Board approves appointments, facility uses, engineering contracts, PFAS work and staffing in routine votes

The Mineola Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a series of routine resolutions covering appointments, facility use, engineering services, personnel actions and water and sewer work.

The board confirmed Thomas J. Perry to the zoning board, approved an amnesty program for certain traffic fines, granted recurring facility use permits to senior and school groups, authorized engineering contracts tied to a state capital grant for the community center, and approved water-system and PFAS-related contracts and change orders. All motions listed on the agenda were approved by voice vote.

Trustees voted to confirm Mayor Pereira’s appointment of Thomas J. Perry to the zoning board after the resignation of long-serving member William Grimm. The board also approved a Scott’s Law amnesty program intended to encourage settlement of outstanding fines and tickets by waiving some penalties, a measure the clerk and judge had requested.

Facility permits approved include recurring use of the community center gym by a 55-plus senior basketball group (Mondays and Fridays, 12:30 p.m.–3 p.m., 9/1/2025–8/31/2026), the Mineola Leisure Club’s weekly auditorium use (Tuesdays, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., 9/9/2025–6/10/2026), and a seventh-grade picnic at Wilson Park for the Mineola School District (6/12/2026, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.).

On capital projects, the board authorized an engineering services proposal from D and B Engineers for community center renovations tied to a $1.1 million New York State capital grant and approved the $325,000 engineering fee. The trustees also authorized change order number 4 for the Well 1 PFAS phase 2 contract to add dry wells, manholes and piping (WHM Plumbing and Heating Contractors Inc., $39,886.50) and approved a one-year continuation of PFAS sample monitoring by D and B Engineers for $7,800 (funded from the 2025–26 Water Fund budget).

Other approved actions included an emergency repair to a main sewer line and lateral on Jackson Avenue (contractor’s cost $23,375), disposal of vehicle number 89 from the billing division as junk, authorization for two public-works staff to attend the 2025 New York State Public Works Training School in Lake George, and standardization of granular activated carbon (GAC) systems from Calgon Carbon Corporation for future water projects. The board also authorized an engineering review of water and sewer availability for a developer-led project at Harrison Avenue and Third Avenue; that work will be paid from the developer fund.

Personnel items passed included hiring Christopher Benson as a laborer in the village clerk’s office ($18 per hour per the collective bargaining agreement), hiring Christian Young as a parking field attendant in the parking meter division (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., salary per the collective bargaining agreement), and approval of a lump-sum separation payout for retiring laborer John Lodecai effective 8/30/2025.

All motions on the published agenda were approved by voice vote with no recorded roll-call dissents.

Votes at a glance (agenda text and outcome): - Confirm appointment: Thomas J. Perry, Zoning Board — approved (motion carried by voice vote). - Approve Scott’s Law Amnesty Program — approved. - Approve community center engineering proposal (D and B Engineers) — approved; fee $325,000; funded by NYS capital grant ($1,100,000 received). - Authorize change order #4, Well 1 PFAS Phase 2 (WHM Plumbing & Heating) — approved; $39,886.50; funded from bid item 5 (no change to contract total). - Authorize PFAS monitoring continuation (D and B Engineers) — approved; $7,800; funded by 2025–26 Water Fund. - Emergency sewer repair on Jackson Avenue — approved; contractor cost $23,375; funded from general fund budget/unreserved balance. - Standardize Calgon Carbon GAC systems for future projects — approved. - Approve facility uses: 55+ senior basketball; Mineola Leisure Club auditorium; Mineola School District seventh-grade picnic (Wilson Park) — all approved. - Personnel hires: Christopher Benson (laborer), Christian Young (parking attendant) — approved. - Accept retirement/resignation and separation payout for John Lodecai — approved. - Dispose of billing division car #89 as junk and remove from inventory/insurance — approved. - Authorize public-works attendance at training school — approved. - Authorize engineering review for water/sewer availability at Harrison & Third (developer-funded) — approved.

Ending: Trustees signaled that routine administrative and capital work will proceed as scheduled; no opposed votes were recorded on agenda items.