Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Sea Cliff Board of Trustees and Environmental Conservation Commission have been working on projects related to the environment and Village Hall. Updates were provided at the last Board of Trustees meeting and ECC meeting. Here are three things to know.
1. Village green to be updated
The Board of Trustees is aiming to update landscaping on the green outside Village Hall. When Mayor Elena Villafane updated residents at the board’s public meeting on July 13, two contractors had submitted proposals. Village officials and representatives from the tree and beautification commissions heard applicant presentations.
Contractors were asked to identify which elements would be kept in place and which would not. Villafane said that the board would discuss options at the public meeting on Aug. 3.
Resident Jo-Ellen Foti-Murray raised concerns about potential removal of cherry trees on the village green. Villafane said that the plans involve keeping some and removing others and that the plans can be viewed in Village Hall upon request. She emphasized that a contract has not been awarded and options are still being considered.
2. Village continues to explore composting
While recycling was the main focus at the ECC’s July 16 meeting, composting was also discussed. Metrics from the community composting pilot program were shared. The program, currently resident-run and separate from ECC operations, began in December with 10 families participating weekly. According to ECC member and community composting organizer Laura Russo, the program generates roughly 10 pounds of compostable material per family per week.
Some discussion centered on scaling up the program to include more families. Village Administrator Bruce Kennedy and Villafane raised concerns about justifying which residents would get to participate and which would not. They also reiterated current logistical challenges to a village-run composting program, like space, equipment and limitations the sanitation workers’ contract.
Russo has submitted a business plan for a village composting program, and Villafane suggested setting up an appointment to review it in more detail.
“We have not said ‘No’,” Villafane said. “We’re just saying ‘How?’”
3. Storm drain medallions installed
The ECC had been working for months to spread awareness about pollutants in storm drains ending up in Hempstead Harbor.
Chair Fred Black announced at the commission’s meeting on July 16 that medallions have been installed on the village’s storm drains, informing people that what goes in the drain goes in the harbor.
“That includes your Starbucks coffee, the fertilizer from your lawns and plants, any kind of thing leaking from your automobile,” Black said, “so it’s really nice to have them there.”
Black credited Kennedy and his staff with getting the medallions put in.
For more information on village meetings, visit SeaCliff-NY.gov. The next public conference meeting is Aug. 3.
