Saturday, May 19, 2012
Pols hope the cost savings will keep the company from taking its 1,600 jobs off Island.
Hoping to prevent the loss of 1,600 jobs on Long Island, the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency on Thursday floated an incentive package worth millions to Broadridge Financial - a public company that has threatened to move off-Island if officials didn’t find a way to help it trim costs. If the financial services company takes the offer - which its board will decide on in June - then it'll come as a disappointment to officials in New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Ohio and Texas who were trying to woo the $2.2 billion company into moving to their states. The Suffolk IDA said the incentive deal includes sales tax exemptions on $75 million in equipment purchases related to its renovation of its two Edgewood buildings, as well as a 15-…
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Islip Town plan to refurbish the playground but lifeguard duty delayed by a month.
Bayport Beach will get some much needed TLC in the next month as Islip Town officials are promising residents that playground equipment will be replaced and sand will be replenished if needed. But the bad news is that town financial constraints will push back the official life guard season a full month, starting June 30 instead of Memorial Day weekend. The town beach, at the end of Paulanna and Gerritsen avenues, suffered damage from a hurricane at the end of last summer and despite a light winter sustained some beach wear and tear. A resident living near the beach reached out to the Islip Town parks department in late April inquiring about repair work. In its response letter the town parks commissioner states the town will remove sand in …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
As three incumbents depart come June, the three newcomers believe change is needed.
Bayport-Blue Point taxpayers are bringing big change to the board of education come July having voted out two longtime incumbents and electing three new members on Tuesday. Newcomers Rebecca Campbell, John Lynch and Bill Milligan, a trio who ran on a quasi-slate strategy, beat out BOE Vice President Andrea O’Neill and trustee Jane Burgess in one of the biggest election upsets in years. The number of tenured board members leaving once terms expire in June is three, as Kathy Heinlein chose not to seek re-election this year. That leaves four incumbents, two of which have double-digit tenure: Board President Jim March and 12-year trustee Lenny Camarda. The remaining two trustees are Molly E Licalzi and Diane D’Angelo who are both in their …
40.74254
-73.053889
Bayport-Blue Point High School
200 Snedecor Ave, Bayport, NY
/articles/b-bp-boe-victors-election-proves-community-wants-change
360136
/locations/7034793
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Patch wants feedback on how taxpayers cast their ballots Tuesday.
So, did you approve your school district budget, or vote no? Tell Patch and we'll use the results in our election and budget stories Tuesday and Wednesday. Take the poll and give us some feedback in the comments section on why you voted the way you did.
Patch wants to know what residents think of old/new tax idea.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, facing a hefty budget deficit of $530 million, is working to identify potential new revenue, cost-cutting manuevers and part of the effort includes at least one new 'one-shot' tax idea. This one would place a tax surcharge on the local Fire Island ferry industry. It was proposed back in April and quickly met with opposition from both ferry operators and Fire Island organizations. According to published reports the county attempted a similiar taxing approach in 1990 to pay for police costs but it was vehemently opposed. Patch is awaiting word on the status of the new ferry charge proposal, but in the meantime wants to know if residents approve of these sort of tax strategies to raise quick revenue.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Suffolk Police investigation Monday afternoon at Islip Town facility didn't impede flight operation activities.
A call to Suffolk Police about a possible bomb at Long Island MacArthur Airport at noon on Monday was determined a false alarm, according to Islip Town officials. Suffolk Police officers were dispatched to the town airport, complete with a canine unit and emergency response trucks, and conducted an investigation that lasted a little more than an hour, according to a town spokesperson. "It was deemed not credible. The call received was not very specific in nature," said the spokesperson, who noted that there was no impact to airport services during the investigation. In fact, few leaving or working in the airport realized there was a threat issue. A woman manning a luggage kiosk told Patch she didn't know anything about a threat or why …
Voters will be deciding on spending plans, new board members and an expansion of district transportation.
Sayville School District taxpayers will vote on a proposed $85,674,961 budget Tuesday, a proposal to expand the transportation availability with no additional cost to residents, as well as budget propositions for the historical society and Sayville Library. The ballot also includes the election of three school board of education trustees and two library trustee positions. The proposed spending plan meets the state-mandated tax levy cap of 2 percent and represents a 4.76% spending increase over the current school year budget of $81,779,400 and a projected tax rate increase of 2.33 percent, about $13.42 a month, based on the average home with an assessed valuation of $40,000. The new tax rate would be 17.723 per $100 of assessed value, a .40…
40.735981
-73.094517
Sayville High School
20 Brook St, West Sayville, NY
/articles/sayville-voting-guide-budgets-busing-proposal-boe-library-trustee-elections
178547
/locations/7004679
Friday, May 11, 2012
Councilwoman Jane Bonner introduces resolution to withdraw the fees, but the town board votes it down.
The Town of Brookhaven on Tuesday upheld the beach and marina parking fees established about a month ago, despite an attempt by one town council member to comb through the town budget to find savings that would offset the cost of repealing the fee. The Town Board voted 3-4 against dropping the fee, with council members Jane Bonner, Tim Mazzei, and Dan Panico voting in the minority. By working with various town officials, Bonner said she was able to find $625,000 in offsets within the town budget to withdraw the fee without sacrificing overtime costs budgeted for town operations. Her plan included eliminating three positions that are currently vacant due to the town's hiring freeze. She called it "painless ways to come up with the cuts that…
Thursday, May 10, 2012
What's your take on people puffing at town, county and state parks and beaches?
There's a movement afoot to possibly ban smoking at public beach facilities. But like many bans, such as open alcohol on the beach, the issue of enforcement comes in as does the constitutional right of taxpayers - whether they smoke or not. Now most people know enough if they smoke they need to sit off by themselves. So is a ban needed? If there is a ban, how can it be enforced? Should there be a 'smoking' area for beach goers? Is banning improper beach wear next? Is society just getting too over the top with trying to regulate adult behavior? Take our poll and then let us know in the comments what you think. We'll compile results next week.
Sayville resident has a love for libraries and a background in library business management.
Joseph Loughren says he is running for Sayville Library trustee to help enhance the services at the library and help the library become what he believes every library should be: a true community center. As someone who has worked as a library business manager for eight years, he believes he has the experience and skills to make that happen. “First off, I am a great admirer of libraries and I really love Sayville. We have a beautiful new building, some great programs, and some terrific, dedicated staff members but there is always room for improvement,” he told Patch in an email. “I want to be certain that our library offers the services that our community deserves and expects, and that it does so efficiently.” The Sayville homeowner said …
40.73794
-73.085756
Sayville Library
88 Greene Ave, Sayville, NY
/articles/sayville-library-board-challenger-joseph-loughren
178781
/locations/6984184
Pam Killoran
12:48 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012
There was federal funding available to government agencies as a result of Hurricane Irene. I wonder if this option was considered. more ›