Village of Nassau adopts up to $4.93 million bond for streets and sidewalks upgrades

Mayor Robert Valente said the board adopted a bond resolution to finance the village's intersection and pedestrian upgrades project.

—The bond resolution is for the cost of the entire project— Valente said, reading the amount as —4,928,000.— He told the board they had secured a grant expected to cover roughly 80% of the project and noted a separate $365,000 state contribution.

Valente outlined scope details: a full redo of Chatham Street from Fairgrounds to Route 20, a new water main funded by the water department, sidewalks on both sides of Chatham Street and along Fairgrounds and Corner Meek streets, new curbing and drainage, and additional parking accommodations on Fairgrounds and Kornameek streets.

The mayor said the state's right-of-way position is delaying the timeline. —It turns out that the state really doesn't have a right of way. They own to the edge of the pavement,— Valente said, explaining that state ownership of land under planned sidewalks would require 12 to 18 months of right-of-way work before construction could start.

The board completed a roll-call vote on the resolution and recorded Yes votes from Mayor Robert Valente, Trustee Richard (Rich) Elder, Trustee Guy Forte and Trustee Ryan Busch; one member was absent. Valente noted the bond will be subject to a 30-day permissive referendum before it becomes final.

The village will continue to refine financing options, including the length of borrowing and interest rates, which Valente said will affect per-taxpayer costs and the project schedule.