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DPW reports major winter storm response, progress on park and DPW projects; mayor releases tentative budget
Summary
DPW described extended snow-removal operations during a severe February storm, reported progress on a DPW renovation and a new S 12th Street park, and Mayor Christopher Devane said the Village’s tentative 2026–27 budget comes in under the 2% tax cap with a community center targeted to open in July.
Village of New Hyde Park Department of Public Works officials told the board at the March 19 meeting that crews dealt with a major snow event on Feb. 22–23, pre-treating, plowing and salting roads and working roughly 18 continuous hours to restore conditions. Superintendent Igor Sikiric said the event was "one of the biggest storms to hit our area in over 20 years," and crews repaired a crumbled catch basin at Bryant Avenue and North 5th Street.
(Transcription note: the meeting minutes include a numeric transcription error showing "2022 inches" for snow depth. The minutes’ narrative context and the speaker’s comment indicate the intended range was approximately 20 to 22 inches; this article corrects that transcription error to report a 20–22 inch estimate as stated in the meeting context.)
DPW reported routine winter operations and sanitary totals for February (308 tons of refuse and recycling: 278 tons municipal solid waste, 15 tons newspaper, 15 tons commingled recyclables). The department said it installed or repaired about 25 street signs in February, conducted pothole repairs (approximately 25 locations) and will begin daily street sweeping operations in spring. The DPW renovation project is mostly complete pending contractor punch-list items.
Construction on the new S 12th Street park is "mostly complete," DPW reported; remaining items include bathrooms and a police booth. Mayor Christopher Devane said Sakowich Park’s opening may be delayed to late May and that the new community center is expected to open in July. The mayor also announced that cashless parking kiosks (Flowbird) will be installed on Jericho Turnpike in late spring, with some traditional meters retaining service on side streets.
Budget and grants: Deputy Mayor Madhvi Nijjar said the tentative 2026–27 budget is available for public review and that the Village’s projected tax cap for residents is 1.99% (an estimated $35–$37 increase per household). The board recorded that the Village received a JCAP grant of $14,999.85 on March 2 and has 180 days to expend those funds per the grant terms. Clerk-Treasurer Rebecca Sheehan provided YTD revenue totals through Feb. 28, 2026: $1,298,038.48 combined Village revenue (Clerk-related revenue $968,957.84; Court revenues $689,914.00 were recorded in the minutes).
The board did not take any final votes on capital spending at the meeting; project timelines and punch-list completions remain subject to contractor scheduling and agency inspections.
