September Meeting Minutes

MINUTES of the MIDDLE ISLAND CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Regular Meeting, Thursday, September 17, 2009, MIFD
MICA OFFICERS in ATTENDANCE: President Tom Talbot, First Vice President Denise Arnold, Second Vice President Betsey Martinez, Treasurer Larry Mazza, Secretary Gail Lynch-Bailey. THOSE WHO SIGNED IN: Frank Bailey, Jacqui Palatnik, Phyllis Dieber, George Lymber, Roz Muraskin, Barbara Foreman, Deborah Dillan, Margaret Malloy, Lori DiDomenico, Michael Loguercio, Jack Stinton, Fred Steinmann, Irene Steinmann, Harold Lilie, Edith Lilie, Harold Bachmann, Suzanne Johnson, Ira Brickman, Leonard & Marie Montalbano, Kim San Inocencio, Chris Buben, Chris Hanley, Rich Kollar, Mike Ennis, Jennifer Ennis; ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Grant Parpan, Nick Paglia, Eric Alexander, Chic Voorhis
 
I. The meeting was CALLED TO ORDER at 7:10 p.m.
 
II. The PLEDGE of ALLEGIANCE was recited.

III. The July meeting MINUTES were read and approved as written on a motion by Ms. Muraskin, seconded by Ms. Dieber. Mr. Brickman requested a larger typeface for the printed copies of the minutes.

IV. The TREASURER’s REPORT listed $3,185.45 in the savings and $512.19 in the checking accounts.

V. PRESIDENT’s REPORT/UNFINISHED & NEW BUSINESS

  • ABCO will sponsor two Meet-the-Candidates nights, one for county-wide races on Monday, September 21, and another for Town of Brookhaven races on Monday, Oct. 19, both at the Old Coram Firehouse, 7:30 pm start
  • TOB Fair at Longwood: lots of rain on Saturday and sunshine on Sunday; nice turnout at the MICA table which featured our new banner
  • Bartlett Pond Park- layout for memorials being pursued via Alliance’s veterans committee, including Mr. Bachmann and Mr. Infranco. Flt. 800 Memorial designer and Ridge resident Gary Gentile has volunteered his services. Also looking to expand recreational aspects of park, nearly one-third of which is overgrown and unusable. Exercise trail, ball field would be nice.
  • MI Schoolhouse –Suzanne Johnson explained the restoration of the existing west side window and installation of new east side window; raising of collar ties needed before Eagle Scout candidate Rob Andersen can complete his interior wall desk projects; school dates to 1830, being restored to 1890 appearance when front enclosure was added
  • Casino at Calverton? recognition of Shinnecock tribe could pave way for gambling operation nearby or at Belmont; a topic to watch
  • Legacy Village, aka Levy Town, a mega-development proposed by SC Exec for Yaphank, would negatively affect us by placing 1000 housing units in Longwood CSD and all the tax-generating industrial sites in South Country. “We’re not opposed to work force housing,” said BOE President Mike Loguercio, “but the split is unfair.” Mr. Brickman detailed the lack of SC Legislature’s role in this process. President Talbot explained his testimony as a private citizen at the recent hearing in favor of Kate Browning’s proposal to create a 9-member task force to study the plan, which was tabled by the Legislature.
  • Historic sites: some progress at last on Davis House, Old Library/schoolhouse at Coram FD looking much better!

VI. PRESENTATIONS/GUEST SPEAKERS

  • MICA member Edith Lilie announced plans to re-build her family’s business at its original site after a fire three years ago destroyed the Ben’s Hardware and Paint shop on MCR that her father started 55 years ago. A quirky TOB ordinance caused the parcel to revert to all residential zoning after the Lilies did the responsible thing and removed the burnt-out shell. President Talbot called for and received a unanimous motion of support by MICA’s membership for the Lilies as they pursue a COZ for the new building, with details to be provided prior to the TOB hearing in November.
  • Good Neighbor Recognition of our Middle Island Post Office, whose workers received a Five Star Rating for customer service for 7, make that 8!, consecutive quarters from the Gallup Organization. President Talbot presented Postmistress Lori DiDomenico with congratulatory letter and certificate from MICA.
  • North Shore Sun Editor Grant Parpan gave us an online preview of “SuffolkSports.com” a new interactive website featuring local high school games, athletes and student journalists. The free site allows subscribers to post their own content, videos, photos, and uses popular social networking techniques.
  • Middle Island Fire District Chairman Nick Paglia discussed three upcoming projects: refurbishing and updating of Station 2, with 2 bays expanded on east side and brick façade replacing old wood siding; purchase of permanent emergency generators; and mandated firefighter training, including window bailouts via ropes. No new taxes; total costs of $1.5-2.5 million would be taken from reserves.
  • The Saga of Sandy Hills: LI Vision’s Eric Alexander and environmental consultant Chic Voorhis refuted claims made in the press by Pine Barrens Society Executive Director Richard Amper that Sandy Hills does not adhere to the principles of Smart Growth. Mr. Amper declined MICA’s invitation to speak in September, after his group secured a TRO against the TOB to stop the SH site plan review process. Instead, Mr. Alexander reviewed the history of the project, its role in shaping the hamlet center and its near perfect adherence to principles of Smart Growth, including a range of housing types, mixed use of commercial/retail space, transportation alternatives via the new bypass blvd, preservation of open space and green/LEED factors. Questions and comments included Vision’s track record on projects it supports, its financing, and whether new concerns such as the larger Carmans River surface watershed should be part of the approval process. Mr. Voorhis explained the currently required and lengthy environmental reviews Sandy Hills underwent via its DEIS, supplemental DEIS, FEIS, culvert construction for the tiger salamander habitat, expandable sewage treatment plant, traffic remediation, and that the project is ultimately less intense than what the MCRLUP actually calls for.

VII. The meeting was ADJOURNED on a motion by Mr. Stinton at 9:20 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

–Gail Lynch-Bailey, Secretary