The Huntington Town Board held its June 16, 2020 meeting remotely and broadcast meeting audio live, holding its first set of virtual public hearings, extended the time to file for a Real Property Tax Exemption, scheduled hearings for June 25 and September 15, among other Town business.
Based on recent New York State legislation authorizing municipalities to extend the deadline for the filing of real property tax exemptions and renewal applications to July 15, 2020, the Town Board extended the March 1 deadline to July 15 for the 2020/2021 tax year only. Applicants whose applications are denied after July 15 will have a right to appeal to the Board of Assessment Review before the Assessment Roll is final. The Assessor’s Office is attempting to notify those applicants who filed after the March 1 deadline. Residents with questions may contact the Assessor’s Office at (631) 351-3226 or AssessorInfo@huntingtonny.gov Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
“We are using all the tools at our disposal to alleviate the financial burden on our residents and businesses as we move forward with the economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis,” said Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci. The Town Board convened for a Special Meeting on June 11 to approve measures announced on June 9 enabling a smooth reopening process for businesses, including those for outdoor dining and sidewalk retail, during the first week of New York State’s Phase Two reopening process.
The Town Board voted to provide free Town of Huntington beach parking permits for Huntington residents serving in the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty. Resident active duty military members may present a valid, unexpired Common Access Card with valid, unexpired identification as proof of residency at any Town of Huntington beach entrance gate to receive a free beach permit, which must be affixed to the vehicle by the gate attendant.
In other action, the Town Board:
- Authorized the demolition of the Crippen House and Garage with Panzer Demo & Abatement Corp, the lowest responsive, responsible bidder; the Crippen House and accessory garage have been declared to be structurally unsound and in danger of imminent collapse, as such, entry into the house is not permitted, therefore the project must be treated as a controlled demolition with asbestos in place.
- Accepted the dedication of Country View Lane, Berryfield Court, Sunnyfield Court, Cloverfield Court, Fieldstone Court, comprising a 4.65 acre Right of Way, a 5.49-acre passive park, recharge basin and all for the subdivision known as Harborfields Estates.
- Added the areas within 1,500 feet of the shorelines of the Incorporated Villages of the Town to the Town’s policy governing mooring permits, effective January 1, 2021, after research revealed New York State law authorizes the Town to regulate activities over Board of Trustees-owned underwater lands, as the Town has a right to protect those underwater lands, even when located within Village watercourses.
- Appointed Acting and Interim Department Directors and Deputy Directors to Directors and Deputy Directors based on their work in their Acting and Interim roles, going above and beyond their scope of work on a daily basis, proving their leadership skills before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Thelma Neira, Deputy Town Attorney, formerly Interim Deputy (Acting Deputy before the pandemic); Joseph Cirigliano, Director of Public Safety, formerly Interim Director; Kevin McCormick, Deputy Director of Public Safety, formerly Interim Deputy Director; Dominic Spada, Director of Maritime Services, formerly Interim Director (Acting Director before the pandemic).
- Extended the on-leash dog walking pilot program in Heckscher Park by one month, to expire July 31 in order to avoid disruption of the program; due to the pandemic, Town personnel and the oversight committee have been unable to meet to discuss the on-leash pilot period April 1- June 30.
The Town Board adjourned, to September 15, 2020 at 7:00 PM, the Public Hearing to consider adopting Local Law Introductory Number 8-2020, considering zone change application #2019-ZM-444, Equestrian Estates of Melville, to change the zoning from R-80 Residence District to R-20 Residence District for the property located on the east side of Round Swamp Road, south of Northern State Parkway, Melville, New York, at the request of the applicant.
Acting in their roles as board members of the Community Development Agency, the Town Board scheduled a virtual public hearing for Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 2:00 PM to consider amending the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Annual Action Plan to include the allocation of additional funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities (CARES) Act to service agencies that have provided greatly needed services and necessities to low and very low-income residents of the community during the pandemic. A link to sign up to speak at the hearing will be posted at huntingtonny.gov/meetings and huntingtonny.gov/CDA-join.
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