On Thursday, February 16, 2012, approximately 100 people attended a meeting held by the NCMCA, South Merrick Community Civic Association (SMCCA) and Legislator Denenberg to find out how closing the 1st Precinct and converting it into a community center would affect our community.  The County Executive's Office and Police were invited, but did not attend.

It is our contention that there is too much conflicting information out there regarding this issue.  The promised savings will not be realized and no estimates have been given as to how much it will cost to reconstruct the new community centers or the remaining precincts to handle the heavy caseload. There are questions as to how the $15 million already allocated to build a new precinct right next to the 1st Precinct will be spent since there will no longer be a police precinct in Baldin.

Therefore, the NCMCA is asking the County Executive and the Nassau County Legislature to pull this plan until such time as the people have had a chance to learn how this will impact the safety of our communities and our taxes.  Further, we are asking that our Problem-Oriented Police (POP) officers be returned to our community.  Please see our letter regarding same. 

Whether the plan is believed good or bad, virtually everyone at the close of our meeting agreed that it was premature to approve the plan on February 27th. Please visit www.saveourprecincts.com to see what you could do to postpone this decision. 

As this is coming before the Legislature next week, in North Merrick, please call either Legislator Norma Gonsalves (who is expected to vote to approve the plan on February 27) at 571-6213 or email ngonsalves@nassaucountyny.gov or call Legislator Dave Denenberg at 571-6219, email ddenenberg@nassaucountyny.gov (who is expected to vote against it until more information is made available.)

If you'd like to express your opinion for or against this plan, please come down to the Nassau County Legislature Chambers, 1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola, NY  11501 on February 27, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. when this item will be brought to the Full Legislature for approval.

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LIRR Parking Lot Committee Report

Local commuters complain that the Merrick train station has insufficient parking spaces for its residents.  They claim that if they don’t get to the station very early, there are no spaces left for commuters to park.  Merrick residents request that a permitting process be implemented for commuters residing in the Town of Hempstead, similar to other parking lots in the Town, such as parking fields in Seaford. 

Local commuters complain that the Merrick train station has insufficient parking spaces for its residents.  They claim that if they don’t get to the station very early, there are no spaces left for commuters to park.  Merrick residents request that a permitting process be implemented for commuters residing in the Town of Hempstead, similar to other parking lots in the Town, such as parking fields in Seaford. 

 NMCMA President Claudia Borecky formed the LIRR Parking Lot Committee to address this matter.  In reviewing documentation that she recently uncovered, we believe we found a way to restrict parking at the Merrick and Bellmore train stations to Town residents only. Bellmore and Merrick are the only two stations on the Babylon branch that do not have resident permits. Town of Hempstead commuter parking permits cost $3 annually.

The LIRR Parking Lot Committee has been meeting regularly and are now at the point where we expect the Town to implement the policy.  Posted below is our most recent letter in this regard:


“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  Margaret Meade   

February 4, 2012   

Councilwoman Angie Cullin                                     
Town of Hempstead                                                              
One Washington Street                                              
Hempstead, NY  11550                                                          

Re:       Parking Permits for Bellmore and Merrick Commuter Parking Lots  

Dear Councilwoman Cullin: 

I am again writing on behalf of the North and Central Merrick Civic Association, the LIRR Parking Lot Committee, Legislator Denenberg’s 19^th District Commuter Council and several concerned commuters regarding parking at the Bellmore and Merrick commuter parking lots.  Please see my letters dated March 5, 2011, March 28, 2011, April 6, 2011 and November 18, 2011 in this regard. 

As previously stated in my earlier letters, Bellmore and Merrick are the only two train stations along the Babylon branch that do not restrict parking for residents only. As stated in the earlier letters, records show:

1.  An April 29, 1991 Agreement between the Town and the LIRR for maintenance of a 220 space lot on Hewlett Avenue, Merrick states that "not more than 50% of the spaces may be reserved for the residents of the Town of Hempstead."  Clearly, half this lot may be restricted to Town residents.
2.  A March 29, 1994 Agreement between the Town and the LIRR for maintenance of a 100 space lot on Hewlett Avenue, Merrick allows for permit parking.
3.  A November 12, 2002 Agreement between the Town and the LIRR for maintenance of the former Albert Bros. lot in Bellmore expired November 30, 2011.  I request that any new Agreement reached between the Town and the LIRR allow for permit parking in this lot.
 
