OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Town of Huntington Town Board Meeting - March 10, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, March 10, 2026
BodyHuntington, New York
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, March 10, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:12:54

Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

Please join Councilwoman Maury for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:27

Thank you.

0:28

And if I ask uh Joe Rec.

0:32

Would you mind opening the curtains and let some of that sunlight in?

0:37

It's a welcome.

0:39

Very welcome sunlight.

0:41

If you could do the same on this side, Chris.

0:52

All right.

0:52

Well, good afternoon, everyone.

0:54

Thank you all for coming.

0:55

And before we start our our board meeting, I have one presentation to make.

1:03

If you haven't figured it out by now, Ben, we do not have a leak here in the town boardroom.

1:46

Face that way.

1:51

Well, today we have the honor of recognizing someone whose dedication and service has had a lasting impact on generations of young athletes and families in our community.

2:01

It is my honor to recognize Ben DiGirolamo, a longtime leader and volunteer with the Comac South Little League.

2:08

For over 23 years, Ben has served on the Little League board, including 12 years as president, leading with integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the children and families of our community.

2:18

Ben has continued serving and volunteering for 14 years after his own child was no longer part of the program.

2:25

I presume one of these guys here was a little leaguer.

2:28

Now this this okay, yeah.

2:31

He stayed well beyond his own children's playing time at the Little League.

2:36

Through countless hours of work behind the scenes, before games, after games, and throughout the year, Ben has helped improve facility safety and ensure every child who steps on the field has a safe, welcoming place to play ball.

2:49

During his time with the league, Ben helped guide growth of the program, improvements to the facilities and strengthening the community tradition that has been that has brought families together for decades.

2:59

This recognition would not be possible without the advocacy of those who have worked closely with Ben and witnessed his dedication firsthand.

3:07

I want to thank Kevin Tracy who brought Ben's incredible contributions to the town's attention and strongly advocated for this recognition.

3:14

We would also like to appreciate the recommendations of legislator Sal Formica, who joined in recognizing Ben's decade decades of service to the Comac community.

3:24

In recognition of Ben's extraordinary dedication, the Huntington Town Board will be voting today on a resolution to name the little a little league field at the Comac Park in his honor, the Ben DiGirolamo field.

3:48

And there will be a dedication ceremony later this spring.

3:56

You're welcome.

3:56

Thank you.

4:09

Thank you all very much.

4:12

Oh, oh Ben.

4:15

We have a proclamation also, but a proclamation.

4:28

All right, ready?

5:05

All right, thank you, Ben.

5:06

And we'll it we'll make an announcement in the future on the date that we're going to dedicate the field over at Comac Park.

5:13

And uh very quickly, there's there's somebody here on the fly.

5:16

I want to recognize who's been a tremendous uh advocate in the community and also a uh a great reporter, Pam Robinson.

5:25

I believe that this is going to be your what your last, if not last, uh one of your last board meetings.

5:31

She is she has grandchildren that she wants to go be near one grandchild in Virginia.

5:39

Oh the greatest grandchild.

5:43

Well, I I just didn't want to let the day go by without recognizing so thank you, Pam.

5:50

I'm sure me too.

5:55

All right.

5:57

So at this time, uh there any other presentations.

6:00

I didn't know.

6:02

Okay.

6:03

Uh at this time we will go straight into our public hearings.

6:08

Mr.

6:08

Town Clerk, please call the notice for public hearing number one.

6:12

Thank you, Mr.

6:12

Supervisor.

6:13

Good day, all.

6:14

And it is a beautiful day out there.

6:17

Town board public hearing, public hearing number one.

6:19

The town board scheduled this public hearing to consider entering to an agreement with the incorporated village of Northport for the provision of fire protection services to the town of Huntington, fire protection district number one.

6:31

Commencing January 1st, 2026 and terminating on December 31st, 2030.

6:36

Nong Prong Tong.

6:38

Uh this is by order of the town board.

6:40

Andrew Rey, Town Clerk, I have the affidavits of publication and posting uh in the Long Islander.

6:46

Great.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Public Safety█████████████████17%
Transportation Safety████████8%
Zoning And Land Use██████6%
Youth Programs█████5%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Noise Pollution████4%
Energy Management████4%
Engineering And Infrastructure███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Town of Huntington Town Board Meeting - March 10, 2026

The Town of Huntington Town Board held a meeting on March 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Town Hall. The meeting included 10 public hearings, a public comment period, and the adoption of over 50 resolutions. Key actions included dedicating a Little League field, authorizing sports licenses, amending traffic codes, approving budget adjustments, and scheduling future public hearings. The board also recognized longtime volunteer Ben DiGirolamo and bid farewell to reporter Pam Robinson.

