The Kings Point Board of Trustees thanked the village’s emergency responders and repair workers for their efforts following Hurricane Sandy at a meeting Tuesday night.
Village of Kings Point Mayor Michael Kalnick and the members of the board acknowledged the work of the police department and the department of public works in keeping the village safe and clearing debris caused by the storm.
“The highway department was working 21 days straight – 12-hour days,” said village Superintendent of Public Works Michael Moorehead.
Eighty percent of the village is now clear of all debris, said Moorehead. He added that the cost of the removing the 425 tons of branches, vegetation and other material was considerable.
“Hopefully.. most of it will be reimbursed through FEMA,” Moorehead said.
Police Commissioner John Miller said Village Hall had been opened up for residents to charge their electronic devices and that work crews were also housed in the building.
Miller also commented on the personal sacrifices made by officers during the storm.
“What people tend to forget is when during the storm people want to be home with their families, [police officers’] families are home along while they’re out protecting the people of Kings Point,” he said.
The board also unanimously passed three village laws.
One law, in accordance with newly loosened state regulations of municipal contracts, allows the board to make purchase contracts based on “best value” rather than having to choose the lowest responsible bidder.
Village Attorney Stephen Limmer said the change could grant the board greater flexibility in awarding contracts where the quality of service is hard to measure precisely.
“One of the best examples is janitorial services which is hard to quantify – whether someone cleans nicely or doesn’t clean nicely,” he said.
The board also passed a law altering the tax preferences for landmarks and property within historic districts to explicitly allow the abatement of future taxes on such sites, contingent on board approval.
The board also loosened zoning restrictions on landmark buildings to encourage proper maintenance, allowing owners to have greater flexibility in using their properties without subdividing them.
