The
Village of Sands Point, New York, which covers almost 3,000
acres at the tip of the Port Washington peninsula, was
incorporated in 1910. (The Villages of Motts Point and
Barkers Point were absorbed in 1912 and Harbor Acres in 1932). It is now home to more
than 850 families, who enjoy its quiet rural atmosphere on
the North Shore of Long Island less than 25 miles from Manhattan. Sands Point is
a residential village: the only non-residential
establishments permitted within the Village are houses of
worship, primary and secondary schools, the
Village Club, a
nature preserve owned and maintained by Nassau County, a
private golf club, and the Helen Keller National Center for
Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. All of Sands Point is zoned
for single-family dwellings only, and no partial rentals are
permitted.
Most municipal services are
provided for residents by the Village. Sands Point has its
own water and police departments. The Village supplies
refuse removal through its contract with a private carter.
Most of the roads in Sands Point are owned by the Village,
which contracts with independent firms for cleaning,
plowing, and repair services. Fire protection, school,
library, post office, and ambulance services are provided to
Sands Point residents through the Port Washington Fire
Department, School District, and Post Office. There are no
sewers in Sands Point; solid waste is disposed of by private
cesspools maintained by each home-owner.
Village services are paid
for with funds raised primarily through Village property
taxes. Sands Point residents also pay property taxes to the
Port Washington School District, which supports the public
schools and the public library; to the Town of North
Hempstead; and to Nassau County. (County taxes are included
in the Town tax bills.) Sands Point receives other income
from its various fees, and from the state and federal
governments.
The Village budget is
drafted by the Mayor and adopted by the Board of Trustees.
The Mayor and Trustees are elected by registered voters in
annual elections held in the Village Hall during the third
week in June and are responsible for the enactment of all
Village laws and the appointment of all Village personnel,
including the members of all other Village boards and
commissions. (see Village
Boards, Officials and Staff)
The
Incorporated Village of Sands Point is governed by the Mayor
and four Village Trustees, all of whom are elected to
two-year terms. The terms are staggered so the entire board
does not turn over in any single election. The Village
Justice is elected to a four-year term.
Customarily, each trustee is
appointed by the Mayor to a one year term as either Deputy
Mayor, Roads Commissioner, Water Commissioner, or Building
Commissioner. All four present trustees are Police
Commissioners with one-year terms. The Village Board of
Trustees also serves as the Sands Point Board of Assessors.
Other Village officials appointed by the Mayor, subject to
approval by the Village Board, are: members of the Board of
Zoning Appeals, Planning Board, and Historic Landmarks
Preservation Commission; Village Clerk-Manager; Police
Chief; Acting Justice (Village Justice is an elected
position); Treasurer; Village Attorney; Village Engineer;
Registrar of Vital Statistics; and Village Historian. None
of these officials are paid except the Village
Clerk-Manager, Attorney, Engineer, and Police Chief. Village
employees include the Village Hall staff, hired by the
Clerk-Manager on the advice and consent of the Board of
Trustees; assistant building inspectors; police officers;
Water Superintendent and two assistants. Village officials,
with a few exceptions, must be residents of Sands Point;
Village employees may not be.
MAYOR
Presides over, and is a
member of, the Board of Trustees. Has one vote on the board
and if there is a tie, casts the deciding vote. Is the
Village's Chief Executive Officer, and takes many actions on
behalf of the Village.
BOARD
OF TRUSTEES
Made up of the Mayor and
four Trustees, is the Village's legislative body. Meets
monthly in public, with the Mayor presiding, to discuss and
act on Village matters. Charged with providing good
government and management to the Village, the Board of
Trustees organizes itself by establishing its own
procedures, all according to State and Village Codes. It
preserves order, protects its property, and provides for the
health, safety, and general welfare of all Sands Point
residents. The Board originates and enacts Village local
laws (see Section 15), approves appointments, deals with
municipal problems and votes to establish solutions. The
Board discharges its financial responsibilities by
discussing and approving expenditures and overseeing the
preparation of the annual budget and its eventual adoption
(after public hearings). The Board of Trustees also serves
as the Sands Point Board of Assessors.