Larry Rubinstein, who sits on Leg. Denenberg’s 19^th District Commuter Council and the LIRR Parking Lot Committee, in an interview with News12, requested that the Town of Hempstead implement parking permits at the Merrick and Bellmore train stations. Town spokesman Michael Deery responded that the Town would be amenable to discussing permit parking at the above-mentioned stations.  In a telephone conversation in December 2011, Senior Deputy Town Attorney Charles Kovit conveyed a strong indication that the Town would be able to implement parking permits at these two stations. At Legislator Dave Denenberg’s Janaury 30, 2012 community meeting on Long Island Rail Road issues, LIRR Babylon Branch Manager Gerakaris stated that he spoke with you about implementing parking permits for residents of the Town of Hempstead.  Mr. Gerakaris said that you were going to bring it up at your next Town Board meeting.  That was over two months ago.   Please advise if proposals for parking permits came before the Town Board and if so, what decision was reached.  If the Town Board has not yet addressed parking permits for the Merrick and Bellmore train stations, please advise when it will be placed on the calendar.   

Thank you for your attention to this matter.   

Very truly yours,

Claudia Borecky, President
North and Central Merrick Civic Association andChair of the LIRR Parking Lot Committee 

cc:        Supervisor Kate Murray           
Town Attorney Joseph Ra           
Sr. Deputy Town Attorney Charles Kovit
Legislator Dave Denenberg
Mr. Larry Rubinstein 
LIRR Parking Lot Committee
North and Central Merrick Residents

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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. 

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

February 3, 2012

Councilwoman Cullin            

Town of Hempstead              

One Washington Street                      

Hempstead, NY  11550                                 

 Re:      Traffic and road conditions on Little Whaleneck Road, Merrick 

Dear Mrs. Cullin:

I again write regarding the traffic conditions of Little Whaleneck Road at and near its intersections with Old Mill Road and Earl Drive in North Merrick.  Please see my letter of May 1, 2009 in that regard.

Residents complain that motorists travel at excessive speed on Little Whaleneck Road at its intersections with Old Mill Road and Earl Drive. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that these two intersections are staggered. Pedestrians who cross Little Whaleneck Road from the corner of either Old Mill Road or Earl Drive are either crossing into the middle of the street or at least one car length behind the stop sign.  Children often cross at these intersections to go to Old Mill Road School in North Merrick. This creates a very dangerous situation.

Residents believe that better traffic control is needed at these intersections.  They suggest that white-striped crosswalks be painted across Little Whaleneck Road at these two intersections.  Further, because of its close proximity to the Southern State Parkway, motorists often use Little Whaleneck Road to cut through the neighborhood to go to and from the Parkway and go through the stop signs at these intersections without stopping.  Residents believe that if the posts of the stop signs were painted a fluorescent color, it will alert motorists to stop at the stop signs.

Further, I reiterate in this letter, the  poor condition of Little Whaleneck Road in Merrick.  Please see my letter of April 16, 2009 in that regard.  Residents report that Little Whaleneck Road has not been repaved in years. Patchwork repairs, cracks in the road, potholes and poor water drainage was apparent on the entire length of Little Whaleneck Road.  Residents claim that water gathers at the side of the road, causing the curbs and driveways to crack, crumble and deteriorate.  This creates very dangerous and unsafe conditions.

Please take all action to implement these requests.  Specifically, please conduct a full investigation into the traffic and road conditions of Little Whaleneck Road in North Merrick; install white-striped crosswalks across Little Whaleneck Road at its intersections with Earl Drive and Old Mill Road; and paint the posts of the stop signs with a fluorescent color.  Further, please conduct a full rehabilitation of Little Whaleneck Road in Merrick, including new curbs and driveway aprons.

  Thank you for your courtesy and cooperation.  Please keep me updated as to the status of these requests. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.

                                                                                   Very truly yours,

                                                                        Claudia Borecky, President

cc;        North Merrick residents