I hope everyone has had a chance to view our newly launched website, www.southnyack.ny.gov . The website designer Doug Foster, along with Deputy Clerk Denise Weber-Mishkel and Deputy Mayor Alain Leinbach have done an excellent job. Their diligence and long hours have paid off with an attractive and easy to navigate website.
I also want to recognize our Community Advisory Committee – South Nyack residents Diana Zolli, Michelle Lockett and Trustee Andrew Goodwillie for their time and input on this project.
The Thruway has positioned 6 noise monitors in South Nyack. The Board of Trustees authorized me to engage Brook Crossan, Vice President of Sandstone Environmental Associates as a consultant to interpret the noise level reports that the village is receiving. A good understanding of exactly what the monitors are telling us and the implications will be valuable to the Village and worth the cost of Dr. Crossan’s services. Hopefully, we’ll have an update for you as early as next week.
This week I have had meetings and extensive conversations with Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Senator David Carlucci, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffe and County Legislator Nancy Low-Hogan. We discussed the Shared Use Path, the impact of the permanent trestle below the northern span of the new bridge, the addition of 2 new members on the South Nyack TZ Bridge Task Force, and how to help our South Nyack neighbors who have had trees bordering their properties taken down in preparation for new sound barriers to be erected in the undefined future. The Board of Trustees has asked Brian Conybeare and the New NY Bridge team to address these issues. I have been pressing Brian Conybeare for a Community Meeting and was told that we can expect a proposed meeting date by next week. The Task Force and I have asked that all suggested recommendations and concepts be reviewed at this public forum.
After my conversation with Senator Carlucci, we are of the opinion that a committee of Rockland County Mayors needs to be established to look at the overall impact of the new bridge on all of Rockland. I will keep you informed as this evolves.
I met with the Board of Salisbury Point and Thruway representatives to discuss the concerns about the permanent trestle and the night time lights of barges shining directly into homes.
On a different note, former Rockland County Legislator Connie Coker and I attended the 2014 Annual Meeting of the Radiation and Public Health Project. This is the only group in the United States that is measuring radiation in humans living near nuclear reactors, including Indian Point. If you would like more information on their work, visit their website at www.radiation.org.
For those interested in being on the South Nyack TZ Bridge Task Force, the requirements are posted on the Village Hall bulletin boards and on our website.
As always, please feel free to contact me at (845) 358-0287 or bonnie.christian@southnyack.ny.gov.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Bonnie