Northport Notebook: Resident Suggests Simplified Budget Recap

Simplified Budget Recap Suggested

Resident Effie Huber presented the board with a suggested simplified version of the 2012-2013 village budget recapitulation on Tuesday in response to what she considers to be an otherwise abstruse format.

"My husband [Ray Huber] has worked very diligently on going over the budget and he has a summary on here that explains the budget so that I, as a layperson, can understand it," she said after handing out copies of the workup to the board.

"For people who look at this stuff and go, 'forget it, I can't figure out what's comin' or goin,' if you look at Ray's categories he has everything divided into fire department, sewer, parks...you have a total of the central government, full time, part time workers, employee pay, employee benefits. It's a summary where you look at this and you say, 'Oh, I understand what's going on,' as compared to the page before which is the corrections to the recapitulations which came out with the original budget."

Mayor George Doll replied that he is open to the suggestion provided that New York State accepts the format. "If this format is clearer or easier that's fine with me. We'll have to review it with the treasurer."

Parking Changes at Northport Library

Northport Library wants to move one of the two handicapped parking spots on Scudder Avenue closer to the back door in the parking lot. The current handicapped spots on Scudder would then be turned into one regular space and one no-parking zone. The eliminated parking space, when filled, currently presents a dangerous sight obstruction for people turning out of the parking lot.

Sewage Plant Training for Ben Meyberg

The board authorized Ben Meyberg to attend wastewater treatment plant basic operation training in Morrisville, NY from Feb. 27-March 9 at a cost not to exceed $2,500. "When Ben finishes the training, he will have an operator certificate and that will save us money because then he can function at the plant by himself, he doesn't have to have someone supervising him," said Doll.

Mild Weather Means Savings for Village

The village will have saved a significant amount of money on the snow budget if  mild weather persists, said Doll, with a large portion of the savings in labor overtime costs. Trustee Damon McMullen added that the Parks Department has gotten a jump on spring cleanup and is planting grasses and evergreens at Soper Avenue pocket park and Scudder Park, some of which have been planted in the worker's own yards and donated to the village.

Other News

• This year's Cow Harbor Race will be on Saturday, Sept. 15.

• John Desiderio asked what was being done about the boats in the Britannia Marina being so close to the homes on Milland Drive where he lives. Village Attorney James Matthews replied that the issue will be before the zoning board on Wednesday.

• A new drain was recently installed on Milland drive, said Mayor Doll in his highway report. The Mayor also said that some street signs are being replaced by a recently discovered cache of fairly new signs while the new sign machine is being installed.

• Trustee Jerry Maline announced that St. Baldrick's is March 10 and added that the Rotary is having a fundraiser at Jellyfish Restaurant in Cold Spring Harbor this Saturday with a casino theme.

The next Village Board of Trustees meeting is Tuesday, March 6 from 6-8 p.m.