Crime & Safety
Fire, Water Issues Discussed at Town Board Meeting
Resolution to allow area fire departments to use town-owned boats could affect public safety in the Long Island Sound surrounding Port Washington.
A resolution to allow area fire departments, including those in the Port Washington Fire District (PWFD), to use town-owned boats was a hot topic at this week's Town of North Hempstead's Board of Trustees meeting.
The details of the arrangement have not yet been finalized, but a representative of the PWFD, Chief Thomas McDonough, addressed the board about how this could affect and potentially enhance public safety in the Long Island Sound region. McDonough said he was supportive of the general concept — an increased cooperation between the department and the Bay Constable — but he also stressed the importance of clarifying everybody's responsibilities in an emergency.
"The job description of the Bay Constable does not include firefighting," McDonough said. "So if there's a fire tomorrow and the Bay Constable gets injured fighting it, what does that do to your insurance?" he asked the board.
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McDonough pointed out that the start of the boating season is fast approaching. "I've had conversations with some of the Bay Constables, and they're quite excited about working together with us," he said.
Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman agreed that the issues need to be studied thoroughly before any measures are approved. Kaiman but it simply: "We'll have to study this further."
Find out what's happening in Port Washingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In other matters, the board moved forward with plans to solicit bids related to Phase III of the Hempstead Harbor Cove Wetland Restoration Project. This phase of the project seeks to improve the area around North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington by reducing discharge into the Long Island Sound.
The board also authorized a resolution authorizing a garden to be built near Mill Pond. The project will be funded through a gift to the Town Board from Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington. A related measure will allow the organization access to the site to construct the garden, which was designed by a landscape architect.
The Town of North Hempstead's next meeting of its Board of Trustees will take place at Town Hall, located at 220 Plandome Road in Manhasset, on April 27 at 7:30 p.m.
