Floral Park Mayor Kevin Fitzgerald said Tuesday night that the sound-attenuating walls being installed on Charles Street as part of an LIRR project should be completed no later than May 15.
At the village Board of Trustees meeting, Fitzgerald said this is the first time there was an exact timetable for this work and more construction can be expected in the village as the Long Island Rail Road’s third track project works toward completion.
Crews will also set sound wall panels on the north side walls that currently exist from Plainfield to Covert Avenue, the mayor said. Crews may need to work overnight on weekdays throughout April until installation is finished.
The meeting Tuesday night was the first one with Trustees Jennifer Stewart and Michael Longobardi after their election to the board in March. The two were sworn in Monday night in the courtroom during the village’s reorganization meeting.
“I just would like to once again congratulate Mike and Jennifer on their election and re-election,” Trustee Frank Chiara said during his report. “Welcome to your first official meeting and I look forward to working with you both.”
Longobardi, who is the brother of former Mayor Dominick Longobardi, said he was thankful for the opportunity to serve. He won the seat vacated by Archie Cheng, who did not seek re-election.
“I just want to thank the residents for all the support during the election. I’m honored to be sitting here and working with everybody,” Longobardi said.
Earlier in the meeting, Police Officer Christopher Timm was promoted to detective in the Floral Park Police Department, effective immediately.
Timm joined the department in 2009 after serving eight years in the NYPD, where he was given a Medal of Honor. The Virginia native also served four years in the Air Force, according to Chiara.
“Chris has served and protected our village for over 12 years and is going to mentor his fellow officers,” Chiara said. “He is the originator of the highway safety program and is a CPR stop the bleed instructor. He has proven himself to be a professional police officer with an admirable work ethic.”
The next Board of Trustees meeting will be Tuesday, April 19, with a budget hearing on Wednesday, April 13.
