At its July 17 meeting, the
Huntington Town Board entered into a mediation agreement to resolve the LIPA
lawsuit. The Town Board also approved tax-saving and revenue-producing
measures, beautification projects, a skin cancer prevention initiative, and
dedicated a street in the name of a local World War II veteran, among other
Town business.
The Town dedicated McKay Road in
Huntington Station as SSgt. USAF Michael J. Colamonico Way, after a Huntington
resident who served in World War II and was a member of the Huntington Veterans
Advisory Board, whose members requested the street be renamed in his honor.
"Michael J. Colamonico served
his country in the United States Air Force during World War II, and at the end
of a 13-hour bombing run, a German Messerschmidt fighter plane shot down the
B-17 bomber on which he was a top turret gunner, over France on December 31st,
1943," said Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, as he presented the resolution,
"held prisoner at the infamous Stalag 17 in Austria where he spent 17
months in captivity, and finally liberated on May 3rd, 1945, in Braunau,
Germany, Mr. Colamonico dedicated his life to his family and veterans affairs
issues as an advocate for active military and veterans."
“Staff Sgt.
Michael J. Colamonico, United States Air Force, was a true American Hero and
Huntington is proud to commemorate his memory with a street bearing his name,”
said Councilman Ed Smyth, who co-sponsored the resolution with the Supervisor.
“Mike Colamonico was a true American
hero. A World War II POW that we are honored to recognize,” said Councilman
Mark Cuthbertson.
LIPA Lawsuit Update (July 17, 2018)
The Town entered into a non-binding
mediation agreement with Marty F. Scheinman, Esq., to end the costly LIPA
litigation, a measure sponsored by Councilman Eugene Cook.
“At the July 17, 2018 Town Board
meeting, I was proud to sponsor a late starter resolution authorizing the
Supervisor to execute a mediation agreement with Marty F. Scheinman, Esq., and
authorizing the Supervisor to enter into an agreement with the Northport-East
Northport Union Free School District, Long Island Power Authority and National
Grid to share the costs of mediation. This resolution is important to the
Northport Power Plant litigation as it brings to the table all parties
including LIPA and National Grid for non-binding mediation; meaning if a
settlement can’t be made that benefits Huntington Taxpayers and the
Northport-East Northport School District we can walk away from the table and
continue litigation. Every effort needs to be made to ensure the future of
Huntington and its school districts,” stated Councilman Eugene Cook. “Marty F.
Scheinman has arbitrated over 18,000 disputes throughout the U.S. in various
industries including: Power, Utilities, Maritime, Nuclear Energy, and
Government Services. Mr. Scheinman has proven himself to be an experienced
professional who mediated the largest commercial dispute in the history of NYS
Court System, which should benefit us all.”
Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, who
seconded the resolution, added: “We are exhausting all viable options. Mr.
Scheinman is a highly qualified mediator and the Town Attorney agrees that the
assistance of a neutral third party may help us resolve this case and put an
end to this costly litigation to the benefit of Huntington’s taxpayers. It is
non-binding, so we can continue litigation if necessary.”
Marty F. Scheinman, Esq., is a
seasoned arbitrator who has handled over 18,000 disputes across the United States
in various industries since 1978, including high profile disputes involving
celebrities, athletes, and elected officials, including the largest commercial
dispute in the history of the New York State Court System.
The Town will share the costs of the
mediation with the Northport-East Northport Union-Free School District, the
Long Island Power Authority, and National Grid at the rate of $1,150 per hour,
plus all out of pocket expenses, as well as a one-time $400 administrative fee.
The Town Board also saved taxpayers
approximately $158,000 by refinancing $6.2 million in bonds.
The Town enacted a revenue-producing
measure to cover the increased costs of operating the Huntington Sewage
Treatment Plant Scavenger Waste Facility. Increasing the fee for the disposal
of liquid waste at the facility from $62 to $79 per thousand gallons to cover a
19.11% increase in operating expenses, the Huntington plant remains the
lowest-priced high-volume liquid waste disposal facility in the area. The
revenues from these fees are the sole source of funding for the facility’s
operating budget. Additional revenue from this increase is expected to range
from $285,000 annually (assuming a 20% decline in incoming scavenger waste
volume) to $321,000 annually (assuming a 10% decline in volume) and up to
$357,000 annually (if there is no decline in volume).
