Local Officials Report at Nanuet Civic Meeting

Last Thursday, Mar 1, was the guest speaker at the monthly Nanuet Civic Association meeting. He was joined by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Tina Guccione and Jennifer Parietti and they outlined their strategies and goals for law enforcement in Rockland County.

Here is the second article on the civic meeting, which looks at the new Nanuet fire house, MRO Pump & Tank Inc., a report from the Clarkstown Highway Department, Car Thefts and Police Presence.

New Fire House

Vincent Pacella reported that after a lengthy search the Nanuet Fire Company has found a new home. Up until now a number of traffic studies that looked at locations on Convent Road and the commuter lot at Routes 59 and 304 proved impractical, and talks for the purchase of one of the Nanuet Mall’s parking lots also fell through.

“So we ventured on,” said Pacella. “We looked a couple of other different properties, and I can tell you right now that property behind Jolene Cleaners on Old Middletown Road where one of the original firehouses used to be; we are in contract to purchase that property.”

MRO Pump & Tank Inc.

Deputy Town Attorney and Zoning Administrator Jeffery Millman addressed the concerns of local residents affected by the ongoing litigation between Clarkstown and MRO Pump & Tank Inc. A Stipulation of Settlement was reached in 2010 which stated that there would be no further rock crushing at the company’s Fisher Avenue site other than a three day pass afforded the company to eliminate accumulated material.

It has been determined that in November of 2011 MRO conducted six days of rock crushing which allegedly places the owners in contempt of the judge’s order in the settlement. The company was also issued a separate citation for operating on a Sunday during that same period.

A sentencing phase of the legal process could include fines up to $22,500 or incarceration for up to 30 days per violation for the operators of MRO if they are found to be in contempt of the settlement.

In response to an inquiry about the possible removal of the business to a new location, Millman remarked that while MRO’s owners had expressed interest in relocating in the past, current market conditions appear to have made the sale of the property impractical.

Mild Weather

During his report to the association, Highway Superintendant Wayne Ballard noted that the unusually mild winter weather experienced throughout the area has meant the highway department has only used 15 percent of the salt that they normally do by this time of year. The shortage of snow (a projected 10 inches vs. 75 last year,) also means that the town has benefitted from substantial savings in overtime, equipment and road repairs.

A concern was raised by a member of the public who said that a miss-timed  traffic light at the intersection of College Avenue and Route 59 may result in a dangerous condition. Specifically it was noted that pedestrians could be left stranded in the middle of traffic while trying to cross Route 59. Ballard said that the situation would be investigated and addressed if need be.

Car Thefts and Police Presence

Police Officer Mark Hamilla reported that over the holidays Clarkstown PD arrested three  individuals that were responsible for a rash of car thefts in the Nanuet area. The individuals were, according to Officer Hamilla, remanded to jail under $75,000 cash bail, at which point the incidents stopped. When asked if the individuals are local to the area, Hamilla confirmed that they are from the county.

Hamilla also noted that there will be a police presence at the new Nanuet mall.

“I know we’ll have a police booth there just like we do at the Palisades Mall so there will be a presence there. I know the Chief has been in discussions with the town and I believe Simon Properties. We’ll make sure that everybody has the good service that you would normally get,” said Hamilla.

The public is invited to attend and become a member of the Nanuet Civic Association which are held in the Nanuet Public Library’s Community Room the first Thursday of each month.