Smithtown Town Board Regular Meeting - August 11, 2026
Smithtown Town Board Regular Meeting - August 11, 2026
The Smithtown Town Board held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 2:00 PM in the Victor T. Liss Board Room. The meeting included employee recognitions, site plan presentations, four public hearings, approval of a consent agenda, numerous resolutions, and public comments. All votes were unanimous (5-0) unless otherwise noted.
Employee Recognitions
- August Employee of the Month: Sergeant Brendan Dennehy of the Public Safety Department was recognized for his professionalism, leadership, and community trust. He was named the 2026 Peace Officer of the Year.
- July Employee of the Month: Angelo Garassi (Groundskeeper) and Cheyenne Enland (Groundskeeper) from the Parks Department were recognized for their work on the America's 250th celebration landscaping, including the 1776 floral installations and patriotic displays.
Site Plan Presentations (Discussion Items)
Liam Trotta of the Planning Department presented three site plan applications acting as the Board of Site Plan Review:
- Kismet Homes – Construction of two 1,200 sq ft two-family dwellings and two 428 sq ft detached garages on Carl Avenue, Smithtown. The plan had been previously approved in 2017 but expired. Six conditions were agreed to, including shared curb cut, no fencing between parcels, and off-site landscaping not approved.
- 43 Landing Avenue – Construction of a 1,780 sq ft two-story single-family dwelling with a 910 sq ft cellar on Bladenberg Avenue, St. James. The site was a former parking lot. Six conditions included tree preservation, a drywell for a 3-inch rainfall, and brick siding on the chimney.
- DiCanio Management-Garage (Townline) – Construction of a 7,737 sq ft one-story garage building with two 500-gallon above-ground fuel tanks at 200 Town Line Road, Kings Park. Five conditions included no wash bay without Suffolk County Health approval, fire marshal review, and buried overhead wires.
Public Hearings
Four public hearings were held and closed unanimously:
- Local Law #11-2026 (Solid Waste Management) – Amendments requiring all recyclables to be placed in designated recycling containers, removing the exception for plastic bags.
- Local Law #12-2026 (Taxation) – Amendments to disabled veteran tax exemption eligibility, replacing the existing 100% disability requirement with a requirement for veterans considered permanently and totally disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Applies to assessment rolls based on taxable status dates on or after October 1, 2026.
- Zone Change Petition #2026-02 (Frances Popolizio) – Request to rezone property on Townline Road from R-43 to Light Industrial to conform to existing use as an equipment storage yard. The Planning Board had recommended approval. No public opposition.
- Verizon Cable Franchise Renewal – Proposed five-year renewal agreement with a 5% franchise fee on gross revenue and a $260,000 PEG access grant payable within 60 days of the effective date.
Advertise for Public Hearing
- The Town Clerk was authorized to advertise a public hearing for September 24, 2026 at 2:00 PM to consider Local Law #13-2026, which would establish a Parks, Recreation and Open Space Preservation Fund as a separate, non-lapsing trust account.
Consent Calendar
The consent agenda was approved unanimously, including:
- Minutes of July 14, 2026.
- 26 comptroller fund transfers and budget adjustments (e.g., $39,000 for plant maintenance, $100,000 for equipment repair, $18,454.26 for FEMA-related Survivors Park improvements, $190,000 for a pre-fab maintenance building, etc.).
- Levy of costs of $1,230.68 for property at 42 Maple Glen Lane, Nesconset.
- Authorization for Town Assessor Louis Necroto to attend the NYSAA 2026 Fall Conference from September 28 to October 1, 2026, at an approximate cost of $1,425, with hotel rate of $256 and daily meal rate of $130 in excess of GSA guidelines, and use of a town vehicle.
Resolutions Approved
All resolutions were adopted unanimously:
- SEQRA Negative Declaration for DiCanio Management-Garage site plan application.
- Bid advertisements for Bid #26-054 (HVAC, Plumbing, and Fire Sprinklers at Smithtown Welcome Center) and Bid #26-055 (Furnish and Install a Pre-Engineered Steel Storage Building on a Concrete Foundation), both returnable August 27, 2026 at 11:00 AM.
