Town of Huntington, NY - News Details

At its January 13, 2020 meeting, the Huntington Town Board approved the allocation of $1.1 million from the Environmental Open Space & Park Fund (EOSPA), added free metered parking on four additional federal holidays and scheduled public hearings for the February 11, 2020 meeting at 7:00 PM.

The Town Board approved disbursing EOSPA Park Improvement and Neighborhood Parks funding for improvements at John J. Walsh Park in East Northport, Greenlawn Park in Greenlawn, Heckscher Park in Huntington, and Half Hollow Park in Dix Hills:

• John J. Walsh Park and Greenlawn Park: Up to $525,000 for each park (up to $425,000 in Park Improvement funding each and up to $100,000 in Neighborhood Parks funding each), to remove old equipment and sand-based playgrounds and install new ADA-accessible play structures and swing sets with safety surfacing and other amenities for the regional parks, which will also help revitalize the local business hamlet centers near the parks.
• Half Hollow Park: Up to $26,500 in Park Improvement funding for four adjustable canopy parasols to be installed at the end of the two bocce courts at the request of the Half Hollow Park bocce leagues.
• Heckscher Park: Up to $30,000 in Park Improvement funding to beautify the perimeter of the park by replacing an old chain link fence with a black-coated, more aesthetically pleasing fence, in response to a request from the Public Art Advisory Committee.

“We are committed to investing in our open space, which has the added benefit of beautifying and revitalizing the surrounding communities,” said Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, who sponsored the measure.

In other action, the Town Board:

• Added new 27%-37% discount pricing for 2020 Season Playground Camps with Recreation I.D. Card holders who attend both 3-week sessions for a total of 6 weeks: $350 for 6 weeks of Playground Camp Grades 1-8; $325 for 6 weeks of Playground Camp (3 Years Old); $305 for 6 weeks of Playground Camp (4 & 5 Years Old). A single session with the Recreation I.D. Card costs $240; a single session without the Recreation I.D. Card costs $310.
• Added four federal holidays to the Town Code’s current definition of “holiday” to allow for free metered parking on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day, as is customary for other federal holidays. Previously, the Town Code only allowed free metered parking on the following federal holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
• Reappointed Paul Ehrlich as Chairperson and Mara Manin Amendola, Esq. as Vice Chairperson of the Planning Board to terms expiring 12/31/2020.
• Reappointed John Posillico as Chairperson and Peter Tonna as Vice Chairperson of the Zoning Board of Appeals to terms expiring 12/31/2020.
• Reappointed Town Attorney Nicholas Ciappetta, Esq. to a two-year term effective January 1, 2020.
• Reappointed Margaret Boyd and James McGoldrick as members of the Town of Huntington Affordable Housing Advisory Board to terms expiring 12/31/2024.
• Extended the time to make a decision an additional 90 days, to April 13, 2020, on changes to the C-6 Zoning and Off-Street Parking sections of Chapter 198 and Site Plan Regulations in Chapter A202 of the Town Code, for which a public hearing was held on October 16, 2019.
• Approved an amendment to Chapter 198 of the Town Code that would allow the prosecution of use and occupancy violations as zoning violations, streamlining the Town’s ability to enforce the code as administrative proceedings in the new Town Court, rather than as criminal proceedings in 3rd District Court.
• Accepted generous donations for the Town’s 2020 Inaugural Ceremony, including flowers from M.A. Connell Funeral Home and food and refreshments from 7-Eleven, Cirella’s Restaurant, Copenhagen Bakery, Dix Hills Diner, Dunkin Donuts, Emilia's Bakehouse, Greenlawn Farms, Hummel-Hummel Bakery, King Kullen, Mr. Sausage, Northport Deli, Panera Bread, Southdown Marketplace, and Sweet Mama’s.

The Town Board scheduled public hearings for the Tuesday, February 11, 2020 Town Board meeting at 7:00 PM to consider:

• Authorizing various actions be taken upon certain properties designated as blighted in accordance with Chapter 156, Article VII, §156-60 (Blighted Property).
• Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 117 (Solid Waste Management: Collection, Recycling and Disposal), Section 117-28 (Fees for use of Town Facilities); reducing the number of days before payment is due in full from 90 days to 60 days for solid waste hauler accounts that use the Covanta Huntington facility and giving the Director the discretion to either suspend a solid waste haulers license, as is current practice, and/or suspend the hauler’s account at Covanta when the balance is past due, in order to strengthen the Town’s ability to enforce collection of outstanding revenues.
• Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 178 (Taxation), Article XI (Exemption for Volunteer Fire Fighters and Ambulance Workers), §178-38 (Amount of Exemption; Application Procedure; Continuation of Benefits); requiring property owners to resubmit an application every five years in accordance with recommendations made in an audit by the New York State Comptroller’s Office.
• Granting a license agreement to Dietz Golf Corp. to operate and manage the facility and snack bar at Crab Meadow Golf Course in the Town of Huntington.
• Amending the Uniform Traffic Code of the Town of Huntington, Chapter 3, Article II, §3-3. Schedule J.  Re: West Neck Road – Huntington – Parking Restrictions; adding No Stopping restrictions on the east side of West Neck Road (from 175 feet north of Central Street to 305 feet north of Central Street, which covers the entrance and existing driveway of West Neck Court) in response to a petition received from residents.
• Issuing a Certificate of Approval in an Historic District Re: 227 Main Street, Huntington – Old Town Hall Historic District; to build an addition to the Old Town Hall building for use as a hotel.

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