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North Hempstead board approves $1.2 million transfer from sidewalk reserve to buy LED streetlights
Summary
After sustained public comment about sidewalk safety, the Town of North Hempstead board voted to transfer $1.2 million from a sidewalk reserve to purchase LED streetlight fixtures, with proponents citing long-term energy and bonding savings and opponents warning the move could delay sidewalk repairs.
The Town of North Hempstead Town Board voted on June 4 to transfer $1,200,000 from a sidewalk district reserve fund to purchase LED streetlight fixtures, locking in pricing through a piggyback contract and initiating a new installation procurement.
Supporters led by Supervisor DeSina said the sale will save taxpayers money in the long run by avoiding bonding costs and reducing utility bills. “If we delay this and bond for it later, we will incur interest and higher costs,” DeSina said when she offered the resolution. Town staff said the bulbs would be bought under a contract bid by the Town of Smithtown and that an RFP for installation will be issued so there is no service gap after the current vendor’s contract ends July 1.
Opponents warned that the transfer would divert funds earmarked to address a backlog of sidewalk repairs. Councilman Walsh recounted a resident’s recent fall and urged keeping the money available for sidewalks: “We have a 96-year-old woman who’s been waiting a year to get her sidewalk fixed,” he said. Several residents gave personal accounts of tripping hazards; resident Fred Blumlein described a fall that led to a concussion and a broken nose.
Kristen Sileski, the town’s commissioner of public works, told the board the sidewalk crew performs many patches and full replacements are done case by case; she confirmed a backlog exists largely because of tree-related constraints and staffing limits. Sileski and staff also said some larger park or block projects can be outsourced while day-to-day repairs continue.
Board members debating the resolution emphasized different policy choices: proponents stressed fiscal prudence and an opportunity to lock in lower equipment prices via the Smithtown piggyback contract, while opponents argued the money’s original purpose — quality-of-life sidewalk projects — should take precedence or be returned to taxpayers.
The board adopted the transfer in a voice/roll-call vote after extended debate. Staff said purchase orders will be issued to acquire bulbs under the Smithtown contract and a new street-lighting maintenance and installation contract will be awarded following a DPW solicitation; installation is scheduled to begin after the maintenance contract is re-awarded on July 1.
The board also took related personnel and consent actions later in the meeting. The transfer does not change the town’s ongoing sidewalk request process, and officials said sidewalk operations will continue under existing budgets while the town pursues the LED purchase.
