Mayor Pravato Addresses State and Federal Hurricane Aid

Massapequa Park Mayor Jeffrey Pravato addressed the $3 million in state and federal aid the village is due to receive following the damage wrought by Hurricanes Sandy and Irene at Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting. 

Last Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the New York Rising Community Construction program, which will distribute over $750 million to 102 communities still recovering from storm damage. 

Locally, the Massapequas will get over $25 million, to be split up as follows: Massapequa will get $14.3 million, East Massapequa will get $8.7 million, andMassapequa Park will get $ 3million.

Pravato expressed appreciation for the funds, stating that the Village will use them to tend to the areas that we hit hardest by the infamous Hurricane Sandy.

“It’s good to get the money,” he said. “The rest of Massapequa sustained a tremendous amount of damage...more than we did, so we should be able to do what we have to do with $3 million.”

Plans are already being drawn up for the use of the money the Village is slated to get, and Pravato said that one area in particular in Massapequa Parkis already considered first on the renovation list. 

“What we’re planning on doing is work on Colleran Park, down by the water...we’re going to put back what Sandy took from us,” he said. “We’re going to re-bulkhead it, put stones out there...everything so that it doesn’t erode, because we lost a lot of that beach...we’re going to revitalize and fix up the whole park.” 

As for the use of the remainder of the anticipated recovery funds, Pravato was currently unable to give specific plans, but maintained that they would be put to good use.

As for the use of the remainder of the anticipated recovery funds, Pravato was currently unable to give specific plans, but maintained that they would be put to good use.

Also, while former Massapequa Park Mayor James Altadonna may have accepted a new position with Oyster Bay as Town Clerk, his presence in the Village is still being felt.

The Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Altadonna as the Registrar of Vital Statistics for Massapequa Park, and Village Administrator Peggy Caltabiano explained that this will help with the keeping of important statistical tracking and records.

“We don’t do Birth Certificates, Death Certificates, or other vital statistics,” she said. “Since we are a municipality, we mush assign the Town of Oyster Bay to do that.”