Meeting Minutes
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October
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Call to Order: The October 11, 2023 meeting of the Yaphank Taxpayers and Civic Association, Inc. Membership Meeting was was called to order at 7:40 PM.
Board of Directors Present: Chad Trusnovec, President; Linda Petersen, First Vice President, Kathleen Madigan, Recording Secretary; Fran Hurley, Corresponding Secretary; Jamie Martell, Treasurer;
Jacqueline Mitrani, 2 Year Trustee
TracyLukas, 1 Year Trustee
Board of Directors Absent:John Schroder, 3 Year Trustee
Tom Jermyn, 2 Year Trustee
Meeting called to order: 7:40pm
Chad: New Business
Candidates:Chad Lennon, Sixth Legislative District
Dan Panico, Brookhaven Town Supervisor
Chad Lennon speaks:
Marine, attorney, worked at Pentagon, Congress, Member Suffolk Count Bar Association
Opposed to immigrants and asylum in Suffolk County
Concerned about crime from immigrants
Need more law enforcement and police and District Attorney staff
We are losing many police officers due to retirement and the defund the police movement
Board president brings up issue of entity wanting to create a boutique motel in Yaphank and possibility of illegal immigrants
Audience raises question about wait for pistol permit application and issues purchasing ammunition
Dan Panico speaks:
First elected in 2013 and re-elected thereafter as Councilman District 6 and Deputy Supervisor Town of BrookhavenVery knowledgeable on land use and zoning
Brookhaven Town has a triple bond rating
Does not talk about national politics, interested in town government
Proud of his record
Regarding motel-discussion of it being open space
Audience discussion on Social Services putting people in the motel
Dan Panico emphasizes power of land use and zoning
He cites Forge River Sewer project costs and stays “you have to tell people the truth
Says Suffolk County Government is not transparent
County sold 350 es of land to Brookhaven Rail Terminal for greatly discount price
Quality of life is a priority
Has wholistic view of preservation and feels we have to save what is left
Discussion of Lower Yaphank lake issues and the $478,000 Civic gave to Brookhaven Town to clean up the lake
Dan Panico will assist with a solution if permits can reissued
Mention of a harvester to pull weeds
Dan Panico will commit to cleaning up the lake
Discussion of Brookhaven Town purchasing the motel property
Dan Panico knows all areas of Town government
Discussion of Ridge/Yaphank Fire Department dispute
Chad tables reading of the minutes from the last meeting
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm. Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Madigan
Recording Secretary
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September
Yaphank Taxpayers and Civic Association, Inc. Membership Meeting
September 13, 2023
Call to Order: The June 14, 2024 meeting of the Yaphank Taxpayers and Civic Association, Inc. Membership Meeting was was called to order at 7:35 PM.
Board of Directors Present: Chad Trusnovec, President; Linda Petersen, First Vice President, Kathleen Madigan, Recording Secretary; Fran Hurley, Corresponding Secretary; Jaime Martell, Treasurer; John Schroder, 3 Year Trustee
Jacqueline Mitrani, 2 Year Trustee
Tom Jermyn, 2 Year Trustee
TracyLukas, 1 Year Trustee
Board of Directors Absent:Cynthia McKenna, 3 Year Trustee
Meeting called to order: 7:35pm
Chad: Cindy McKenna, new trustee may have to resign due to husband’s illness.
Dues are due for January to January
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New Business
Guest Speaker:Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, NY Assembly District 3
His office contacted DOT about Chad’s statement that DOT was ordered to destroy all trucks in their fleet that don’t meet standards. DOT told him that it was not true.
He said full background checks are now necessary to purchase ammunition in New York State
Brookhaven Rail Terminal
Joe and Dean Murray supported the original bill for the Brookhaven Rail terminal thinking it would take trucks off the road
Chad asks what happens when the dump closes?
Mike Loguercio, Brookhaven Town Councilman, District 4 says the Brookhaven Rail project is controlled by the Federal Government. Town has no control.
Winter Brothers has not yet filed for permits
Andy Kaufman and Brookhaven Rail sold properties to Northpoint and Winter Brothers
Roads
Joe Setefano says his office takes calls about local roads and they call the Town and County on them.
Joe has a liaison to the DOT
On ramps-County
Off ramps-state
Long Island Expressway work form Yaphank to Riverhead in progress-resurfacing and may keep concrete
Joe gets things done for his community and votes on what benefits his constituents
He is bi-partisan
Yaphank Lower Lake
Mike Loguercio, Brookhaven Town Councilman, District 4 saysDiscussion of the lawsuit
Mike says he has good news:
Worked with the engineers get DEC approval on new approach to cleaning up the lake’DEC issued a permit for the new plan
Mike will present a resolution on it at the upcoming Brookhaven Town Board meeting
The plan entails the utilization of biodegradable mats, 10’ X 40’ to cover one third an acre at a time of the lake bottom to suppress the growth of invasive species. Leave the mats for three months and then move them to next one third acre
Need to start ASAP
Start it now, pause in November, pick it up in March
Permit also allows people to pull invasive species out by hand
The mats will be placed on top of the sediment
Mike said the Trout People do not know about the new plan
John Schroder says the new plan is a beginning
Discussion of Canaan Lake cleanup in Patchogue
The audience notes that the water level in the lake has dropped since the fish ladder was installed
Chad asks Mike if he can talk about the $500,000 of Civic Money the Town has and could it be used to sue the Trout people and initiate the original plan to remediate the lake issue
Audience asks if the Town is considering fighting the injunction and lawsuit
Mike will bring the engineers to a future Civic Meeting
Mill Road Culvert
Mike met with Dennis Losquadro, Brookhaven TownHighway Superintendent and it will cost 1.7 million dollars to replace the culvert. Waiting for state and DOT to approve
The Old Vets Home
Bought by hotel owners who want to renovate and open boutique hotel
Once they come up with a plan and it is approved they will come back to the Yaphank Civic
Town tried to buy it but could not get the property appraised
The audience expresses it would be good for the town to buy the site and turn it into a community center
Mike says he will make sure that the Civic is notified when the project goes before the Then Planning Board
Audience asks if Civic Members can go the site visits and if the property can be condemned
Road Accidents
Lots of calls on Mill Road accidents caused by speed
Mike asked Dennis Losquadro to do a study on accidents at intersection of Mill Road and Bellport Avenue
More on Lake
Chad initiates another discussion Yaphank lake issue and goes over the prior history of developing a remediation plan. Says we need to go after the people who stopped the project and we need to get DEC support
Joe DeStefano talks about upcoming community events and his newsletter
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 pm. Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Madigan
Recording Secretary