***UPDATED AUGUST 7, 2020 WITH INFORMATION ON ATTENDING & MODIFIED PLANS***
The Town of Huntington published details on modified plans for the LIPA Proposal Public Forum on August 10, 2020 at 6:00 PM, additional instructions for reserving a spot at the primary satellite location for the forum, Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park in Huntington, and impact charts related to the proposal.
The first public forum, taking place Monday, August 10, 2020 at 6:00 PM, will include a presentation by the Town Attorney’s office of the terms negotiated between the attorneys for the Town of Huntington, the Northport-East Northport School District, LIPA and National Grid, and proposed on July 2, 2020 by LIPA and National Grid, regarding tax certiorari litigation on the Northport Power Plant, the potential impact of the acceptance of those terms on residents and businesses in Town, as well as the potential impact and consequences of not accepting the offer. The August 10 public forum will also include a virtual public comment, question and answer period.
While the Town would have preferred to wait until after the pandemic ends to hold this forum, LIPA rejected the Town’s request to pause this litigation during the COVID-19 shutdowns in April. The Town Board scheduled this forum at their July 21st meeting after receiving LIPA’s latest proposal on July 2nd.
NEW: INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESERVING A SPOT AT THE CHAPIN RAINBOW STAGE IN HECKSCHER PARK
To ensure the largest number of residents can participate and due to the power and internet outages across the Town, we strongly urge those who have access to Optimum 18, FIOS 38 or the internet, or those who are in high risk groups for COVID-19, to watch and participate from home. If you participate from home and wish to speak, please sign up to speak at the Program Info link for the 8/10 LIPA Public Forum at huntingtonny.gov/featured-programs and call in or video in using the Zoom platform.
During the public forum, we will have a primary satellite viewing location at Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park, located at Main Street and Prime Avenue in Huntington, where residents may reserve a socially-distanced seat in accordance with New York State limits on public gatherings at that time, with staff on-site to assist residents with technical issues.
- Due to the outdoor setting at the Chapin Rainbow Stage, please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on as the audience area in front of the stage is on a hill.
- Wearing a mask is mandatory; those who fail a contact-tracing questionnaire and/or those who are not wearing a mask upon arrival will be denied entrance to these facilities.
- A podium will be set up in the audience at the Chapin Rainbow Stage where those who have signed up to speak at huntingtonny.gov/featured-programs may deliver comments or ask questions.
- Each speaker will have a total of three (3) minutes to speak.
- Once the maximum capacity (50 attendees) is met at Chapin Rainbow Stage in Heckscher Park, a second satellite location will open up for reservations.
- Once you reserve a spot, please bring your confirmation email printed out or on your phone as your ticket into the forum.
- RAIN LOCATION: Attendees who have a reservation at the Chapin Rainbow Stage will be redirected to the Senior Center at 423 Park Avenue, Huntington NY 11743 in case of rain.
Reserve a socially-distanced spot at our primary satellite location, the Chapin Rainbow Stage at Heckscher Park in Huntington, for the LIPA Proposal Public Forum on Monday, August 10, 2020 at 6:00 PM
Residents should note:
- PUBLIC FORUMS TO LIVE-STREAM ON TV AND ONLINE: The full August 10 public forum will live-stream on the Town's website at huntingtonny.gov/featured-programs as well as on government-access TV channels Optimum 18 and FIOS 38 with opportunities for live public participation, including public comment, questions and answers; the full video of the presentation, public comment, and question and answer period from the August 10 public forum will be available for replay on the Town's website at huntingtonny.gov/featured-programs as well as on government-access TV channels Optimum 18 and FIOS 38.
- PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: There are three ways to participate in the public forums:
- SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE RECORD: Public comments on the proposal may be submitted for inclusion on the official record to Town Clerk Andrew P. Raia, Town Clerk, 100 Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743 or araia@huntingtonny.gov.
- SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE PRESENTATION: While a concerted effort is being made to address all known questions in the presentation, questions may also be submitted to be addressed during the presentation; please submit questions using the form at huntingtonny.gov/lipa-forum; questions will continue to be accepted after this deadline however any questions that cannot be fully researched before the August 10 public forum may be addressed at a later date.
- SIGN UP TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC FORUM: Live public comment and questions about the terms of the proposal and other information presented at the August 10 public forum will be taken through the Zoom video conferencing platform after the presentation (including at the Chapin Rainbow Stage, where a podium will be set up for audience members who sign up to speak); those wishing to speak during the forum must sign up using the Program Info link for the 8/10 LIPA Public Forum listing under Upcoming Events at huntingtonny.gov/featured-programs.
Full participation instructions can also be found at: https://www.huntingtonny.gov/filestorage/13749/18941/18945/18953/LIPA_Proposal_Online_Public_Forum_Process.pdf
Attachment: LIPA Proposal Impact and Adverse Court Judgment Impact Charts
LIPA Lawsuit FAQs
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