OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Huntington Town Board Meeting December 9, 2025: Farewell, Public Hearing Scheduling, and Resolutions

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, December 9, 2025
BodyHuntington, New York
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, December 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:51:26

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Well, good afternoon.

0:02

Please join Councilwoman Maury for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:10

I pledge allegiance to you guys.

0:39

All right, good afternoon, everyone.

0:41

We got a full house welcome, everyone.

0:43

We're gonna start with Councilwoman Maury, who has a presentation to make.

0:47

I do, and look at all these great kids sitting in the audience.

0:50

So we are here today.

0:52

Council um Councilman Bernardo and I are absolutely thrilled to welcome our Comac High School girls' varsity soccer team and the 2025-26 class AAA state champions to Town Hall today.

1:05

And our boys' soccer team.

1:06

Well what an extraordinary moment for this community, and what an incredible honor to celebrate you all here today.

1:14

Your team has achieved, your teams have achieved something truly historic through determination, unity, resilience, and an unwavering competitive spirit.

1:24

The Comac um your Comac teams have captured the first state title in the history of the program.

1:30

And if that isn't impressive enough, this amazing accomplishment helped Comac become the first county school, first Suffolk County school, and only the 13th in New York State history to have both its boys and girls, rocky soccer varsity soccer teams win state championships in the same year.

1:47

And that's worthy of applause right in the middle.

1:56

Your dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship has been amazing.

2:01

The way you've represented Comac with pride, grace, and fierce competitive spirits is nothing short of inspiring.

2:09

We are all so proud of you in our town.

2:15

Behind your program, head coach Joe Brenda Fino is he here.

2:19

Yes, assistant coach Andrew Meyer.

2:25

JV coach Matt Salman, Athletic Trainer Lynn McConnell.

2:34

Thank you all for being here to support our teams.

2:39

Also to the administrators who support strengthens Comac Athletics every day.

2:44

We have Superintendent Dr.

2:45

Jordan Cox.

2:47

Dr.

2:47

Cox is here, Principal Carrie Lippenholz, Athletic Director Patrick Friel, Vice Principal Matthew Keltos, Assistant Principals Andrea Allen and Eric Riagi.

3:02

Dean of Students, Toby Elmore.

3:07

Thank you all for helping our athletes and your students and you know for everything they've done and accomplished.

3:14

And you guys thank you to your parents too for all they've done to support you guys through this process.

3:19

And I know that Dr.

3:20

Bernardo would like to say a few words as well.

3:25

Good afternoon.

3:26

Um the men's team had an equally outstanding year as the woman's team.

3:34

And um I believe it is a third state championship for the men's team, which is in and of itself remarkable.

3:42

Um, you know, I had a chance to chat with your administrators a little bit, and when you have a great team like you, and then you match them with another great team on the woman's side of things, and then you actually have that they're really good kids and really good people, and I think that's why your community, that's why Comac had such a uh uh a joy rooting for you because they were rooting for really good young men and women, and um that's as important as any state championship ring, although those are nice too, right?

4:12

But that's as important as any state championship ring can be.

4:15

I do know in terms of the parents having raised a uh soccer player.

4:19

Um I know that you spent a lot of time from Florida to Maine in really bad hotels eating really bad pizza um at really late tournaments that always seem to be at Virginia Beach on Sunday night, making the finals at about eight or nine o'clock.

4:34

So to the parents who did that, God bless you.

4:37

Thank you so much for having the great recipe.

4:40

Ed Smith always says you can't fake good kids, and uh, you certainly have done it well.

4:44

So, congratulations to the men's team, congratulations to Coach Dave Moran, assistant coach Chris Kunzik, uh Don O'Brien, I believe is the other assistant, and JB coach Greg Velicetta.

4:54

Um, to your principal, uh Ms.

4:57

Lippenholz, just phenomenal.

5:00

I mean, you you run a great building, you have a great team, and to your superintendent of schools, Jordan Cox.

5:03

Or maybe when you were a little old Fizz Ed teacher for me, Jordan.

5:06

And uh you've certainly risen to incredible things, and you you run probably one of the finest districts in the country.

5:12

So God bless you all.

5:13

Congratulations on a phenomenal season.

5:17

We'd like to have you all come up for big group picture.

