also asked about the dumping of hazardous material on Massachusetts Avenue. The town attorney told him he must call her to discuss it privately.

Jerry O’Rourke of Congers asked for a garage consolidation update and timeline. Gromack said there have been several meeting and some consolidation has begun with the town garage and the highway garage.

An update for the solar proposal at the landfill was asked for. Councilman Hoehman said there are meetings coming up. A question of giving more detailed information prior to board meetings so that the residents can ask more educated questions. The town attorney said they are well aware of the new open meetings law and that all future resolutions will go up the Friday before the Town Board meeting.

Mrs. Hook and Robert Banks both asked about out of state animals that are brought in, often from North Shore that end up being dumped at Hi-Tor. The town board said they would look into the Petsmart adoption issues. After the public meeting ended, a private personnel meeting was scheduled to begin. Many residents spoke up saying they had a right to be a part of that meeting, that nothing is private, but the board told them that is not true.

  Albertus Magnus, Clarkstown, rockland county