Town of Brookhaven

The meeting featured a presentation by the Brookhaven Town Supervisor regarding town efforts to address blighted and empty structures through district court and board oversight. The discussion centered on the importance of community collaboration and maintaining a focus on core municipal services, including open space management, land use, zoning, road paving, and waste collection, amidst rising operational costs for labor and materials.

The town discussed the acquisition of property at 11 Hickory for preservation purposes to mitigate the effects of sea level rise in the community. The town confirmed the purchase of 18 parcels in total to be added to the Mastic Shirley conservation area to ensure environmental preservation and maintain the character of the area.

This Annual Action Plan for the Town of Brookhaven outlines a comprehensive strategy for housing and community development from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. The plan focuses on creating and maintaining affordable housing, improving public facilities and infrastructure, supporting public services for vulnerable populations, preventing homelessness, enhancing accessibility, and providing housing for individuals with HIV/AIDS. It also emphasizes effective administration of HUD grant programs and strategic partnerships to meet identified community needs.

The board meeting included discussions and resolutions on various topics. These included revenue reports, communications, highway matters, and a resolution agenda. Public comments were addressed, including concerns about aircraft noise at Calabro Airport. Resolutions were passed regarding property acquisition, land transfers, appointments of marriage officers, and support for reducing aircraft noise. Amendments were made to contracts and budgets, and agreements were authorized with various entities. The board also discussed setting dates for public hearings, including one to amend the uniform traffic code.

The meeting included discussions and resolutions on various topics, such as establishing Brookhaven's 2021 fee schedule for different departments, adopting fee schedules for parks and highway permits, and authorizing the town attorney to retain special outside counsel. Also discussed were town hall business hours, appointments of affirmative action officers, ADA coordinators, and title six coordinators. Additional resolutions covered the appointment of a minority women's business enterprise officer, labor council, medical consultants, and authorizations for the Department of Recycling and Sustainable Material Management to execute construction and demolition contracts. The board also addressed the appointment of appraisers, retention of special counsel, appropriations for stenographic services, insurance renewals, adoption of a capital asset policy, designation of banks as depositories, and agreements with school districts. Further discussions involved procurement policies, continuing education authorization policies, investment policies, P card policies, and the authorization for the commissioner of finance to retain bond counsel and financial advisors. Budget amendments, submission of annual financial reports, budgetary transfer policies, fund balance policies, grants policies, and grant application policies were also addressed. Additionally, the board discussed snow removal, highway equipment purchases, shade tree preservation, snow fence installation, use of highway equipment in emergencies, designation of official newspapers, setting annual salaries, and extending agreements with animal shelters. They also covered animal shelter promotional events, establishing the number of hard clam endorsements, designating banks as depositories for the tax receiver, utilizing credit card services, reappointments to the accessory apartment review board and board of zoning appeals, and appointing a new chairperson to the Black History Commission. The board also directed the assessor to grant certain exemptions and set a public hearing to consider enacting an introductory local law.