5:20

And I am telling you, I'm totally digging the boys' hair.

5:23

Look at you guys all the same hair.

5:24

Come on up.

5:33

Love the hair.

5:39

Congratulations, you guys.

5:47

I've never been in the back.

5:48

And the coaches, Superintendent, all of you guys please come up and be part of the picture.

5:54

Italian start in the back and then everybody else grows if we don't know.

6:00

We're gonna do one big one and then we I know what's we talked about it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement███████████████15%
Environmental Protection██████████████14%
Active Transportation████████████12%
Procedural███████████11%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Youth Programs███████7%
Zoning And Land Use███████7%
Election Integrity████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Huntington Town Board Meeting - December 9, 2025

The Huntington Town Board met on December 9, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Town Hall. The meeting included a presentation honoring the Comac High School girls' and boys' varsity soccer teams for winning state championships, farewell remarks and tributes to outgoing Councilman Sal Farrow, and public comments on various topics including gas leaf blowers, sidewalk safety, traffic, and rezoning. The board adopted numerous resolutions, scheduled public hearings, and amended a water district resolution.

Presentations

  • Councilwoman Maury and Councilman Bernardo presented proclamations to the Comac High School girls' and boys' varsity soccer teams for winning the 2025-26 Class AAA state championships. The teams achieved the first state title in the program's history and made Comac the first Suffolk County school (13th in NYS) to have both boys and girls win state titles in the same year.
  • Councilman Sal Farrow delivered farewell remarks, reflecting on his tenure and accomplishments including the opioid task force and implementation of open government software. Board members and members of the public offered tributes, highlighting his work on addiction issues and community projects.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds (co-chair of opioid task force) thanked Councilman Farrow for partnership on addiction initiatives.
  • Karen Steinhouse presented a change.org petition with 392 signatures requesting a traffic study on Larkfield Road in East Northport, citing safety concerns and lack of study since 2009.
  • Sharon Richmond praised Councilman Farrow's support for the Hope and Healing Project (statue honoring overdose victims).
  • Robert Schwartz thanked Councilman Farrow for support of environmental projects and Manor Farm Beekeeping.
  • Environmental health ambassadors (Melanie Gabrell, Senna Knopf, Emma Polinski, Ryan Yoon) and Frances Whittlesey (representing Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Huntington) urged lifting the pause on the ban of gas leaf blowers, citing health risks from noise and emissions.
  • Multiple residents (John Gross, Daniel Carpen, Steve Weil, Matt Peluso, Karen Lovelace, Mary Ann Driscoll, Galena Simon, Ryan Widener) supported installing sidewalks on South Down Road, citing dangerous conditions for pedestrians. Karen Lovelace noted a petition with over 200 signatures.
  • Cynthia Clark criticized the village tree lighting event and SantaCon, citing safety issues and public disorder. She also made unsubstantiated accusations against Councilman Farrow, which the board condemned.
  • Daniel Carpen called for a $100 million 10-year open space acquisition program.
  • Pat Radlaber opposed a proposed multi-year lease with Centerport Yacht Club, but the board confirmed the item was pulled from the agenda and would require new public hearing if reconsidered.
  • Dorothy Fitzsimmons opposed scheduling a public hearing for the Starbucks/B2K zone change on Walt Whitman Road, asking for a delay. The board scheduled the hearing for February 10, 2026.
  • Joseph Levy and Susan Rubin addressed election integrity concerns, urging transparency.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 2025-632: To schedule a public hearing on February 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM to consider a zone change (from R-40/R-10 to C-6 General Business) for a Starbucks/retail at Melville on Walt Whitman Road. Councilwoman Maury stated the vote only schedules a hearing, not approval. Passed 4-1 (one opposed).
  • Resolution 2025-633: To schedule a public hearing on February 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM to consider a zone change (from R-5 to C-1 Office-Residence) for 50 Woodbury Road. Passed 4-0-1 (Councilwoman Lupinacci abstained).
  • Resolution 2025-634: Authorizing Dix Hills Water District to collect water usage charges, amended to include imposition of liens for unpaid charges and language regarding transfer of records and money to the receiver of taxes. Amendment passed 5-0, then resolution as amended adopted 5-0.
  • Consent Calendar: Resolutions 2025-612 through 2025-635 (excluding 632, 633, 634) were adopted unanimously on consent. These included various authorizations, budget amendments, donations, and scheduling of public hearings for building code amendment and Verizon license agreement.
