Politics & Government
Gov News: Town Buys Beach Club, Police Commish Ousted
A look at some of the top government stories from around Long Island.
North Hempstead Approves Substantial Pay Hikes For Elected Officials
A resolution pushed through by North Hempstead town board Democrats Tuesday will significantly raise pay for elected officials, despite calls to delay the vote on the issue until a new supervisor takes over next month.
The pay hikes, instigated by interim Supervisor John Riordan in the final days of his brief tenure as an appointed official, will substantially increase salaries for council members, the town clerk and receiver of taxes. A $5,000 pay increase was also suggested for the supervisor position.
Sandy Tax Relief for Property Owners
Owners whose property was severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy can apply for a refund of part of their 2013 Huntington Town taxes.
The Huntington Town Board voted unanimously Friday to approve provisions of a state law, the Superstorm Sandy Assessment Relief Act, which enables the town to grant assessment relief. The amount of the reduction, and as a result the size of the refund, ranges from 15 percent to 100 percent of the improved value, based on a sliding scale that compares the cost to repair a damaged structure against the structure’s value.
Vacant Houses In Brookhaven Must Register Under New Law
A “Vacant House Registry” has been unanimously adopted by Brookhaven town board Tuesday, which the town says will combat abandoned houses and buildings in neighborhoods.
The law requires owners of vacant properties to register with the town by paying a $250 fee, and providing contact information for whomever is responsible for maintaining it. The town says similar laws exist in major cities such as Boston, Chicago and Minneapolis, as well as Babylon town on Long Island.
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Patchogue Parking Meters Start Operation Jan. 2
January 2nd is the day that upcoming Patchogue Village parking meters will be in operation, deputy mayor Jack Krieger said at Monday's Patchogue Village Board meeting.
Find out what's happening in Malverne-Lynbrookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Krieger said in October that the meters will first debut on Main Street, South Ocean Avenue and Railroad Avenue, with parking lots to follow in the spring.
County Commissioner on Homeless Shelter: "Hauppauge Schools Not Overburdened"
Local residents crowded the auditorium of the county legislature building for the third time at a hearing held on Monday calling for Suffolk County to end a contract they have with the provider of homeless shelter on the Hauppauge/Commack border.
Suffolk lawmakers again tabled the resolution, which will be heard again in January. Frustrated residents asked the committee to hold evening meetings in lieu of only morning meetings so that those who work can attend.
Councilman Moves For Full Acquisition Of The Old Gentlemen's Driving Park Property
Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld sponsored a resolution at the Dec. 3 Brookhaven Town Board meeting to authorize the acquisition of land for the property known as Gentlemen’s Driving Park in Port Jefferson Station which was unanimously supported by the Town Board.
Gentlemen’s Driving Park is located on the west side of Morgan Avenue, north of Canal Road and is the last Victorian era harness racing track on Long Island.
Jacobs Secures Grant for Historic Railroad Museum
Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs has secured a grant through Nassau County that will make significant improvements to the historic train depot in Oyster Bay.
The grants, totaling $65,693 from Nassau County's Community Revitalization program, will make capital improvements to restore the train depot as a museum. The work includes repairs to doors, lighting, windows, and exterior masonry.
Nassau Police Commissioner Ousted by Mangano
Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale has been removed from his position in what is being termed a politically motivated scandal.
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano issued a statement Thursday saying he had met with Dale Thursday morning after confronting him with the information and Dale submitted his resignation.
Nassau prosecutors determined that Dale "personally directed his officers to pull over a county bus in October and arrest a witness in a politically motivated election-year case," according to Newsday.
Deer Lovers Demand Sharpshooters Stay Away
More than 2,500 outraged deer advocates have signed a petition demanding politicians immediately stop efforts to institute a sharpshooter program aimed at culling the deer herd on the East End.
Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell recently announced at a meeting in Orient to discuss the deer problems plaguing the area that the sharpshooter program could be instituted as soon as January.
The online petition urges elected officials on all East End town and village boards, put the brakes on a plan by the Long Island Farm Bureau and United States Department of Agriculture to hire federal sharpshooters to inhumanely slaughter 5,000 deer in Suffolk County beginning in January or February.
Upset in Bridgehampton Fire District Race
A write-in candidate ousted the incumbent commissioner and current chairman of the Bridgehampton Board of Fire Commissioners in Tuesday's election.
Bruce Dombkwoski handily won a five-year term as commissioner, and voters also rejected one of the propositions — not allowing the district to make the treasurer position an appointed position instead of an elected one — in the election that saw a large turnout. There were a total of 257 votes cast.
Town Buys Neptune's, Plans to Transform It Into a Museum
The popular summer Dune Road spot, Neptune's Beach Club, which has had trouble with drugs over the years with cops responding on a regular basis will soon be reestablished as a museum and public boardwalk.
The Town Board, which voted to purchase the 2.8 acre parcel on Tuesday for $3.2 million with community preservation funds, also approved a resolution presented by Councilman Jim Malone to earmark $1.2 million in the town's capital budget to transform the club into a museum dedicated to an African-American Coast Guard Station — the second in the country — that once stood at the site.
West Islip 7-Eleven Not Dead as Applicant Withdraws Before Council Vote
A controversial West Islip 7-Eleven proposal isn’t dead despite a planning board recommendation to the Islip Town Board to deny the project as the applicant withdrew the proposal before Tuesday’s scheduled town council vote.
As no town board vote was taken on the Udall Road-Muncey Road project, the applicant, SPJ LLC, can re-submit its application for a needed change of zone and special permit.
The Garden City board of trustees unanimously approved the purchase of a 2000 GPM (Gallons Per Minute) pumper truck for the Garden City Fire Department at a cost of $657,981.
The price includes a trade-in value of $15,000 for a 1991 RD Murray 1500 GPM Pumper. The purchase will be bonded.
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