Presentations & Recognitions

  • Ben DiGirolamo Recognition: The board honored Ben DiGirolamo for 23 years of service with Commack South Little League, including 12 years as president. The board voted to rename a Little League field at Commack Park as the Ben DiGirolamo Field (Resolution 2026-105).
  • Farewell to Pam Robinson: The board acknowledged Pam Robinson, a longtime community reporter, attending what may be her last board meeting before retiring to be near family.

Public Hearings

  • Public Hearing #1 (Fire Protection Agreement): Considered an agreement with the Village of Northport for fire protection services for Fire Protection District No. 1 (nunc pro tunc). No public speakers. Closed.
  • Public Hearing #2 (Sports Organization Licenses): Considered license agreements with multiple youth sports organizations for use of town facilities. No public speakers. Closed.
  • Public Hearing #3 (Blighted Property): Considered declaring certain properties blighted under Chapter 156. The property owner entered a restoration agreement. One resident, Robert Lamont, raised concern about a potentially blighted brick house on Alpine Way; the board agreed to investigate. Closed.
  • Public Hearing #4 (Snow and Ice Reserve Fund): Considered appropriating funds from the Snow and Ice Reserve Fund. Robert Lamont spoke, commending the highway department and town staff for their response to a recent 2-foot snowstorm. Closed.
  • Public Hearing #5 (Solid Waste Management Amendment): Considered Local Law Introductory No. 1-2026 amending Chapter 117 (Solid Waste Management). No public speakers. Closed.
  • Public Hearing #6 (Traffic Code – Prohibited Turns): Considered Local Law Introductory No. 2-2026 regarding left-turn restrictions on Ruland Road in Melville. No public speakers. Closed.
  • Public Hearing #7 (Traffic Code – Stop Sign on Wayne Court): Considered Local Law Introductory No. 3-2026 adding a stop sign at Wayne Court and Highwood Drive in Northport. No public speakers. Closed.
  • Public Hearing #8 (Traffic Code – Stop Signs on Carley Avenue and Rusco Street): Considered Local Law Introductory No. 4-2026 adding and deleting stop signs at Carley Avenue and Rusco Street in Huntington. No public speakers. Closed.
  • Public Hearing #9 (Traffic Code – Stop Signs on St. Mark’s Place): Considered Local Law Introductory No. 5-2026 adding stop signs at St. Mark’s Place with Midland Street and Carnegie Avenue in Cold Spring Harbor. No public speakers. Closed.
  • Public Hearing #10 (Traffic Code – Stop Sign on Grant Street): Considered Local Law Introductory No. 6-2026 adding a stop sign at Grant Street and Harrison Drive in East Northport. No public speakers. Closed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sal D’Angelo: Expressed opposition to a newly adopted resolution providing lifetime health insurance for employees and appointed officials with only 6 years of service (age 55) and retroactively to 2020 (age 50). He argued it is overly generous compared to NYS Civil Service (10 years at 55) and requested financial projections be made public. He also criticized the transition to a centralized call center, saying it weakens board member efficiency and accountability.
  • Anthony Centrella: Expressed strong opposition to the town’s allowance of gas-powered leaf blowers, calling them harmful and intrusive. He criticized the town for bowing to landscaper pressure after previously passing a ban, and urged a phased approach starting with summer restrictions. He cited successful bans in other towns (e.g., Rye, NY). Supervisor Smith responded that many residents and landscapers opposed the ban, not just the industry. Councilwoman Maury stated she plans to hold a roundtable with stakeholders.
  • Daniel Carpin: Delivered a metaphorical speech likening the town board to a ship (the SS Edmund), claiming several members have “jumped ship” (Brooke Lupinacci, Sal Farrow) and alleging Councilman Dave Bernardo may leave. He questioned Councilwoman Teresa Maury’s intentions.
  • Gaia Deanna: Raised concerns about a building at 204-206 New York Avenue (also using address 11 Lake Place) housing a bookstore, yoga studio, insurance office, and a Pilates studio called Torched Pilates. She reported parking issues, emergency vehicle access problems, and that the Pilates business lacks a certificate of occupancy and proper permits. She referenced zoning documents from 2001 and 2005 that required certain conditions (e.g., only one use, evergreen buffer). She urged enforcement. The supervisor noted there is a ZBA application on the property and said the town would investigate.
  • Robert Lamont: Spoke on leaf blowers, arguing the town should have resolved the issue last year and noting that electric alternatives are available. He also expressed concern about electrical supply and high-density housing (e.g., Belport, Pat Shaw, a proposed 45-house development on the Apple Farm site), and fire safety risks from closely built homes.
  • Edward O’Brien Carroll: Questioned the measurable goals of the town’s Division of Minority Affairs and its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, including the Anti-Bias Task Force (established 1994, expanded 2017 and 2020). He expressed concern that such programs rarely wind down and may create permanent structures. He also noted overlap with Suffolk County programs. The supervisor clarified that the task forces are all-volunteer advisory boards.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 2026-157 (Public Hearing on Public Nuisances – Vaping): Councilwoman Maury introduced a resolution to schedule a public hearing on April 14, 2026, to consider Local Law Introductory No. 15-2026, amending Chapter 50 (Public Nuisances) to increase fines for sales of vapes to persons under 21. She noted that Huntington has seen multiple arrests in recent years, including the seizure of 86 boxes of illegal vapes. The board voted 5-0 to adopt the resolution.
