The North Hempstead Town Council held a public work session on Monday to discuss projects included in its $48 million five-year capital plan.
North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said the plan would require $18.8 million in new bonding, an average of $3.8 million per year, in addition to the use of $4.2 million in new state and federal grants and other funds that were due to expire soon.
The plan includes projects that would improve the town’s infrastructure, historical records, parks, clean-water initiatives and public safety if approved during the council’s May 13 meeting.
“As your town supervisor, I am committed to making capital improvements for our future, while also balancing the need to be fiscally conservative,” Bosworth said. “The costs outlined in this document are preliminary estimates and every effort will be made to find lower options when available and to maximize grant funding, without compromising the quality of our projects.”
Under the plan, the town would repave between 37,000 and 40,000 linear feet of roadways each year, an annual $2 million expenditure that would be aided by up to $3 million in grants.
The first year of the plan includes storm water drainage overhauls at Allen Street and Brian Street in New Hyde Park and at the Beachway outfall near Plandome Road in Manhasset.
North Hempstead’s public works department would also calm traffic on Plandome Road and replace outdated fuel tanks at the Denton Avenue highway yard in New Hyde Park.
The town would also replace several pieces of highway equipment during the duration of the capital plan that would total $4.1 million.
The council has planned to use $1 million – including $800,000 in bonds – for townwide upgrades to its parks, including maintenance to fencing, walkways, building repairs, electrical upgrades, utility upgrades, bench replacements and the replacement of other equipment.
Other improvements to various aspects of the town’s parks have also been planned for the duration of the capital plan, council members said.
Included in the town’s clean water initiatives is a $2.5 million project in 2014 to treat the storm water runoff and improve the water quality of Gerry Pond Park in Roslyn, which will be paid for using grant funds, and a $330,000 expenditure this year to dredge approximately 500 cubic yards of sediment from Plandome Pond Park in Manhasset.
The town’s clean water initiatives also include the dredging of the Town Dock and Manhasset Bay in 2016 that will be paid for using up to $18 million in grant funding.
In 2017-18, the town plans to bond $500,000 to dredge Leeds Pond in Manhasset, a project for which council members said the town expects to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The council has also authorized $95,000 to install a security camera system in Albertson, Roslyn and New Hyde Park.