  • Board of Trustees: Resolution 2025-BT-29 authorizing extension of a license agreement with H&M Powles Marine Agency, Inc. for marina services in Cold Spring Harbor was adopted 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Public hearings scheduled for February 10, 2026: (1) Starbucks/B2K zone change (4-1 vote), (2) 50 Woodbury Road zone change (4-0-1).
  • Dix Hills Water District resolution amended and adopted.
  • All other resolutions on consent and board of trustees item passed unanimously.
  • The board noted that town will develop a systematic plan for sidewalk installation, starting with discussions on South Down Road, including engineering and funding.
  • Councilman Sal Farrow's final meeting; new board member will be seated in January 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Well, good afternoon. Please join Councilwoman Maury for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to you guys. All right, good afternoon, everyone. We got a full house welcome, everyone. We're gonna start with Councilwoman Maury, who has a presentation to make. I do, and look at all these great kids sitting in the audience. So we are here today. Council um Councilman Bernardo and I are absolutely thrilled to welcome our Comac High School girls' varsity soccer team and the 2025-26 class AAA state champions to Town Hall today. And our boys' soccer team. Well what an extraordinary moment for this community, and what an incredible honor to celebrate you all here today. Your team has achieved, your teams have achieved something truly historic through determination, unity, resilience, and an unwavering competitive spirit. The Comac um your Comac teams have captured the first state title in the history of the program. And if that isn't impressive enough, this amazing accomplishment helped Comac become the first county school, first Suffolk County school, and only the 13th in New York State history to have both its boys and girls, rocky soccer varsity soccer teams win state championships in the same year. And that's worthy of applause right in the middle. Your dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship has been amazing. The way you've represented Comac with pride, grace, and fierce competitive spirits is nothing short of inspiring. We are all so proud of you in our town. Behind your program, head coach Joe Brenda Fino is he here. Yes, assistant coach Andrew Meyer. JV coach Matt Salman, Athletic Trainer Lynn McConnell. Thank you all for being here to support our teams. Also to the administrators who support strengthens Comac Athletics every day. We have Superintendent Dr. Jordan Cox. Dr. Cox is here, Principal Carrie Lippenholz, Athletic Director Patrick Friel, Vice Principal Matthew Keltos, Assistant Principals Andrea Allen and Eric Riagi. Dean of Students, Toby Elmore. Thank you all for helping our athletes and your students and you know for everything they've done and accomplished. And you guys thank you to your parents too for all they've done to support you guys through this process. And I know that Dr. Bernardo would like to say a few words as well. Good afternoon. Um the men's team had an equally outstanding year as the woman's team. And um I believe it is a third state championship for the men's team, which is in and of itself remarkable. Um, you know, I had a chance to chat with your administrators a little bit, and when you have a great team like you, and then you match them with another great team on the woman's side of things, and then you actually have that they're really good kids and really good people, and I think that's why your community, that's why Comac had such a uh uh a joy rooting for you because they were rooting for really good young men and women, and um that's as important as any state championship ring, although those are nice too, right? But that's as important as any state championship ring can be. I do know in terms of the parents having raised a uh soccer player. Um I know that you spent a lot of time from Florida to Maine in really bad hotels eating really bad pizza um at really late tournaments that always seem to be at Virginia Beach on Sunday night, making the finals at about eight or nine o'clock. So to the parents who did that, God bless you. Thank you so much for having the great recipe. Ed Smith always says you can't fake good kids, and uh, you certainly have done it well. So, congratulations to the men's team, congratulations to Coach Dave Moran, assistant coach Chris Kunzik, uh Don O'Brien, I believe is the other assistant, and JB coach Greg Velicetta. Um, to your principal, uh Ms. Lippenholz, just phenomenal. I mean, you you run a great building, you have a great team, and to your superintendent of schools, Jordan Cox. Or maybe when you were a little old Fizz Ed teacher for me, Jordan. And uh you've certainly risen to incredible things, and you you run probably one of the finest districts in the country. So God bless you all. Congratulations on a phenomenal season.

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