  • Resolution 2026-159 (Public Hearing on Public Nuisances – Prostitution): Councilwoman Maury introduced a resolution to schedule a public hearing on April 14, 2026, to consider Local Law Introductory No. 16-2026, amending Chapter 50, Article 2 (Remedies and Enforcement) to increase fines for public nuisances related to prostitution. She detailed prior efforts (two previous resolutions that passed 5-0) but noted that illegal foot spas and brothels continue to operate, with cases appearing in town court every few weeks. She cited a recent raid at the Roadway Inn in Huntington Station where women were trafficked. The board voted 5-0 to adopt the resolution.
  • Resolution 2026-154 (Prohibition of Holiday Decorations in Memorial Parks): The board adopted a resolution prohibiting the installation of seasonal holiday decorations in certain memorial parks. No debate recorded.
  • Late Addition – Resolution 2026-163 (Mill Dam Marina Repairs): The board added a late resolution authorizing a budget amendment for immediate repairs to Mill Dam Marina (pylons and dock work). Adopted 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted Resolutions (all passed 5-0):
    • 2026-105: Dedicated a Little League field at Commack Park to Ben DiGirolamo.
    • 2026-106: Authorized an agreement with Harborfields Central School District for Pickle Park.
    • 2026-107 to 2026-109: Authorized agreements for Earth Day event (farm animals, marine touch tank, paper shredding).
    • 2026-110: Authorized budget revision for youth services.
    • 2026-111: Authorized senior center paper shredding services on four dates in 2026.
    • 2026-112: Authorized Earth Day event at Elwood Park on April 25, 2026.
    • 2026-113: Accepted tree and shrub saplings for Arbor Day.
    • 2026-114: Accepted monetary donations ($1653 Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, Northwell Health, Reworld) for Earth Day.
    • 2026-115: Authorized grant application for record management improvement.
    • 2026-116: Authorized application for Long Island Sound Resilience Planning Support for Cold Spring Harbor.
    • 2026-117: Authorized payment from National Grid for road restoration in Melville.
    • 2026-118: Approved budget modification for HART bus system operating assistance.
    • 2026-119: Authorized contract with Huntington YMCA for use of Dix Hills Park Pool.
    • 2026-120: Authorized grant documents for Friends of Coltrane Home.
    • 2026-121: Authorized extensions for sludge disposal contracts.
    • 2026-122: Authorized license agreement with Centerport Fire Department for car show.
    • 2026-123: Authorized license agreement with Huntington Flea LLC.
    • 2026-124: Authorized license agreement with L.I. Farmers Market.
    • 2026-125: Authorized license agreement with National Grid Generation for boat ramp access (Councilwoman Lupinacci opposed).
    • 2026-126: Authorized license agreement with NY LGBT Network for Pride Parade and Festival.
    • 2026-127: Authorized memorandum of agreement with CSEA.
    • 2026-128: Authorized final extension for OpenGov software contract.
    • 2026-129/130/131/132: Authorized various budget amendments.
    • 2026-133: Appropriated funds from Technology Replacement Reserve for Media Center project.
    • 2026-134: Appropriated funds from Snow and Ice Reserve Fund for General Services.
    • 2026-136: Co-sponsored Give a Dog a Dream Walk & Wag event.
    • 2026-137/138/139: Authorized use of Dix Hills Park Pool for Gateway Gardens children, Whitman Village children, and Tri Community & Youth Agency.
    • 2026-140: Accepted community service project from Woodhull Intermediate School students.
    • 2026-141: Accepted donations for Valentine’s Day Marriage Marathon.
    • 2026-142: Accepted reimbursement from Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth for portable lavatories.
    • 2026-143: Amended town credit card policy.
    • 2026-144: Appointed Thomas J. Kehoe to Suffolk County Working Waterfront Committee (term to March 10, 2030).
    • 2026-145: Declared surplus equipment and vehicles for disposal.
    • 2026-146: Granted installation easement to New York Transco LLC for Propel NY Energy project.
    • 2026-147: Reappointed Lawrence Leake, James Powers, and Alfred Walker to Historic Preservation Commission (terms to March 12, 2029).
    • 2026-148: Enacted authorization for sports organization license agreements.
    • 2026-149 to 2026-153: Scheduled public hearings for April 14, 2026, at 6 PM for various local laws (recharge basin, stop signs on Avdon Lane, Bruce Lane, Chesterhill Lane, Garden Court).
    • 2026-154: Prohibited holiday decorations in certain memorial parks.
    • 2026-155: Authorized traffic signal preemption agreement with NYSDOT.
    • 2026-156: Reappointed members to Opioid and Addiction Task Force (terms through 2027 and 2028).
    • 2026-157: Scheduled public hearing for Local Law Introductory No. 15-2026 (vaping fines).
    • 2026-158: Authorized agreement with H2M architects for MS4 staff training.
    • 2026-159: Scheduled public hearing for Local Law Introductory No. 16-2026 (prostitution fines).
    • 2026-160: Authorized budget amendment for General Services.
    • 2026-161: Appointed Jeffrey Crop as Acting Deputy Director of Maritime Services.
    • 2026-162: Authorized extension of contract for Chase Bank parking lot reconstruction.
    • 2026-163 (late starter): Authorized budget amendment for Mill Dam Marina repairs.

