City Island Civic Association

The meeting was brought to order at 7:35 by Bill Stanton, president. The reading of the minutes was waived and accepted as distributed. The treasurer reported $14,084.89 in the Civic account and $10,084.17 in the SONE account. The Civic Association website is www.cicivic.org for everyone to keep up on the news and current events.

Captain Dimitri Roumeliotis of the 45th precinct addressed the meeting and answered a number of questions from the floor. In speaking about traffic control, he reported that cones in the fire lanes have worked well; he said that the precinct is using foot patrols but they are focused on problem areas. Regarding the accident on May 31, when the bridge was closed to traffic for four hours, one questioner asked what we should do in case of emergency; he said we should call 911 and fire trucks will respond from the station on the island. He was asked if there was a plan in place in the event of a similar emergency in the future; he responded that there had been much discussion at the precinct about the incident but that no emergency procedures had been put in place, since these incidents are not always exactly the same.

Regarding tow trucks speeding down the Avenue, often in the fire lane, he said that witnesses should report license plate numbers to the precinct; they are not allowed to park in residential areas. One Island resident said what to do if she were stopped by an unmarked car that she could not be sure was a police officer; the captain told her to use her cell phone to verify the identity of the office; in any case you need to open your window only 2 inches if you suspect the person is not a police officer. When asked why it took 40 minutes for officers to reach Lickety Split from off the island after a 911 call about a fight on the premises, he said that the police personnel on the island may have been on another call. (Update: Captain Roumeliotis left the precinct on Aug. 20; the new commanding officer, Capt. Green, began the following week.)

Regarding motorcycles, he said that more than 150 motorcycles have been stopped this summer and that sound summonses had been issued. When asked why the police seem preoccupied on their cell phones, either texting or speaking, he agreed that this needed to be looked into and corrected.

He advised Islanders who complain to 911 or 311 to record the complaint number, the date and time of the incident and the officer’s name when you make a report. Do not try to stop a fight or apprehend a suspect, just report it to both the precinct and the Civic Association (city.island.civic@mac.com).

Officer Caldero, the community affairs officer, was asked if the driver of the SUV on May 31 was apprehended, but he said the investigation was still open. He also echoed the captain by saying that if the bridge had to close, it was not possible to have an emergency plan in advance, since each incident is different, If the bridge is closed, he said that officers can come over on foot if needed. When asked if a program similar to the 49th precinct’s in which ciitizens are involved in emergency response, he said that there is no such program at the 45th but that he will look into it.

State Senator Jeff Klein also addressed the meeting, reporting on the success of his sexual-offender e-mail notification law and on the budget situation in Albany. He has set up a task force to review excessive expenditures, such as overtime and outside contracts, and to consolidate certain redundant agencies. The state plans to stop cigarette internet sales that exclude state tax and to control pension spiking in which overtime is logged just before retirement to increase pension payouts.

There will be a clean-up day sponsored by the Civic and the Garden Club on Saturday, Sept. 18, beginning at 9 a.m. The Civic membership voted to spend up to $500 for supplies and refreshments for volunteers. The Sanitation Department will provide tools, gloves, and bags, and Councilmember Vacca’s volunteer committee will also help. It was noted that litter baskets are needed at the bridge; Senator Klein’s office will help with this.

The Civic Association voted to sponsor the balloon guy at the reunion on Aug. 31, paying $250 to cover the cost.
There is strong opposition to the design of the new bridge, and Barbara Dolensek is forming a committee to inform Islanders about the excessive size, cost, and maintenance issues for the bridge. There is a Facebook page for this “City Island Bridge: Keep it Quaint.” The temporary bridge is scheduled to begin in March 2011 although bids will not be sent out for the new bridge until September 2011.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m.