North Hempstead supervisor to seek more money to fix roads

More funding for road improvements, televising town board meetings and expediting building permits are key goals North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena announced at her first State of the Town address on Thursday.

DeSena, who spoke at the Harbor Links Clubhouse in Port Washington, was the first Republican to deliver the address in more than three decades, after winning a tight race last November. Her first days in office have been met with some friction among the Democratic council members, who hold a 4-3 majority on the town board, but DeSena opened her speech assuring the close to 300 attendees that they would work together to improve the town.

“We are in this together,” she said. “We are committed to doing the work for the town and we are committed to being collaborative and bipartisan.”

In her first 90 days in office, DeSena said she and her staff have conducted a thorough review of town operations and departments. To boost transparency, DeSena said she will push to broadcast the town’s board meetings through North Hempstead TV, which broadcasts original North Hempstead programs and public service announcements.

“Seeing government in action is one of the most basic features of government access TV,” DeSena said. “Going forward I'm directing our crew over at North Hempstead TV to begin broadcasting our monthly town board meeting, so residents will be able to tune in and see how their town government works.”

DeSena noted that she will include more funding for infrastructure improvement including road repairs and reconstruction in the future budgets. She said currently the town only allocated $4 million in 2021 for road resurfacing, which she said was “woefully inadequate.”

“One of the town’s primary responsibilities is to repair and maintain critical infrastructure such as our roads and sewers, but for too long these have taken a back seat to other competing interests,” she said.

She added that she will make a list of road pavement projects available in an online portal for residents to view soon.

Last week, DeSena announced a proposal that would remove the town board's authority regarding the building department's decision-making on expedited permit application reviews. The proposal would also mandate the building commissioner to process applications within seven days of receiving them. The town building department has been a source of angst for many residents seeking permits, who cite long wait times and excessive “red tape.”

For Betty Leong, of the Lakeville Estates Civic Association, the idea of televised board meetings would be beneficial for many of the town’s seniors.

“A lot of our seniors can’t get to the meetings, so this is an innovation for the town to have it live and everyone can stay at home,” Leong said.

She said DeSena's emphasis on road improvement is important, especially in her town of New Hyde Park.

“We want to improve the roadways for cars, put in a new turning signal and improve sidewalks," Leong said.

Thomas Donoghue of Port Washington echoed Leong’s sentiments regarding road improvements.

“I think better roads are going to be an assist in helping fill the many empty storefronts on Main Street in Port Washington,” Donoghue said.

He added, “The whole concept of rapid turnaround for building permits is badly needed.”