Meeting Transcript

Please join Councilwoman Maury for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. And if I ask uh Joe Rec. Would you mind opening the curtains and let some of that sunlight in? It's a welcome. Very welcome sunlight. If you could do the same on this side, Chris. All right. Well, good afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for coming. And before we start our our board meeting, I have one presentation to make. If you haven't figured it out by now, Ben, we do not have a leak here in the town boardroom. Face that way. Well, today we have the honor of recognizing someone whose dedication and service has had a lasting impact on generations of young athletes and families in our community. It is my honor to recognize Ben DiGirolamo, a longtime leader and volunteer with the Comac South Little League. For over 23 years, Ben has served on the Little League board, including 12 years as president, leading with integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the children and families of our community. Ben has continued serving and volunteering for 14 years after his own child was no longer part of the program. I presume one of these guys here was a little leaguer. Now this this okay, yeah. He stayed well beyond his own children's playing time at the Little League. Through countless hours of work behind the scenes, before games, after games, and throughout the year, Ben has helped improve facility safety and ensure every child who steps on the field has a safe, welcoming place to play ball. During his time with the league, Ben helped guide growth of the program, improvements to the facilities and strengthening the community tradition that has been that has brought families together for decades. This recognition would not be possible without the advocacy of those who have worked closely with Ben and witnessed his dedication firsthand. I want to thank Kevin Tracy who brought Ben's incredible contributions to the town's attention and strongly advocated for this recognition. We would also like to appreciate the recommendations of legislator Sal Formica, who joined in recognizing Ben's decade decades of service to the Comac community. In recognition of Ben's extraordinary dedication, the Huntington Town Board will be voting today on a resolution to name the little a little league field at the Comac Park in his honor, the Ben DiGirolamo field. And there will be a dedication ceremony later this spring. You're welcome. Thank you. Thank you all very much. Oh, oh Ben. We have a proclamation also, but a proclamation. All right, ready? All right, thank you, Ben. And we'll it we'll make an announcement in the future on the date that we're going to dedicate the field over at Comac Park. And uh very quickly, there's there's somebody here on the fly. I want to recognize who's been a tremendous uh advocate in the community and also a uh a great reporter, Pam Robinson. I believe that this is going to be your what your last, if not last, uh one of your last board meetings. She is she has grandchildren that she wants to go be near one grandchild in Virginia. Oh the greatest grandchild. Well, I I just didn't want to let the day go by without recognizing so thank you, Pam. I'm sure me too. All right. So at this time, uh there any other presentations. I didn't know. Okay. Uh at this time we will go straight into our public hearings. Mr. Town Clerk, please call the notice for public hearing number one. Thank you, Mr.

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