Town of Huntington, NY - News Details

The Huntington Town Board held its December 15, 2020 meeting remotely and broadcast meeting audio and video live, approved pro-business measures, set the 2021 Town Board meeting schedule, and renamed Crab Meadow Golf Course after former Town Supervisor Robert J. Flynn.

The Town Board extended, through December 31, 2021, temporary permits for outdoor dining on Town sidewalks and Town rights-of-way and waived the $200 application fee for businesses to apply for these permits.

Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci stated, “The economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis has been particularly severe for restaurants. It's important the Town does everything in its power to help our small businesses stay on their feet and comply with State regulations. Waiving fees for outdoor dining permits on Town sidewalks, combined with the newly enacted Town policy waiving fees for the use of outdoor propane heaters, will help our restaurants stay open no matter what indoor dining limitations are imposed by the State.”

The Town Board also urged New York State to pass legislation that would allow the Town the option to reduce operating expenses and improve efficiency in the Building Department by accepting construction documents based upon their certification by a New York State-licensed architect or professional engineer.

The Town Board meeting schedule for 2021 was set in keeping with the new tradition established in 2018 of splitting the schedule between days and evenings to ensure the broadest participation possible:

• Tuesday, January 12, 2:00 PM
• Tuesday, February 23, 7:00 PM
• Tuesday, March 16, 2:00 PM
• Tuesday, April 13, 7:00 PM
• Tuesday, May 11, 2:00 PM
• Tuesday, June 15, 7:00 PM
• Tuesday, July 13, 2:00 PM
• Tuesday, August 17, 7:00 PM
• Tuesday, September 14, 2:00 PM
• Wednesday, October 13, 7:00 PM
• Thursday, November, 4 7:00 PM
• Thursday, November 18, 7:00 PM
• Tuesday, December 14, 2:00 PM

The Town Board approved measures improving and beautifying our green, open spaces:

• Seeking $20,000 in 2021 TD Green Space Grant funds for improvements at Fair Meadow Park in Huntington Station, allowing for the implementation of the first stage of a plan prepared by the Laurel Group in 2010 consisting of a trail, pollinator garden, and public art.
• Environmental Open Space and Park Improvement Funding for EOSPA-recommended improvements: up to $100,000 for a new playground at Centerport Beach and up to $75,000 to install adult fitness equipment and safety surfacing at Crescent Beach, enabling outdoor exercise, balance and strength training.
• Accepting a donation of picnic benches and a split rail fence at Arboretum Park by Nathan Elliot Wolf-Sonkin for his Eagle Scout Service Project.

In addition, Crab Meadow Golf Course was dedicated in the name of former Huntington Town Supervisor Robert J. Flynn, who established the first municipal parks system in Suffolk County, resulting in the creation of Crab Meadow Golf Course. Flynn’s other notable accomplishments include the adoption of the first master plan of any Town in New York State and the adoption of the Town's first Ethics Code.

The Town Board scheduled public hearings for the Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Town Board meeting at 2:00 PM to consider:

• Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington Chapter 120 Harbors and Waterways; to add the definition of "aquatic event" as an organized on-water activity which may affect the normal navigation of vessels on waterways and clarify that certain events in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard requirements are exempt from certain Town of Huntington approval requirements.
• Amending the Code of the Town of Huntington Chapter 160 (Registration and Permitting of Property), Article II Vacant Building Registration; exempting religious organizations from paying the $250 vacant building registration fee.
• Awarding a license agreement for the community or educational use of the house, buildings and Manor Farm Park to Starflower Experiences.
• Executing an agreement with the Incorporated Village of Northport to furnish Fire Protection Services for the Town of Huntington Fire Protection District No. 1.
• (In their role as the Board of Trustees) The granting of a variance and the issuance of a special use permit pursuant to the Marine Conservation Law, Town Code Chapter 137 for the construction of a residential fixed pier and floating dock assembly. Applicant: Neal HochwaldLocation: 255 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY.
• (In their role as the Board of Trustees) The execution of a license agreement pursuant to the Marine Conservation Law, Town Code Chapter 137, for the construction of a residential fixed pier and floating dock assembly. Applicant: Neal HochwaldLocation: 255 Little Neck Road, Centerport, NY.

A public hearing was scheduled for the Tuesday, February 23, 2021 Town Board meeting at 7:00 PM considering zone change application #2019-ZM-445, FMP Holdings, LLC, to change the zoning from C-6 General Business District to C-11 Automotive Service Station District for the property located on the east side of Broadhollow Road, south of Ruland Road, Melville; to construct a gas station and convenience store.

The Town Board adjourned, to Tuesday, April 13, 2021 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.

In other action, the Town Board:

• Appointed William Musto as Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation; Musto has served as Deputy Director of the department for the past three years, Coordinator of Student-Athlete Services for Farmingdale State University since 2003 and as the university's former Head Men's Basketball Coach from 1997-2003.
• Appointed 22-year Town Park Maintenance Supervisor and longtime Department of General Services employee Joseph Rech as Deputy Director of the Department of General Services; Rech has served as Executive Assistant to the Director of the department for the past three years.
• Appointed Robert J.Bontempi, Jr. as Vice Chairperson of the Planning Board, appointed small business owner and philanthropist George Schwertl as a member (exp. 2026) and reappointed David Pennetta as a member (exp. 2027).
• Appointed 35-year construction professional, former small business owner, and fire fighter John Castagna as a full member of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) (exp. 2027), Castagna has served as an alternate member of the ZBA for the past two years; appointed veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, law enforcement professional and former small business owner Jeffrey M. Bartholomew as an alternate member (exp. 2022), Bartholomew has served on the Board of Ethics since his appointment in 2019.
• Reappointed Edward William Billia, Ph.D. as a member of the Board of Ethics (exp. 2025).
• Appointed and reappointed members and leadership to various advisory boards, task forces and committees: Hispanic Task Force (Manuel Esteban, member); EOSPA Committee (Mark McAteer, Chair; Dr. James Wright, Vice Chair; David Hunt (Boy Scouts of America Matinecock Advancement Committee)); Greenway Trails Committee (Bruce Howe (CLIMB); Virginia Munger-Kahn (LI-DOG); Joy Squires (Conservation Board)); Conservation Board (Joy Squires, also designated Chair; Laura McKellar; Richard Meyer; Paul Ponturo; Andrew Wilson); Volunteer Park Stewards (Don McKay; Andrew Lavadera, Charles J. Bravo; Steven Elish; Timothy Flythe); Audit Committee (James Kaden); Citizens’ Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities (Leonard J. Urban); Harbor and Boating Advisory Council (Gary Rozmus, P.E.; Robert Stork; Jonathan Heidelberger; Daniel Wolfe; George Devine); Plumbing Advisory Board (Dean Leonardi, P.E., also designated Chair; John McLaughlin; Margaret Pezzino, Esq. (ex officio)); Huntington Housing Authority (Kevin Lyons; Sidney Joyner); Public Art Advisory Committee (James Metcalfe, Chair; Toniann Bartscherer).

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