Work will begin on South Bayview Avenue repaving

Amityville plans to repave South Bayview Avenue next month, smoothing a road that receives heavy use every summer from softball players heading to  play at James Caples Memorial Park and visitors to the municipal beach.

The $374,400 project will begin in late October and last about two weeks, said trustee Nick LaLota. New York State grant money will cover the cost.

The project will not cover the beach parking lot or a portion of South Bayview Avenue that branches east. Trustees said additional grant money may cover them in the future.

The announcement came as village officials prepare a repair plan for the rest of the village's roads, many of which are past their expected life span.

"The cost is in the millions, so we will have to borrow to get the job done," LaLota wrote in an email last week. "With two consecutive budget surpluses and positive feedback regarding restructuring our most expensive labor contract, we think we will be in the financial position to fund the village-wide road repair plan, without taxing people to death."

The "most expensive labor contract" is a reference to the village's contract with its police officers. Trustees and village officials began talks about restructuring over the summer, but neither side has made substantive comments about any progress.