The Brightwaters Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on Monday, Dec. 5.

The board voted to appoint Sal Puccio as associate village justice. Mayor John J. Valdini said that Village Justice David F. Kluepfel asked for backup for when he is busy and Puccio stepped up for the position. Puccio lives in Brightwaters.

During the reports of the mayor and trustees, trustee Michael Dopsovic said that the Highway Department has been decorating for the holiday season throughout the village as well as working to keep drains as clear as possible. In addition, the department just repaired a number of potholes. Dopsovic asked residents to call if they see a pothole that needs repair or a drain that needs to be cleared, so that the highway department can get on the job.

Trustee Mary Del Vecchio thanked everyone who came to the tree lighting and everyone who helped organize the event. She mentioned that there are still Light the Night kits available for sale at the village office. Bay Shore-Brightwaters Light the Night will take place on Dec. 11 at 5 p.m.

Trustee Thomas Zepf reminded residents to remove their boats from the canal, as boating season is now over and tickets will be issued shortly. Zepf also reminded residents to not leave boat lines out in slips, as they will be removed.

Valdini put out a call for anyone interested in being the icebreaker for the canal this winter, as the village has not signed a contract with anyone yet. In addition, Valdini said that the village is currently working on a plan for the highway building. Valdini said the plan is to begin the project in the spring. The layout is currently being finalized and then the village will be putting together a BID package for the metal building and the concrete. Valdini said that all of the other elements of the building, such as an electrician, a plumber and carpentry, will be BID out separately. The budget for the building is about $500,000. Valdini said the village has $350,000 to put towards the project from COVID recovery payments.

The board voted to adopt Local Law 13-2022 amending Village Code Section 119-2 to convert Lagoon Drive into a Northbound one-way street. The law was defeated.

The board voted to adopt Local Law 9-2022 to amend Section 128-6, Local Law 10-2022 to amend Section 128-32 and Local Law 11-2022 to amend Section 128-40. The three laws aimed to prevent residents from building 24-foot-high garages without first going before the zoning board and alerting their neighbors. The law was defeated.

The board held a brief public hearing on Local Law 14-2022 to consider the adoption of amending Village Code Section 84-2 to amend the hours permitted dogs at large to use Gilbert Park between the hours of 4 and 6 p.m. Valdini said that right now, dogs are allowed off leash in the park for a few hours in the morning, but he has been approached by some residents who would like afternoon hours added. The board voted to approve the law.