Smithtown Town Board Regular Meeting – June 9, 2026

The Smithtown Town Board held its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Victor T. Liss Board Room, Town Hall, Patrick R. Vecchio Building, 99 West Main Street, Smithtown, NY. Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim and Council members Thomas J. McCarthy, Lynne C. Nowick, Lisa M. Inzerillo, and Thomas Lohmann Sr. were present. The board unanimously adopted the consent calendar, resolutions, and personnel items, and heard two public speakers on Commack-area issues. All roll-call votes were 5-0, with Supervisor Wehrheim moving and Councilman McCarthy seconding.

Employee Recognition

• Supervisor Wehrheim presented the Exceptional Public Servant Award to Denise Barb, an animal control officer at the Smithtown Animal Shelter. Barb began with the Town in 2003 in the Recreation Department and joined Animal Control in 2017; she previously worked at the San Diego Zoo and as a veterinary assistant. The Supervisor cited her rescues of deer, swans, ducklings, and entangled birds, along with her community education work with children and scout troops.

Board of Water Commissioners Session

• Before the regular agenda, the board convened as the Board of Water Commissioners and unanimously approved the May 5, 2026 minutes, released escrow for Oakwood Building Group/Plymouth Estates, and authorized a budget modification.

Correspondence

• Special event permits were authorized for the Nesconset Chamber of Commerce Nesconset Day (August 30, 2026, 10:00 am–5:00 pm), St. Andrew's Lutheran German Fall Festival (September 19, 2026, 10:00 am–6:00 pm), and the Smithtown 250th 4th of July Parade (10:00 am–approximately 12:00 pm).
• The Building Department May 2026 report was accepted.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the May 21, 2026 meeting minutes.
• It approved 13 Comptroller budget transfers, including transfers of $115,194.00 from overtime salaries, $83,963.87 from patching, $92,694.19 to equipment rental, $106,463.68 to sand/salt, $30,000.00 from contingency to celebrations, $56,000.00 to shredder maintenance, and highway CHIPS capital/equipment adjustments of $25,596.33, $273,853.16, and $1,005,872.51.
• The consent calendar also included release of a landscaping escrow at 238 Pulaski Road, Kings Park, and acceptance of a $100,000.00 escrow from Prospect Realty Partners, LLC to guarantee on-site improvements for the Prospect Sports Partners site on Old Northport Road, Kings Park.
• Resolution #4671, authorizing Town Assessor Louis Necroto to attend the Cornell Seminar on Professional Development in Ithaca, New York from July 19–24, 2026 at an approximate cost of $1,800.00, was approved. The minutes also authorized use of a Town vehicle, which was not listed in the agenda.

