Island Park village board looks ahead after uncontested election

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Island Park Village Trustees Irene Naudis and Barbara Volpe-Ried may have ran unopposed to retain their seats, but it didn’t stop the community from showing their support during the election on Sept. 15.

Volpe-Ried received 116 votes when polls closed, while Naudis garnered 114.

“Every day, I wake up and realize how blessed I am to serve the residents of our incredible Village of Island Park,” Volpe-Ried said. “ Island Parkers stand together as a family in good times and bad, no matter what challenges we face, we face them as a family. We overcome; and we win. Island Park is my home, and our residents are my family. I am excited about the next four years of accomplishments and goals that, along with the mayor and my fellow trustees, will become realities.”

Naudis said she looked forward to accomplishing more goals now that she has been re-elected.

“It has been an honor to serve the Village of Island Park for all these years and I look forward to the challenges facing all of us in the coming days, weeks and months ahead,” she said. “I want to thank our residents for their faith in me and my fellow board members. Working together, the best is yet to come for Island Park and all our families”.

Volpe-Ried and Naudis remain on the board along with Trustee Michael Gagliardi, Deputy Mayor Joseph Annarella and Mayor Michael McGinty, who said the board has many goals going forward.

McGinty said the board has refinanced the village’s  bonds due to low interest rates  to save 50 percent  of its debt service cost that will in turn “save taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars,” and that it would continue to review bonds for additional savings to taxpayers going forward. Additionally, the board is improving its business district through a grant from the New York State Dormitory Authority that McGinty said would enhance the tax base, improve the community and would make the business district a cornerstone of the village.

Additionally, the mayor said, officials  are moving forward with a drainage improvement project to mitigate the flooding issues in the village. As part of that, the installation of a tidal flex valve as a pilot project has been implemented. Village officials are also seeking to continue the Emergency Management Center Resiliency Hardening Project that will restore the Emergency Management Center on the second floor of the Island Park Fire House. During Hurricane Sandy, the Fire Department housed fire personnel from all across New York there.

“Our shared goals will ensure Island Park’s renaissance, recovery and revitalization,” McGinty said. “Island Parkers are tough. Together, nothing can stop our progress.”