Manorhaven trustees voted Wednesday to restructure three village boards—Architectural Review, Zoning and Appeals, and Ethics—in what was called an effort to increase government efficiency.
The revisions include eliminating the Architectural Review Board and giving its responsibilities to the village Planning Board.
Village attorney Christopher Neumann said the change will not affect the board’s purpose, only who performs the work.
“It’s not to get rid of the Architectural Review Board but to have the Planning Board kind of subsume the duties and responsibilities of that Architectural Review Board,” Neumann said.
Mayor John Popeleski said the change will save time in application processes, as Planning Board members also serve on the Architectural Review Board.
“The board felt why have two separate boards when they’re doing the same function,” Popeleski said.
A second change was reducing the number of members serving on the Board of Zoning and Appeals from seven to five.
Popeleski said the Board of Zoning and Appeals has historically seven and five members.
The seven members of the board included five regular members and two alternates.
Popeleski said the village has had difficulty finding two individuals to serve as alternates since increasing the board to seven members.
He said that the ability for members to Zoom into meetings has also diminished the need for alternates.
The final revision was adding an alternate member to the Board of Ethics. The board will now have three members with an alternate.
In other news, Popeleski said the village has successfully garnered grants for several projects – including one still in the works.
He said the grants not only benefit the village’s infrastructure and natural resources but also save the taxpayer money.
Popeleski said the village received a $1.1 million grant from Rep. Tom Suozzi to rehabilitate the village’s aging sewer lines.
He said the issue also concerns the broader environment, saying that if their sewer pipes fail, then “Manhasset Bay is Manorhaven’s cesspool.”
The mayor said no sewer service disruptions are anticipated with the project.
FEMA has also provided funds to begin the village’s study for new storm drains on Orchard Beach Boulevard. He said this will be done in collaboration with the Port Washington Water District, which is looking to replace water main lines, and National Grid, which is upgrading gas main lines.
Popeleski said this study is still in its early development stage.
“Here again at the end of the day we will save money and plus get another big project done,” Popeleski said.
The mayor said these grants have laid down the groundwork for even more funds to come in.
“This opens up the door for us getting grants. I don’t want to say easier. It’s just more appealing now because, well, we got $1.1 [million], and this is a good project,” Popeleski said.
Popeleski said he had also spoken with state Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti’s office about getting funds for the village’s nature trail and potentially other projects.
Popeleski said these funds have not been guaranteed but he as optimistic.
“Something good will come out of this,” Popeleski said.
