Schrader agrees, adding, “our Lindenhurst Chamber of Commerce and our Business Improvement District are two incredible partners in all of our endeavors, and certainly our relationships with the Town of Babylon and the county have been instrumental in helping us to get things done.” At the core of Lavorata’s leadership is a deep commitment to integrity.“It’s not what you do when people are watching you, it’s what you do when people aren’t watching you,” he recalls his late father advising. He applies the same lesson to municipal strategy, “the wheel has already been invented, but what we can do and what I’ve done as an engineer is I’ve always tried to improve on things.” In Lindenhurst, leadership isn’t about ego, it’s about listening, learning, and surrounding oneself with the right people to make sustainable progress possible. LOOKING AHEAD: PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS As Lindenhurst reflects on a decade of progress, its leadership remains focused on the work ahead. Lavorata outlines three major priorities set to shape the village over the next 24 months, each aimed at building on recent momentum while addressing long-standing infrastructure needs. First on the list is addressing damage that dates back over a decade. “We have to complete the repair of Shore Road, the bulk heading down by the dock area, which was damaged way back in Hurricane Sandy back in 2012,” Lavorata says.“We’re working on that. We’ve got some federal and state money to do that.” The village also plans to expand and enhance Village Square Park, the central green space that has become 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
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