Beach Improvements Discussed at Oyster Bay Town Board Meeting

Construction work at TOBAY Beach Park and the approval for an application for a new auto shop in Plainview were among the things discussed by the Oyster Bay Town Board Tuesday.

Several resolutions at the meeting pertained to improvements to the Ocean Pavilion at TOBAY Beach Town Park. Among the work being done on the Ocean Pavilion is a complete rebuilding of the roof, as well as work being done to the underground entrance tunnel.

An application was also approved regarding a Special Use Permit to operate a automotive repair shop in Plainview. The shop, to be called Plainview Tire, will be located at 1546 Old Country Road. The original request for the permit was introduced at the town board meeting held on Feb. 15.

Supervisor John Venditto also singled out two members of his staff for helping to recoup some of the costs associated with the town's extensive snow cleanup duties this past Winter.

Maryann Hughes, commissioner of the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Colin Bell, one of her staffers, recently contacted the federal government to get financial reimbursement for the devastation that occurred in Oyster Bay during a snow storm on Dec. 26.

"The reimbursement was in the range of $750,000...that's good work," Venditto said. "Commissioner Hughes is relatively new, but she's certainly off to a flying start. That's a good piece of work, bringing in some money that is sorely needed in this town. Good news, and a job well done."

During the speakers portion of the meeting, resident Jaclyn Kinkwell raised some complaints about what she called "deplorable conditions" at Center Island Beach. Among complaints leveled at the board were facilities in poor condition that need improvement. When the issues where brought up to park staff, Kinkwell claimed her cries fell on deaf ears.

"We don't tolerate that kind of silliness in the Town of Oyster Bay," Venditto said. "We will certainly look into the issues there and work on them."

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Town of Oyster Bay board is on Tuesday, July 26, at 10 a.m.