The Board may also create
and abolish various Village offices and agencies and
delegate powers to those bodies, again as provided and
regulated by State and Village Law.
Beginning in 1992, the Board
has scheduled most of its meetings for the fourth Tuesday of
the month, except for June, when it meets on the third
Tuesday, which is Election Day (see Section 14, Village
Elections). Grievance Day (see Property Assessment, p. 6-19)
is in February. The Village calendar is set at the July
meeting, which is also the annual organizational meeting.
All meetings are open to the public and usually begin at 8
p.m. in the Village Hall.
DEPUTY
MAYOR
Takes charge if the Mayor is
absent or unable to act. Is appointed by the Mayor each year in July.
ROAD
COMMISSIONER
Is in charge of all
Village-owned roads. These include all roads in Sands Point
except for Middle Neck and Cow Neck Roads, which belong to
Nassau County, and several private roads. Recommends road
work to the Board of Trustees, which must approve the
expenditure, solicits and awards bids for all significant
projects, issues required permits, and supervises the actual
work through the services of the Village Engineer. Regular
Village road work includes snow removal, cleaning of gutters
and catch basins, drainage, repairs and maintenance, road
sweeping and resurfacing, tree work, and removal of
vegetation and leaves.
WATER
COMMISSIONER
In charge of the
administration of the Water Department and its staff.
Carries out this responsibility working with Water
Superintendent, in consultation with the Mayor and other
Trustees. Sets the water budget, oversees its
implementation, and acts as liaison with federal, state, and
county government agencies, including the U.S. Department of
Housing, Education, and Welfare, New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation, and Nassau County Health
Department. Is also responsible for current and long-range
planning, including maintenance of wells, improving and
updating the system, monitoring the quality and usage of the
water, and providing information to residents and working
with them to resolve any problems with water supply or water
regulations.
BUILDING
COMMISSIONER
Reviews all applications for
building permits to be sure they meet State and Village
safety codes and the Village Zoning laws. No Construction
Permit is granted without the approval of the Building
Commissioner. Through Assistant Building Inspectors,
monitors ongoing construction to insure conformity with
codes, laws, and the approved construction plans, answers
questions and explains requirements to arrive at acceptable
construction plans. As are all Village officials, is charged
with protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of
Village residents.
POLICE
COMMISSIONERS
As Police Commissioners, the
Village Board works with the Deputy Mayor in general
supervision of the Police Department. The executive
administrator of the department is the Chief
of Police, a Village
employee who is appointed and hired by the Village
Board.
BOARD
OF ASSESSORS
As the Board of Assessors,
the Village Board hears appeals of those assessments. Also
may grant exemptions to Village taxes, such as those for
veterans. The Village uses assessments established by Nassau
County.
BOARD
OF ZONING APPEALS
A quasi-judicial body
established under the New York State Village Law, charged
with maintaining the integrity of the Village Building Zone
law without unfairly restricting the rights of property
owners. It considers requests for relief from the laws and
hears appeals of building and zoning decisions, usually
those of the Building Department. Has original jurisdiction
over requests for permission to build tennis courts, docks
and satellite antennae. Grants variances from zoning laws.
Reviews site plans for home additions which will increase
the size of an existing house by more than 50% and for new
construction. It is generally the lead agency on
environmental issues. In addition, it hears appeals for
relief from Coastal Erosion and Flood Plain Management Laws.
Usually meets on the second Monday of each month in open
public sessions. Announcements of meetings and public
hearings on appeals are published in the official Village
newspaper and posted on bulletin boards in Village Hall and
other locations in the Village. Residents' questions
regarding any specific application and the review process
itself should be directed to the Village office. Has five
members , one of whom is the chair, all appointed by the
Mayor to staggered three-year terms. The Mayor may also
appoint an alternate. The presence of three of five members
constitutes a quorum. Three yes votes or three no votes are
required to grant or deny an application. Village law
permits as few as three members on this board. Village
Trustees are prohibited from being members.
