Board Approves St. Paul's Repairs, Accepts $6,500 Kaliban Donation

The St. Paul's roof and clock tower, damaged by Hurricane Irene nearly six months ago, will be repaired thanks to the generosity of several village residents.

Vinny Muldoon, owner of Old World Quality Corp., has agreed to refurbish the damaged clock tower at no cost to the village and repair two main leaks to the St. Paul's roof at a cost of $6,500.

Bob and Pat Kaliban, who first donated $11,300 to the village as per another estimate from R & G Roofing in Carle Place, has now donated $6,500 towards the repairs.

"Old World is probably eating a loss on this," mayor Don Brudie said. "They are one of the foremost builders in Garden City. They've built many homes, beautiful edifices. They're quality people. They came in and gave us a bid of $6,500 ... They've also indicated they will do what they can for the clock tower at no cost to the village."

Residents Bob Orosz and Walter McKenna said the "gentleman from Old World" stated at a recent Eastern Property Owners' Association (EPOA) meeting that he'd be willing to do the work for free. "Can you explain what has happened between then and now?" McKenna asked trustees.

Muldoon, who was present at the Feb. 2 meeting, approached the podium to clarify. "I'm a resident of the village for a long time and I'm willing to help out in any way I can and I would give up all my own time, the overhead and carry the cost of my company but obviously employees and materials would have to be paid for. That's what I said. We're also going to donate all the time and effort it's going to take at our own expense for my employees and the material needed, whatever time that is, to fix the clock tower so from Stewart Ave. we can get the clock tower looking like a respectable place Garden City is as a whole," Muldoon said to applause.

EPOA president Judy Courtney asked a hypothetical: "What happens when it actually costs, and I don't know this so I am absolutely making this up, $25,000 or it runs over - the cost overrun - does the village pick that up or will that be picked---"

Mayor Brudie interrupted Courtney, stating: "It's not going to overrun because he's agreed to do it for $6,500. It doesn't matter if he finds it costs him more time than he realized he'll absorb it."

Muldoon said his work proposal will address two main leaks - approximately 1,600 square feet of the roof. The clock's wooden backer panels, which Muldoon said are actually in "pretty good condition," fell inward into the tower and the main bracket could be heated and re-fastened.

"Obviously it's never going to tell the time again," he said, "but we're going to do the best we possibly can to get it looking like it used to."

The village board approved the St. Paul's repairs at a cost of $6,500 by Old World Quality Corp. by a vote of 7-0 (trustee Nick Episcopia abstained) and unanimously acceptd the Kalibans' donation as per several parameters brought forth by trustee Dennis Donnelly, who said he was in no way opposed to the Kalibans' "generous offer."

"I think we should be clear on certain parameters surrounding their gift and the subsequent offer to do the actual repairs from Mr. Vincent Muldoon of the Old World Quality Corporation," Donnelly said.

Donnelly's parameters include:

• The acceptance of the gift shall be used for the clock tower roof repair with NO conditions and/or restrictions

• If the funds are insufficient to complete the repairs, the village is under NO obligation to supply any funds to complete the repairs

• That all necessary worker protections regarding hazardous materials be adhered to and all OSHA safeguards be met

• That the acceptance of this gift shall have NO bearing on the conclusions and findings of the FEIS on the St. Paul's property

• That this repair is a voluntary project done for ascetic purposes and that threat of a lawsuit by Mr. James Kenny regarding the village's obligations regarding St. Paul's was NOT a consideration in this matter and in no way is this action to be construed as an acknowledgement by the village of any fiduciary or trust responsibility to maintain the St. Paul's Main Building

• If at such time in the future it becomes necessary to demolish the clock tower, NO funds would be returned to the Kalibans nor would any additional funds be reimbursed to Mr. Muldoon for pro bono work performed by his corporation.

"Finally, we recognize this work is a patch which will NOT prevent water damage to the building. There are numerous others leaks throughout the roof," Donnelly added.

Bob Kaliban told trustees he was "astounded" by their acceptance of the monetary donation. "Instead of $11,300 I feel very rich tonight. Maybe if we put this off another meeting, do I hear $3,500?" he joked.

Kaliban added, on a more serious note, "We appreciate what you've done this evening and we hope sooner than later St. Paul's will be saved from the believable things that happen from rain and snow and all these things and we can have St. Paul's saved forever and be very proud because Garden City is blessed by having that here..."