Resolutions and Board Approvals

• Bid #26-028, Swimming Pool Services, was awarded to Jennosa Pools, Inc.; bids were opened April 16, 2026. Aquatic Dynamics, Inc. was separately determined to be a non-responsible bidder for the same bid.
• The Parks Department was authorized to purchase a Stand-On Aerator with Spreader and a Stand-On Lawn Sprayer from Storr Tractor Company.
• Lillian Kennedy was appointed Sub-Registrar of Vital Statistics to fill the unexpired term of Kathleen Riekkinen. Note: the agenda and item title state the term runs June 13, 2026 through December 31, 2029, while the resolution text in the minutes states December 31, 2028.
• The board ratified the Town Attorney's execution of the Opioid Settlement Participation Agreement with Remnant Defendants in the National Opioid Litigation.
• The board authorized a NY PLAYS grant application for a new playground and comfort station at Burr Winkle Park in Commack. The total expected project cost is $2,224,000; the Town would seek $1,779,200 (80%) and commit up to $444,800 in matching funds (20%). The board also concurred that the ADA-compliant replacement project is a SEQRA Type II action.
• The board authorized and concurred with the SEQRA Type II determination for a two-year license agreement with Suffolk County to maintain, repair, and improve the county-owned Memorial Commander Fred Amore, Jr. Cannon Park at Route 25 and Route 454 in Commack, including landscaping and historical artifacts such as the decommissioned anti-aircraft gun.
• Resolutions #4568 and #4587, adopted May 5, 2026, were rescinded.
• The Supervisor's execution of NYS Liquor Authority Landlord Authorization Forms for Smithtown Bistro, LLC and RLH Hospitality Group DBA Sassy Sips Mobile Bar for Smithtown Festival Day on June 7, 2026 was ratified.
• The intermunicipal agreement with the Town of Brookhaven for disposal of street sweepings at the Yaphank landfill was extended through December 31, 2026.
• The 2026 Agreement to Spend Town Highway Funds was amended to include NYS CHIPS funding for equipment purchases.
• The board ratified the Town Attorney's withdrawal of the Town from the federal court action challenging the Even Year Election Law, effective December 26, 2025.
• The Supervisor was authorized to execute the Hauppauge Ambulance District agreement with the Central Islip-Hauppauge Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. for January 1–December 31, 2026, and an agreement with Brett Bailey for a donated memorial bench and plaque at Long Beach.
• Litigation settlements were approved as recommended: Dawn Battaglia-Daukantas v. Town of Smithtown ($356.00), Elisa Castiglione v. Town of Smithtown ($4,500.00), and Michele McGowan v. Town of Smithtown ($201.50). The combined settlement total is $5,057.50.

Personnel Items

• The board unanimously approved personnel matters A through W, including the promotion of Julianna Gomez to Senior Office Assistant at $23.45/hour; full-time appointments of Shane Hartig and Michael Wichtendahl as Fire Marshal I at $29.55/hour; provisional promotions of Elaine Neumeyer to Senior Citizens Center Manager at $32.53/hour and Mary Hyland to Senior Citizens Program Supervisor at $36.05/hour; numerous seasonal and part-time appointments in Parks, Recreation, Public Safety, Youth Bureau, and School Age Child Care; salary and title changes; one termination effective June 10, 2026; and approved leaves of absence.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Under the Town's public comment rules, two residents addressed the board.
• Bob Sanprini, president of the Commack Community Association, raised concerns about a resident's neighbor burning wood for 8–10 hours a day, making it impossible for the resident to use their property; he submitted an Oyster Bay town code document for possible Smithtown code changes. He also described traffic congestion on Veterans Highway and Jericho Turnpike near Cannon Park, noting four traffic lights in close proximity, and asked for traffic signal retiming. He further asked about follow-up on heavy truck traffic on Town Line Road. Supervisor Wehrheim responded that the Town's traffic safety director had contacted Huntington's traffic safety director but had not yet received a call back, and that the Town is ready to engage with Huntington.
• Erwin Eisen (17 Horseshoe Lane, Commack) echoed the traffic concerns, criticized the 'Queensification of Commack', and said infrastructure cannot sustain further development. He called for a moratorium in the Crooked Hill Road/Henry Street area before more site development, corner development, or area variances are approved, citing Rising Cane's, Shake Shack, and McDonald's as future traffic generators.

Key Outcomes

• All resolutions, consent items, and personnel matters were adopted unanimously (5-0), with no recorded opposition or abstentions.
• Bid #26-028 was awarded to Jennosa Pools, Inc.; Aquatic Dynamics, Inc. was declared a non-responsible bidder.
• A NY PLAYS grant application was authorized for Burr Winkle Park improvements, with the Town committing up to $444,800 in matching funds if awarded.
• The two-year Cannon Park license agreement with Suffolk County was approved; the board thanked Legislator Fulmica for partnership on the project.
• The opioid settlement participation, highway funds revision, Brookhaven street sweeping extension, and withdrawal from the Even Year Election Law lawsuit were ratified.
• Settlements totaling $5,057.50 were approved.
• Public comment follow-ups include continued outreach to Huntington on Town Line Road truck traffic and resident requests for review of wood-smoke regulations and a Commack-area traffic/moratorium analysis.
• The meeting was adjourned unanimously.