PLANNING
BOARD
Major responsibility is
making sure land development conforms with Village zoning
law and State codes. Preserves the natural terrain; protects
the environment and vegetation; plans for road and land use
safety and for esthetic continuity. Also controls impact on
neighboring properties. Purview includes subdivisions, lot
size and shape, roads, drainage, and environmental
considerations as mandated by Federal, State, and Village
law. Conducts preliminary hearings on plans for development,
in consultation with the Village Attorney. There are five
members of the Planning Board, one of whom is the chair, and
all are appointed by the Mayor for staggered three-year
terms. The Mayor may also appoint an alternate. Usually
meets on the second Tuesday of each month in open public
sessions.
HISTORIC
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Is charged with nominating
sites for designation as Landmarks by the Board of Trustees
and protecting sites and structures of architectural and/or
historic significance in Sands Point. Designation of a
structure as an Historic Landmark under Sands Point's
Historic Preservation Ordinance provides both recognition
and protection against haphazard alterations or
modifications of the exterior and unwarranted demolition.
The Commission has five members, including a chair, a
vice-chair, and three commissioners, all appointed by the
Mayor for staggered three-year terms. Usually meets on the
third Monday of each month.
ALTERNATE BOARD MEMBERS
Attend meetings but do not
have a vote except in the absence of a regular member. May
be appointed by the Mayor to any board or commission except
the Village Board of Trustees.
VILLAGE
CLERK-MANAGER
Administers most Village
Office services, which include initiation of Village
actions, billing, maintaining Village records, and serving
residents' needs in the Village office. Also keeps a record
of written notices of defective roads and is responsible for
reporting them to the Board of Trustees. Is clerk of all
Village boards. At the direction of the Village Board,
collects taxes and orders the treasurer to pay claims.
Oversees and directs the other employees of the Village
office.
DEPUTY
TREASURER
Prepares all bills and
checks, oversees investments with the advice and consent of
the treasurer.
POLICE
CHIEF
Is the administrative head
of the Sands Point Police Department. Reports to the Chief
Police Commissioner, who is a Village Trustee. The
department constantly patrols the Village, giving special
attention to empty houses, cooperates with residents in
crime prevention and reporting, investigates non-felony
crimes, enforces parking and speeding regulations within the
Village, and works with Nassau County police in
investigating felony crimes in the area.
VILLAGE
JUSTICE
Presides over the Village
Court, which holds regular sessions usually on Thursdays
twice each month, one night for arraignments and one night
for trials. Is elected for a four-year term. Hears
violations of Village laws and traffic violations (except
for Driving While Intoxicated or Impaired). Has the full
authority of any court of law, and is part of the N.Y. State
court structure. An Acting Village Justice may be appointed
at the discretion of the Board of Trustees for whatever term
it deems appropriate, usually one year. The Acting Justice
serves in the absence or inability of the
Justice.
TREASURER
Is chief fiscal officer of
Village, in charge of Village funds. Keeps accounts,
deposits funds, issues checks, and prepares the annual
financial reports. Also assists in budget preparation,
reviews and signs Village bills, and signs checks. If the
treasurer is unavailable to sign checks, they may be signed
by the deputy treasurer, or Mayor and one trustee, or any
two trustees.
VILLAGE
ATTORNEY
Represents the Village in
legal matters and provides legal advice to the Mayor, the
Board of Trustees, and other Village boards and
commissions.
VILLAGE
ENGINEER
Consults with Village boards
and other Village officials and employees on engineering
matters.
ASSISTANT
VILLAGE BUILDING INSPECTOR
Consults with Village
boards, the Building Commissioner, and other Village
officials and employees on Building Department matters;
makes inspections of projects under construction and review
building permit applications and plans.
REGISTRAR
OF VITAL STATISTICS
Is appointed to a four-year
term, and is in charge of issuing blank birth and death
certificate forms; reviewing, keeping track of, and
transmitting certificates after filing; and filing burial or
cremation permits.
VILLAGE
HISTORIAN
Documents the history of the
Incorporated Village of Sands Point. This post is an annual
appointment by the Mayor. |