Jackson Avenue Delay Is Thwarted

Another potential delay in the long-awaited Jackson Avenue Improvement Project has been avoided, leading to a Thursday vote that may soon lead to shovels going in the ground.

On Aug. 2 Town of Oyster Bay commissioners unanimously passed an inter-municipal agreement (IMA), paving the way for the Town and Nassau County to split the $6 million cost of improvements. The Town will take responsibility of the road's upkeep from the county.

The IMA was sent to the county on Aug. 5, but it wasn't put on the agenda until earlier this week. Normally a seven-day notice is required, meaning that the vote by the full Nassau County Legislature wouldn't take place until next month. 

However, an emergency resolution from Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano will allow for a Legislature vote Thursday should the IMA get through committee. Committee meetings are set for 1 p.m. at the Nassau County Legislative Building in Mineola, with the full Legislature meeting around 4 p.m. 

In a press release announcing the resolution, Mangano thanked Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto.

 “By sharing the costs associated with these sorely needed improvements, the people are well served," Mangano said. "I am proud of the work we have done for the people. This has been a long time in the making.”

Nassau County Legis. Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury), who has championed the Jackson Avenue cause for years, is hopeful that this is finally the beginning of the end.

"With the anticipated passage, years of planning, engineering and community input will finally result in a roadway which will put safety first for the residents of Syosset and residents throughout Nassau County," Jacobs said in a statement to Syosset Patch. "My deepest appreciation to Supervisor John Venditto of the Town of Oyster Bay, who responded so willingly to my plea for help, to Marc Herbst [executive director of the Long Island Contractors' Association], who has spent months on this project, and to the county administration, who has now sent it down to the Legislature for the vote."

An approved IMA is necessary for the Town to bid out the project. If everything remains on schedule the anticipated groundbreaking will take place in November.