Animal Shelter Criticized in Audit, Town Letterhead to Target Sandy Victims

High operational costs, a mismanagement of overtime expenses and poor record-keeping were among the findings of a recent audit on the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in Wantagh, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced Friday. Read the full story here.

Town Letterhead Used to Target Sandy Victims

The Town of Hempstead reported earlier this week that Oceanside homeowners were victimized by a private company that processes building permits for homeowners, which illegally used the town's letterhead in its mailings.

According to the town, the company sent a deceptive mailing printed on town "copycat" letterhead, promoting its fee-based services.

Hempstead Town said in a statement earlier this week that it does not endorse or recommend any specific private companies to file Building Department applications.

Supervisor Kate Murray and Senior Councilman Anthony Santino have referred the case to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office and have requested an investigation.

Building Department Opens Additional Mobile Offices

The Hempstead Town Building Department’s planning examiners have extended hours of operation (8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday) and established mobile offices throughout the town, maximizing the department’s reach and efficiency as part of the hurricane-recovery effort. Employees will be on hand to answer questions, provide permit applications and discuss regulations.

Mobile Building Department offices will be at the following locations between the hours of 12-6 p.m. on the indicated dates:

Tuesday, Dec. 4:

• Merrick Road Park (2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick)
• Newbridge Road Park (2600 Newbridge Road, Bellmore)

Wednesday, Dec. 5

• Seamans Neck Park (2700 South Seamans Neck Road, Seaford)
• Oceanside Park (3800 Mahlon Brower Drive, Oceanside)

Thursday, Dec. 6

• Rock Hall Museum (199 Broadway, Lawrence)
• Hewlett Bay Point Park (130 Hewlett Point Ave., Bay Park)

Friday, Dec. 7

• Terrace Gardens Park (Carvel Place and Sheridan Boulevard, Inwood)
• Rath Park (849 Fenworth Blvd., Franklin Square)

Saturday, Dec. 8

• Wantagh Park (1 King Road, Wantagh)
• Baldwin Park (3232 South Grand Ave., Baldwin Harbor)

Monday, Dec. 10

• Point Lookout Town Park (Lido Boulevard, Point Lookout -- end of Loop Parkway)
• Shell Creek Park (Vanderbilt Avenue and Traymore Boulevard, Barnum Island)

For additional Need-to-Know Information pertaining to post-Hurricane Sandy recovery, please visit http://www.toh.li/hurricane-recovery-information.

Animal Shelter to Host Foster Care, Volunteering Seminar

The Hempstead Town Animal Shelter will be holding a Foster Care and Volunteering Seminar on Dec. 8 at 12 p.m. at the shelter (3320 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh). All residents interested in fostering a cat or dog, or volunteering their time at the shelter, are urged to attend this informative meeting.

Through the shelter’s Foster Volunteer Program, a family temporarily adopts a shelter cat or dog, to help the animal become more comfortable living a home environment. General volunteers are also needed and will be assigned to a range of different tasks at the shelter.

The one-hour seminar will provide an overview of the shelter’s foster care and volunteer programs and detail the requirements and procedures for becoming involved. Volunteer applications will be available.

For more information on the seminar, please contact the Animal Shelter at (516) 785-5220 or visit http://toh.li/animal-shelter.