- Bid awards to: PPG Architectural Finishes (athletic field marking paint), The Barn Pet Feed & Supplies (animal shelter supplies), JR's Solutions LLC (construction of pergola at Short Beach and replacement of roof, soffit, and siding at Municipal Service Facility), Arrow Scrap Corp. (recycling of electronic waste), and Relle Electric Corp. (electric upgrades and field lighting at Charles P. Toner/Armory Park).
- Approvals: Agreement with Commack Ambulance District and Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corporation for emergency medical and ambulance services for calendar year 2026 at a cost of $698,484; ratification of Supervisor's execution of a liquor authority authorization form for Nesconset Day on August 30, 2026; amendment of agreement with BrandBuilders Media LLC for an updated proposal on backyard composter and rain barrel sale; retainer agreement with Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran LLP for zoning and land use matters; acceptance of donations for America 250 Celebration ($42,932.06 from Smithtown Historical Society and $10,000 from Reworld Waste LLC); extension of Bid #24-057 for processing and recycling of yard waste with Omni Recycling of Babylon Inc. until August 31, 2027; adoption of the 2026 Suffolk County Multi-Jurisdictional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan Update; extension of RFP #25-051 for maintenance and repair of physical systems with Miller Environmental Group, EnviroTrac LLC, and Wehran LFG Services, LLC through July 24, 2027; event contract with Lucky Strike Commack for a Youth Bureau bowling event on September 19, 2026; appointment of seven members to the Youth Advisory Board; rejection of all bids received November 20, 2025 for Bid #25-101 (Pre-Engineered Steel Storage Building); acceptance of a $20,000 Suffolk County Community Assistance Program (CAP) grant for stormwater pollution reduction through street tree planting; termination of contract with Nelson & Pope, Engineers and Land Surveyors, PLLC (RFP #20-032); utility easement application with National Grid for property at 350 Old Northport Road, Kings Park; consulting services agreement with Nicole Parsons, DNP, PMHNP-BC as Nurse Practitioner for Horizons Counseling & Education Center for a one-year term; and settlements in three lawsuits: Celeste Del Prete v. Town of Smithtown ($352.73), National General as subrogee of Patrick Delgado v. Town of Smithtown ($5,305.78), and Thomas Formica v. Town of Smithtown ($6,063.92).
- Personnel actions: Approvals of returns from unpaid military leave (Employee #008298, Public Safety, effective August 20, 2026), returns from unpaid medical leave (Employee #006783, Public Safety, effective September 15, 2026; Employee #004501, Parks, Buildings and Grounds, effective September 9, 2026); reassignment of Ave McArdle-Catoir from Tax Receiver to Highway Department; appointment of Sonia Frangella as Office Assistant in Town Clerk's office ($22.66/hr, 26-week probation, effective August 18, 2026); promotion of Dolores Schroeder to Principal Office Assistant in Highway Department ($31.24/hr, 12-week probation, effective August 17, 2026); seasonal appointment of David Smith as Assistant Recreation Leader ($2,000 contract, August 12 – September 4, 2026); termination of Employee #009262 in Recreation Department effective July 21, 2026; title change for Lara Farag from Recreation Aide to Recreation Aide II ($16.00/hr, retroactive to July 20, 2026 through September 18, 2026); part-time appointments of Akosua Fraser as Group Leader III ($28.71/hr, not to exceed ½ work week, effective August 12, 2026) and Fariya Rhamatzada as Assistant Group Leader ($21.31/hr, not to exceed ½ work week, effective August 12, 2026); change in status from provisional to permanent for Richard Kitt (Principal Environmental Analyst) and David Barnes (Environmental Protection Director), both effective retroactive to August 7, 2026.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Peter Hanson (47 Epispones Drive, Nesconset) invited the Board to the 9/11 Responders Remembered Park ceremony on September 12, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM, marking the 15th anniversary of the park and the 25th anniversary of 9/11. He noted the park's creation from a rock pile in 2007 with leadership from John Field and new executive vice president Judy Simmons.
