The Huntington Town Board held its May 10 meeting, where they approved the purchase of software for the issuance of building and other permits online, approved funding for public safety upgrades for Huntington commuter facilities, and scheduled public hearings for the June 14 meeting, including a measure rescinding campground lodging, or “glamping,” as an allowed property use type.
Supervisor Ed Smyth and Councilman Sal Ferro co-sponsored a measure approving a contract with OpenGov to streamline building permit approvals.
“We are in the process of consolidating and enhancing the various technologies the Town uses in an effort to lower costs, increase governmental efficiency, and improve customer service for residents and industry professionals doing business with the Town,” said Supervisor Ed Smyth. “I have seen the benefits of using this software after personally observing it in use and I am confident we can effectively modernize our Building Department with its support.”
Councilman Sal Ferro stated, “It has been a top priority of mine from day one to improve and modernize our Building Department to make it more user friendly. The selection of OpenGov is a key step towards achieving that goal; with this solution, residents and builders will be able to get their permits approved online, in paperless form, without ever needing to make a visit to Town Hall and construction professionals can spend their time getting the job done instead of cutting through red tape.”
OpenGov’s proposal was one of five submitted in response to a duly authorized and published request for proposals by the April 22 deadline. After a thorough review of the proposals by a committee of interested Directors and Deputies from various Town departments, as well as live demonstrations, one of which included a visit to the Town of Hempstead, OpenGov was considered the best proposal containing an appropriate balance of pricing, functionality, and IT services.
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
The Town Board approved additional infrastructure funding for 2022:
- Up to $1,250,000 in funding for upgrades and improvements to the Town’s video surveillance technology at the Huntington LIRR commuter parking facilities in Huntington Station.
- Up to $1,000,000 in funding to complete the restoration of the Halesite Marina Park bulkhead (subject to Permissive Referendum).
- Up to $500,000 in funding for the acquisition of two refuse collection trucks to be used in the Consolidated Refuse District, for which a public hearing was held on April 12.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
The Town Board scheduled public hearings for the Tuesday, June 14, 2022 Town Board meeting at 7:00 PM to consider:
- Removing the provisions in the Town Zoning Code allowing applicants to seek a Special Use Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals for Campground Lodging or “glamping” as a use type for properties with existing campgrounds.
- Expanding the designation of the supervisor of the Office of Personnel to include “Director of Labor Relations” to enable the Personnel supervisor to perform enhanced duties related to the negotiation and administration of employee labor contracts in addition to overseeing personnel administration.
- Removing school speed limits on Bellerose Avenue and Dickinson Avenue due to the closure of the elementary schools on each road based on a request from the Northport-East Northport School District.
- Adding a stop sign for eastbound traffic on Honey Lane at Rowena Lane in East Northport.
- Authorizing various actions be taken upon certain properties designated as Blighted in accordance with Chapter 156 of the Huntington Town Code (Property Maintenance; Nuisances). (Re: Schedule A: Deborah Dullahan, 34 Coe Place, Huntington Station, SCTM#0400-241.00-02.00-019.000)
- (Scheduled as the Board of Trustees):
- The granting of a variance, the issuance of a Special Use Permit, and the execution of a license agreement pursuant to the Marine Conservation Law, Town Code Chapter 137, for the construction of a residential fixed pier/floating dock assembly. Applicant: Jason Collins Location: 214 Prospect Road, Centerport, New York SCTM#0400-048.00-02.00-007.035.(Re:B. Laing Associates)
- The granting of a variance, the issuance of a Special Use Permit, and the execution of a license agreement pursuant to the Marine Conservation Law, Town Code Chapter 137, for the construction of a residential floating dock assembly. Applicant: Ann Flynn Location: 25 Asharoken Avenue, Northport, New York, SCTM# 0401-008.00-02.00-036.000. (Re: Land Use Ecological Services, Inc.)
- The granting of a variance, the issuance of a Special Use Permit, and the execution of a license agreement pursuant to the Marine Conservation Law, Town Code Chapter 137 for the Construction of a residential floating dock assembly. Applicant: Glenn Behr Location: 35 Asharoken Avenue, Northport, NY SCTM#0401-008.00-02.00-035.000) (Re: Land Use Ecological Services, Inc.)
OTHER NEWS
In other action, the Town Board:
- Approved Environmental Open Space and Park Improvement (EOSPA) funding for interpretive signage detailing the natives plantings beautifying the Greenlawn Railroad Station Municipal Parking Lot.
- Approved various agreements for the Town of Huntington Department of Parks and Recreation 2022 Drive-In Movies series beginning at 8:30pm on various dates at various locations throughout the summer: 7/13/2022 – Crab Meadow Beach: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (Rain Date 7/14/2022); 7/27/2022 – Quentin Sammis West Neck Beach: “Grease” (Rain Date 7/28/2022); 8/3/2022 – Dix Hills Park: “Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi” (Rain Date 8/4/2022); 8/10/2022-Village Green Center: “Black Panther” (Rain Date 8/11/2022); 8/17/2022 – Village Green Center: “Encanto” (Rain Date 8/18/2022).
- Appointed:
- Community Development Agency Director Angel Cepeda as Executive Director for the Town of Huntington Local Development Corporation.
- Public Safety Director Joseph Cirigliano as Equal Employment Opportunity Officer for the Town of Huntingon.
- Members to the Town of Huntington Opioid and Addiction Task Force (Names and Term Expiration Dates): Anthony Ferrandino 12/31/2023; Barbara Posillico 12/31/2025; Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds 12/31/2025; Sharon Richmond 12/31/2023; Mary Silberstein 12/31/2023; Patricia Hartley-Ferrandino 12/31/2025; Judy Richter 12/31/2025; Dr. Bruce Silber 12/31/2025; Barry Saks 12/31/2025.
- Alex Borg to represent the Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce on the Environmental Open Space and Park Fund Review Advisory (EOSPA) Committee.
###