Hempstead board adopts school speed limits, handicap parking rules and approves administrative calendar

The Town of Hempstead Town Board on April 29 closed public hearings and approved a package of local measures affecting school-zone speed limits, handicap parking and the towns administrative calendar.

The board unanimously adopted a local law establishing a school speed limit for a street serving the Carbonaro School (off Mill Road) and identified Saddle Rock Road as having a designated school speed limit after an inspectors review, Town officials said during the meeting. Residents asking how signage and enforcement are decided were told the town evaluates specific requests and that the school districts support can be sought for additional signs.

The adoption follows public comment from Mita Merida, who asked how speed limits and signage are determined and raised concerns about poor street lighting near schools. "So many streets, I don't know about Valley Stream, but so many streets, town streets in our communities have poor lighting," Merida said during the public hearing.

The board also unanimously approved a measure creating handicap parking on public streets in Elmont, Inwood and Roosevelt. Town staff told residents that requests should be submitted to the town for evaluation and that a field team will inspect sites to determine whether on-street handicap parking is warranted.

Separately, the board approved the administrative calendar items 4 through 48 by unanimous roll call. During public comment on the administrative calendar, the town attorney and department staff answered questions about specific line items and broader town policies. The town attorney stated that the senior lunch price set by the board is $7, and discussed two legal settlements mentioned during the meeting: a tort case in which plaintiffs initially sought $1,800,000 and which the town attorney said "we settled the case for 7.25" (as stated in the meeting record), and a separate whistleblower-related settlement in which the Town of Hempstead is to receive $250,000 related to claims involving Covanta and Garden City.

Officials also responded to resident questions about unsafe or uninhabitable buildings on the calendar, and about water service for Uniondale. Daniel Leo, deputy commissioner of the Building Department, said the number and timing of unsafe-building actions vary with complaints and inspections; he also explained that demolition plans and surveys are reviewed and not every tree on a parcel is removed automatically. On water service, an official reported that six wells serve Uniondale: "four at the foot of Hempstead Boulevard and two on Oak Street," as stated during the meeting.

Votes at a glance - Proposed local law regarding regulations in Belmore: motion to close public hearing and have the board consider the item; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous (Aye: Supervisor Donald Clavin; Councilman Dunne; Deputy Supervisor Goosby; Councilman Muscarella; Councilwoman Ryder; Councilman Schneider). (Public hearing closed; board action: consideration, recorded vote taken.) - Proposed local law on school speed limits (Valley Stream / Carbonaro School / Saddle Rock Road): public hearing closed and board adopted the item by unanimous vote (same roll-call as above). - Proposed handicap parking on public streets (Elmont, Inwood, Roosevelt): adopted by unanimous vote (same roll-call as above). - Administrative calendar (items 4 48): adopted by unanimous vote. Specific clarifications given in public comment included the senior lunch price and settlement amounts described above.

What matters: The school speed limit change and the handicap-parking approvals alter how the town manages on-street safety and accessibility near schools and vulnerable residents. The administrative calendar approvals include budgetary and settlement items that were discussed during public comment; the town attorney noted the senior lunch price and described recent settlements, which drew resident questions about accountability, safety and service delivery.

How residents can follow up: Town officials told residents to submit requests or concerns in writing so the appropriate department can schedule an evaluation or follow-up visit. The board did not specify new enforcement schedules or implementation timelines during the meeting.