- Ernest and Elizabeth Nadke (32 Hobson Avenue, St. James) raised a concern about non-resident parking at town parks. They described an incident where a resident permit holder could not accommodate a guest vehicle (non-resident) at Hoyt Park Farms, resulting in the guest having to park across a highway with young children. They requested a day pass or sponsorship mechanism. Supervisor Wehrheim clarified that a procedure exists: residents can call the Parks Department to obtain a one-day non-resident parking pass for $14. He apologized for the confusion and said he would instruct the Parks Director to inform gate staff.
Key Outcomes
- All four public hearings were closed unanimously; the proposed local laws and other items will be considered for adoption at a future meeting (the hearings were for consideration only, not adoption).
- The Town Clerk was authorized to advertise the September 24, 2026 public hearing for Local Law #13-2026.
- The consent agenda and all resolutions were adopted unanimously.
- The three site plans were conditionally approved by the Board of Site Plan Review, along with approval of the July 14, 2026 site plan minutes.
- The meeting adjourned after the public portion.
Meeting Transcript
Our August 11th board meeting, please join us in the pledge. Mr. Jack Lebowski. I'm not in this role. Roll call. Supervisor Wilhein. Here, Councilman McCarthy. Councilwoman Lower. Councilwoman Anzarello. Here. Townsman Loman. Yeah. Okay, before we begin this afternoon, we have uh our employee of the month. Actually, this afternoon we have two because we weren't able to get our folks over here for the July employee of the month, so we're going to start with this month. Um each month we own an employee whose dedication, professionalism, and character have made a meaningful impact on our community. Today it is my privilege to recognize someone who truly embodies those qualities, Sergeant Brendan Dennehy. Sergeant Dennehy certainly no Sergeant Dennehy is certainly no stranger to recognition for his public service. Over the past year, Brendan has received meritorious service awards for heroic and proactive law enforcement actions. And he was also named our 2026 Peace Officer of the Year. Those honors speak to his accomplishments, but what truly sets Brendan apart is the way he approaches the job every single day. He comes to work each day with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, commitment to excellence that his fellow officers respect and follow. He continually seeks additional training to strengthen his skills and knowledge. That dedication shows in the results, including several significant arrests and the successful clearance of multiple investigations this year. Equally important, Brandon is a trusted leader and mentor within the department. He plays a key role in the field training program and is always available to guide and support newer officers. To his colleagues, Brendan is an exemplary peace officer and a trusted leader. But to the residents of Smithtown, he is also the officer who always seems to have a smile on his face. Even on parade and festival days when he's carrying an assault rifle. He still manages to look so approachable that people are more likely to ask him for directions than even notice the gear. He is calm under pressure, approachable, and generally friendly to the people he serves. In fact, during a little league opening day this season, a young boy who had become separated from his parents spotted Sergeant Dennehy and immediately went right up to him for help. That says a great deal about Brendan and the sense of trust and security he brings to the people around him. Whether it is a serious law enforcement matter, mentoring a new officer or helping a frightened child find his parents, Sergeant Dennehy represents public service at its very best. On behalf of the entire town board and the people of Smithtown, is it our privilege to recognize Sergeant Brendan Denge as this month's public servant of excellence recipient? Brendan, your professionalism, leadership, compassion, and dedication to this community have earned the respect of your colleagues and the trust of Smithtown residents of all ages. I would ask Chief Lohman, would you please join us and present Sergeant Dennahy with the award? Actually, why don't we have you guys come in the middle so I can get everybody in the show? That way, I actually have a reading regions. This never happens. Congratulations, Brendan. Just kidding. Yes. Okay. We will now go a little bit in reverse, but we're going to go to our July employees of the month because we were unable to do that. Our July exceptional public servants were unable to join us at the last board meeting, and we certainly don't want to miss the opportunity to recognize them. Because the work they can do is so quite literally be seen in full bloom all across town. Today it is our privilege to recognize two outstanding members of our parks department, Angelo Garassi and Cheyenne Enland. Throughout June and July, as Smithtown prepared to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, Angelo and Cheyenne together with our entire landscaping crew led by Marcel Calais, went above and beyond to transform our town into an unforgettable display of patriotic pride. From the incredible 1776 floral installations to the beautiful landscaping surrounding our veterans memorial to red, white, and blue flowers planters throughout every hamlet. Their work was everywhere.
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