The Town Board approved eleven new
public art installations on traffic signal boxes, at a cost of no more than
$1,600 each, funded by $1,500 from the Huntington Village Business Improvement
District (BID), $6,000 from the Huntington Station Business Improvement
District (BID) and the remainder from the Huntington Cultural Affairs
Institute.
The Town approved a Skin Cancer
Prevention Program, sponsored by Huntington Hospital/Northwell Health, to add
16 free sunscreen dispensers equipped with SPF 30 suntan lotion at Town
beaches, pools, parks, and golf courses at no cost to the Town.
In other action, the Town Board:
·
Appointed
five individuals to serve as volunteers in the Handicapped Parking Enforcement
Program, who assist the Town in the enforcement against the abuse of parking
spaces designated for the handicapped.
·
Approved
a measure to apply for and receive grant funds for a Climate Smart Communities
Certification Project to issue an RFP, retain a consultant to perform a
Government Operations and Community Greenhouse Gas (HGH) Inventory, 100%
Renewable Energy Feasibility Study, and Capital Phase-In Plan to determine and
set a schedule to meet the Town’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals.
·
Allocated
funds from the Town’s Affordable Housing Trust and Agency Account for veterans
housing at the Columbia Terrace Project.
·
Authorized
Heckscher Museum, Inc. to raise funds for a historically appropriate
restoration project for the exterior of the Heckscher Museum of Art for its
2020 Centennial.
·
Agreed
to co-sponsor the Greenlawn Civic Association Community Day on October 14,
2018.
·
Scheduled public hearings for the August 7, 2018 Town
Board Meeting at 7:00 PM:
o
To
consider authorizing various actions be taken upon properties designated as
blighted.
o
To
consider adding provisions to the Town Code adding two locations for the
enforcement of handicapped parking violations at the request of the respective
landowners at 305 W. Jericho Tpke, Huntington (Crest Huntington, LLC), and 1888
New York Avenue, Huntington Station (Glen Head Nassau Holdings).
o
To
consider amending Chapter 108 (Film Permits) in the Town Code to amend and
clarify insurance requirements, amend fees for the processing of applications
and issuance of film permits, and create additional penalties for offenses.
o
To
consider designating as an Historic Landmark the Dr. Samuel Teich House, 1090
New York Avenue, Huntington Station.
o
To
consider the issuance of a Special Use Permit and the execution of a license
agreement for the construction of a residential fixed pier and floating dock
assembly at 7 Heckscher Drive, Halesite.
·
Scheduled a public hearing for the *September 20, 2018
Town Board Meeting at 7:00 PM:
o
To
consider zone change application #2017-ZM-432, Bolla - Melville, to change the
zoning from C-6 General Business District to C-11 Automotive Service Station
District for the property located between Walt Whitman Road and Broadhollow
Road, on the south side of Old Country Road, Melville.
*The hearing is
scheduled for the September 20 Town Board Meeting, as public hearings for zone
changes require 30 days’ notice. At the time of the July 17 Town Board Meeting,
the agenda erroneously listed the date for the hearing as August 7, due to a
scrivener's error. The date of September 20, 2018 at 7:00 PM was stated at the
workshop by the Town Clerk. The final Agenda has been corrected and the legal
notices that are prepared in the Town Clerk’s office are based on the dates
provided by the Town Clerk at the workshop and will be published correctly.
In the photo: Lorraine Colamonico
(center) and daughter Laura Fanzilli surrounded by Councilman Eugene Cook;
Councilman Mark Cuthbertson; Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci; Town Clerk Jo-Ann
Raia; Councilwoman Joan Cergol; Councilman Edmund J.M. Smyth; members of the
Huntington Veterans Advisory Board.
###