The Town of North Hempstead Board authorized pursuing capital improvements for the Port Washington Parking District, including the authorization to consider issuing bonds for the projects in the future.

The improvements include the upgrade from oil to gas for the parking district’s facilities, a new vehicle, building renovations and HVAC enhancements.

The total expenses for the projects are capped at $272,741. This is broken down into $23,741 for the gas conversion, $184,000 for a new vehicle, $35,000 for renovations and $30,000 for HVAC.

Deputy Supervisor Joseph Scalero said these projects are 3 1/2 years in the making.

He called this a “relatively small authorization.”

Scalero said the board’s action only authorized the bonds but did not issue any bonds. The board would have to vote to issue these bonds at a later date if the project is continued.

“This is strictly a financing thing,” Scalero said.

Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte said that just because the board voted to authorize the projects and the associated bonds does not guarantee that the project will be carried out nor bonds issued.

Scalero said the cost estimates proposed are not concrete and can be changed, but the vote established the maximum costs for these projects.

A new authorization would need to be made if the project expenses surpass the amount approved Tuesday morning.

Dalimonte said the town’s Purchasing Department would ensure no superfluous expenses are made on the project, which Scalero affirmed.

Port Washington resident Alan Tankoos asked if any studies had been done in association with the project to explore other options to improve the parking district’s facilities.

A member of the Department of Public Works was not present at the meeting to explain the project.

Scalero described this as a starting point for the project and further actions would be taken to continue the project in the future.

Port Washington resident Jeff Rosenberg asked how this would increase residents’ taxes, but Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said she could not provide an answer since a final project cost amount has not been determined and the board has not approved any project expenditures.

The board also amended its zoning laws to approve the establishment of firehouses in residential zoning district AAA, which is permitted in the other residential zones of AA and A.

Dalimonte said this would only affect West Shore Road in Port Washington, where  Fire Department obtained 12 acres of land but was not zoned for firehouses.

The councilmember said they now have the ability to build a firehouse on that land, but only if they seek to in the future.

In other news, the board also opted to establish various new traffic signs and zones, as well as amend its fire protection agreements with the Albertson Fire Department and the Roslyn Fire Companies.

A “No Stopping” restriction was established from 9 p.m. through 8 a.m. on the east side of Central Avenue starting south of First Street in Garden City Park.

The signs were requested after residents requested a solution to stop a neighboring autobody shop from parking cars along their streets which sometimes blocked driveways and were in various states of repair.

Councilmember Dennis Walsh said the town’s traffic engineer proposed the restriction on overnight parking as a solution to resolve the issue.

The board also established a school speed zone and a westbound full stop on Dogwood Avenue at the intersection with School Drive in Albertson.

The town amended its agreements with the two fire companies to reflect an alignment with their adopted budgets.

The North Hempstead Board will convene again at 7 p.m. on June 4 for its next public meeting.