Village of Matinecock

Spring/Summer 2025 Dear Village Resident: Happy Spring! We’ve been told the rain will end…it has every other time. This letter is intended as a brief update on the current Village activities and ongoing programs. POLICE The Brookville Police Department continues to do an outstanding job in protecting and serving our Village. In the past year, they have responded to 7,591 emergency calls, 1,862 of which were in Matinecock. In addition, they have issued 1,767 traffic tickets, responded to 244 auto accidents, 271 medically aided cases, impounded 64 vehicles and made 26 arrests in the four protected Villages. The license plate readers encircling not only our Village, but our community have been most helpful to the Police Department’s crime prevention efforts. Many criminals use stolen cars or plates to commit crimes. If a stolen plate is detected by the license plate reader, it is immediately relayed to the patrol officer with its location. This has led to the apprehension of many criminals. The plate readers were acquired at no expense to residents through grants secured by the Department. We are currently working with the Brookville Police Department and Nassau County to have a red-light camera installed at the intersection of Piping Rock and Duck Pond Roads. This additional traffic control at that intersection will slow vehicular traffic and most importantly prevent running the red light, which we all have seen. Our objective is to provide a safer intersection for the community in general and specifically for the students at Friends Academy and Portledge School. LEGAL ACTIONS Local Law 1-2025, “Moratorium on Building Permits for Dual Driveway Access to a Legal Lot.” This moratorium is intended to prevent property owners from circumventing the current zoning laws by establishing a driveway to a pool house or outbuilding to in effect subdivide their property. This moratorium will be in effect for twelve months while we review the existing Village ordinances. The Village has increased the storm water retention requirement from 3 inches to 5 inches capacity within a 24 hour period, in keeping with the current Nassau County requirement. This will only apply to new building permits. We have placed “No through Commercial Traffic “ signs on Planting Fields Road in conjunction with the Village of Upper Brookville. This will protect the road surface from through commercial trucking, which is responsible for rapid deterioration of our newly paved road. This regulation will not prohibit local deliveries to homes on Planting Field Road. FINANCES The Village continues to be in excellent financial condition. A recent audit confirmed the sound management of the Village finances by the Board of Trustees. In addition, the Office of the New York State Comptroller Fiscal Stress Report concluded that the Village is under no financial stress in its municipal operations. As a result, there will be no increase in the Village’s general tax rate for the next fiscal year. PUBLIC WORKS The Village Board continues it’s mission to maintain our Village infrastructure and beautify our Village. We have been working very hard to coordinate the re-paving of Piping Rock Road. As you know National Grid installed gas lines on the road this winter causing significant damage to the road surface. Nassau County has agreed to repave the road this spring. Jim Wellington, our Commissioner of Public Works, has been in continuous contact with the Nassau County DPW to expedite this much needed repair. The County has awarded the job and as of now we are told the work will begin in the next 2-3 weeks weather permitting. The Village has installed a sprinkler system on the triangle at the juncture of Birch Hill Road and Town Cocks Lane. The Matinecock Neighborhood Association has agreed to plant and maintain this triangle. We believe this will be an attractive addition to our Village as you enter the Hamlet of Locust Valley. FIRE DEPARTMENT We have renewed our 2025 contract with the Locust Valley Fire Department. They have agreed to keep their budget within a 2% cap. The Department has provided excellent service and we are glad to continue our relationship. I would like to acknowledge Chad Brisbane, our Fire Commissioner, who continues to act as a liaison with the Fire District. THORNE LANE/ BEAVER BROOK PROJECT This year we received the first portion of the grant money for the Thorne Lane project. We have appointed Ted Gutierrez as our Project Coordinator. We have made considerable progress in the past few months. Phase 1 has been completed which includes title searches, topographical mapping, preliminary engineering and cost estimates. We have also begun working with the North Shore Land Alliance and the Long Island Sound Sustainability Project since the floodwater from Thorne Lane will ultimately flow through Cushman Woods to Beaver Brook, Shu Swamp Preserve and ultimately reconstitute one of the ancient headwaters of the Long Island Sound. This is an exciting project which will address storm water drainage issues in the Village, while serving to enhance and protect our beautiful natural environment. VILLAGE HISTORICAL INTEREST Recently, the Oyster Bay Historical Society was able to definitively identify the original Piping Rock, where the Matinecock Nation met. The rock sits on private property adjacent to Duck Pond Road and close to the highest point in Nassau County. To commemorate this formal recognition of the Piping Rock, the Matinecock Nation came and performed a sacred rite at the site. The Matinecock Tribe members graciously explained the cultural meaning of this site and other locations on Long Island. In addition, they performed their tribal dances, chants and rituals that were part of their sacred rite at the Piping Rock. I want to thank the many residents who give freely of their time and expertise to serve on our Village boards and committees. We are deeply indebted to them. I would also like to thank Dodds & Eder for planting and maintaining our Village triangles each season. The firm donates the material and labor that truly enhances our Village. As a reminder- June 17th is the general Village election. Please vote at the Portlege School - Lower School on the 17th between the hours of 12 pm and 9 pm. Your support is greatly appreciated and a strong voter turnout is helpful in demonstrating that our Village does in deed have civic minded citizens who care about their community. Sincerely, Mayor Ken Goodman, M.D. and Board of Trustees Inc. Village of Matinecock

The Final Report for the Village of Matinecock for the 2024 year can be viewed on the "Stormwater Management" page of the website, when available. Please direct any comments about the report to [email protected], Clerk-Treasurer of the Village of Matinecock.

The Building Department of the Inc. Village of Matinecock is located at 147 Forest Avenue, Locust Valley, NY in the lower level of Humes & Wagner office building. The hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30am to 3:30pm. Phone Number: 516-801-6000; Fax Number: 516-801-6524.

Articles about ways residents can help to preserve the environment in the Village will be appearing on the new "Environmental Conservation" webpage. Please visit it to learn more.