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Minutes of the General Membership Meeting of the Westmoreland Association

Minutes of the September 16, 2019

Officers Present
President - Walter Mugdan
Vice President - Victor Dadras
Secretary – Charles Manna

Board Members Present
John Duane
Peter Reinharz
Bob Timmerman

Officials Present
Akshar Patel = Deputy Chief of Starr for State Senator Liu.

President Walter Mugdan called the meeting to order at 8:05 P.M. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously adopted to waive reading of the minutes. (Mr. Mugdan noted that the minutes are available for review on the Westmoreland website.)

Gary Savage was not present to present the Treasurer’s report. A motion was made to waive the Treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded, and passed.

Old Business
A map of the neighborhood was distributed showing suggestions for the re-routing of traffic around PS94 in order to ease the congestion that occurs during release and the start of the school day. A motion was made to change signage on 41st Drive to “No Stopping” on the north side, at the Little Neck Parkway end of the street. The motion was seconded and passed.

A motion was made, seconded and passed to ask the DOT to change the flow of traffic on the 41st Ave block adjacent to PS94 (i.e., between Westmoreland and Little Neck Parkway) to one-way going West; and to change the flow of traffic on 43rd Avenue between Westmoreland and Little Neck Parkway to one-way, also going West. Seconded and passed. Members will present the motions to the CB11 Transportation Committee. [On September 22 Mr. Mugdan sent a detailed letter, with accompanying map, presenting this proposal to the Community Board 11 Transportation Committee for its consideration and subsequent presentation to the full Board. The Association understands that before this proposal could be adopted by the NYC DOT, the residents on the affected streets would have to be consulted and given an opportunity to express their views. If CB-11 entertains the proposal, a hearing would be held which would provide at least one such opportunity. We will also provide an opportunity for the affected residents to discuss the proposal at the Association's 11/18/19 meeting.]

There was also a discussion about the right turn lane from Little Neck Parkway southbound onto Marathon Parkway. This lane was painted relatively recently. However, there is a single parking spot immediately beyond the right turn lane, in the direct path of that lane. When a car is parked there it forces those turning right from the right turn lane to immediately veer to the left, which defeats the purpose of the right turn lane and is dangerous. The members agreed that a letter would be written to the NYC DOT asking for that parking spot to be eliminated. [That letter was sent on 9/21/19; a copy of the letter was also provided to the Chair of the CB-11 Transportation Committee.]

New Business
Walter announced a number of events of interest:

• October 2, 9 AM - 4:30 PM: Free Mobile Mammogram Services (hosted by the American-Italian Cancer Foundation and State Senator John Liu). At the Cross Island YMCA, 238-10 Hillside Avenue, Bellerose, 11426. Open to women, 40-79, with health insurance, and women, 50-79, without health insurance; must be a resident of NYC and have not had a mammogram for 12 months. Call Senator Liu's office at 718-765-6675 to make an appointment.

• October 5, 7:00 - 9:30 PM: The Douglaston and Little Neck Historical is holding an Autumn Garden Party fundraiser at the home of Jim & Maura Wrynn, 8 Hillside Avenue, Douglaston, NY 11363. Enjoy light hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and music. $75.00 per person. RSVP by September 27 online at: http://dlnhs.org/event/october-5-2019-30th-anniversary/

• October 12, 10 AM - 4 PM: SAFE Disposal Event sponsored by the NYC Sanitation Department. Get rid of harmful/hazardous household wastes safely. Bring: automotive products, electronics, household products (paints, fluorescent lightbulbs, batteries, solvents, spray cans, pesticides, etc., to Cunningham Park, Ball Field Parking Lot (cars enter on Francis Lewis Blvd. between Union Turnpike & Grand Central Parkway). DO NOT BRING: appliances (like microwaves, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, or refrigerators); or tires. This event is only for NYC residents - you must show proof of residency. For more information visit: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/site/services/harmful-products/safe-disposal

• October 20, 11 AM - 2:30 PM: FREE BICYCLE HELMET Fitting and Distribution Event for all, sponsored by NYC Councilman Barry Grodenchik. At Basketball Court, 73rd Avenue & 196th St., Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 (rain site: PS-26Q School Gymnasium, 195-02 69th Ave., Fresh Meadows, 11365).

• October 26, 9 AM - 1 PM: Third Annual Glenwood Landing Park Cleanup and Daffodil Bulb Planting Event! Help beautiful our own "triangle park" at the corner of Glenwood and 39th Road. Stay for an hour or for the entire event. All tools and equipment will be provided by the NYC Parks Department. Pizza at noon for all volunteers! Questions? Call Westmoreland Association at 718-224-7256.

Street Tree Damage to Sidewalks. New York City will no longer issue sidewalk violations cause by street-side trees that are the responsibility of the City. Any tree that is within 14 feet of the curb is a City tree. If the sidewalk is upended by the tree’s roots, call 311 to report the issue. The City will (eventually) repair the sidewalk and inspect the tree.

Gasoline Powered Leaf Blowers: Melanie McGillick, past president of the Douglas Manor Environmental Association, attended the meeting to discuss the growing concern about the prevalence of gasoline-powered leaf blowers. They are objectionable for many reasons, not the least because of their noise. They also blow dirt, feces, chemicals from lawn pesticides and fumes from the blower engines themselves into the air. They are restricted and even outlawed in different areas of the country. Voluntary compliance has not worked well. It seems that the landscape contractors promise to cease the use and soon return to using them. The landscapers find them easier and faster than using rakes and brooms. The Town of North Hempstead in Nassau County has already passed laws to prohibit their use during the summer months,. Melanie would like to see either an outright ban, or at least similar restrictive laws passed in NYC. Councilman Green is pushing for such legislation. Akshar Patel pointed out that California has already banned leaf blowers and advocates such legislation. Some other suggestions:
• Restrict their use from May through September. They only really need to be used for the Fall foliage removal.
• Use mufflers – that doesn’t remove the fumes, however.
• Approach the next batch of candidates for their position on this issue.
• Shoot for the moon -- back a year-round ban.
A motion was made and passed to support such legislation. [A letter presenting these proposals was sent to NYC Councilman Vallone on 9/22/19, with copies to Councilman Constantinides (Chair of the City Council Environmental Committee), Sen. Liu, CB-11, and other local civic associations. A copy of that letter is posted on the Association's website.]

Akshar Patel announced that State Senator Liu will come to our November 18, 2019 meeting. The Board requested members to come with questions for him (including the leaf blower issue).

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.

The next meeting is on November 18, 2019

Respectfully submitted,

Charles Manna, Secretary

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