FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2015
MEDIA CONTACTS: Carole Trottere, Ryan Mulholland, Sam Marksheid, and Rebecca Cheng | (516) 869-7794
Supervisor Bosworth & Town Board Approve Bonding Authorization for 2015-2019 Capital Plan Projects
Plan addresses infrastructure, storm resiliency, park upgrades and waterway clean up
North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board last week approved authorization for bonding for the Town’s 2015-2019 Capital Plan. (For a full list of projects visit www.northhempsteadny.gov/capitalplan).
The Board approved 30 bond resolutions for the Capital Plan projects at the March 10th Town Board meeting, of that, $12.6 million is to be reimbursed through state and federal grants.
“This year’s Five Year Capital. Plan continues to focus on a wide variety of infrastructure projects for the Town, including increasing storm resiliency, upgrading parks, resurfacing parking lots, drainage improvement projects and cleaning up our ponds and waterways,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “The list of projects reach each and every corner of the Town, from Westbury to Manhasset and every place in between. I believe the Capital Plan addresses the critical needs of today with an eye on making the future better for generations to come.”
As part of the planning process for the Capital Plan, the Town has developed a strategy of paying back one dollar for every fifty cents it borrows for new projects in order to reduce the Town’s overall outstanding debt. Over the next five years, under this debt reduction strategy, the Town plans on paying off approximately $65 million worth of debt, $50 million from General Fund and $15 million from the Town Outside Village Fund. Funding the debt service proposed in the 2015 capital plan is already included as part of the 2015 operating budget that was approved unanimously by the Town Board before Election Day, and fell under the tax cap.
“I am committed to investing in the Town’s future,” Supervisor Bosworth said. “I am pleased that we can do that while reducing our overall debt.”
Capital Projects highlights include:
Visioning for engineering and architectural work for the North Hempstead Beach Park’s waterfront at a cost of $1 million, which is 100% reimbursed by a grant.
Town Dock: The $20 million rehabilitation of the dock would also include installing new ADA compliant walkways, new dock bulkhead, new parking lot lighting, new drainage system and parking lot, new landscaping, electric pump out station, and other various improvements to make the Town Dock more resilient to future storms.
A West to East Electric Charging Station project: Funded by an $800,000 state grant with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) that would create charging stations along high traffic corridors on Long Island. The Town of North Hempstead is the municipality leading the grant applications, along with the towns of Hempstead, Oyster Bay in Nassau County and the towns of Islip, Huntington, Smithtown, Babylon and Brookhaven in Suffolk County.
Fire Suppression System at the Records Centers, Town Hall II: This project is reimbursed by a $150,000 State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) grant.
Aquatic sand removal from Manhasset Bay: This $20 million project, 100% reimbursed by federal FEMA funds, will create a deeper bay to attract more business via the waterway and will also include engineering design for the restoration of the seawalls and repair of Town Dock.
Aquatic Sand Removal from Hempstead Harbor: This $1 million project, 100% reimbursed from Federal FEMA funds, will remove sand from the southern half of the Hempstead Harbor.
World Trade Center Memorial: This is a $30,000 project to build a memorial at a Town park or Town-owned property to prominently display a piece of steel from the World Trade Center that was conferred to the Town in 2013.
Town’s Animal Shelter: This is a $50,000 project that will include improvements to the roof over the kennel area, construction of a barrier wall and other sound proofing measures to attempt to reduce noise.
Reconstruction of Grand Boulevard in Westbury: The reconstruction of 1.0 mile of roadway through commercial and residential area, including replacement of curbs, sidewalks and street pavement. The $3.5 million project will be partially reimbursed through a $1.173 million New York State Department of Transportation.
Levitt Park at Roslyn Heights Park District (Roslyn Country Club): This $11.387 million project includes engineering renovation, reconstruction and repair of the facilities at the Levitt Park at Roslyn Heights Park District including tennis court resurfacing and new fencing; reconstruction of the pool with ADA access; pump house renovation with lifeguard station, family restroom, pool managers office, employee room and storage; bath house and club house; basketball court and playground; food court deck area; irrigation installation; equipment shed and general landscaping.
North Hempstead Beach Park: This project includes reconstruction, resurfacing and restriping of parking lot at a costs of $7 million, which is 100% reimbursed by F.E.M.A. grants. Redesign and construction of docking and fishing pier at a cost of $1 million, 100% reimbursed by F.E.M.A. grants.
To review the remainder of the projects on the 5-year capital plan, log on to www.northhempsteadny.gov/capitalplan