Taken for "Grant-ed"

Last week's Newsday article exposing the distribution of grant monies from Brookhaven Town has set off a flurry of questioning of other grant money distributed in the community. Starting with the question of grants given to a 501c3 organization who in turn gave political contributions to the elected official that gave them the grant, to a civic leader announcing that an elected official was funnelling grant money through another civic organization, to the community impact funds from a large scale development that seemed to evaporate. These monies, which ultimately come from our tax dollars, are doled out by politicians to win favour with community groups. This is not a new practice, but one that should stop. In Washington DC, they call it pork, here in Suffolk County, we call it B.S. Call it whatever you want, its nothing more than a vote buying scheme. We really do not need our politicians spending any more of our money to support their friends or relatives or buying influence from certain community groups.

To Be A Village...Or NOT To Be A Village...............

Over the past few weeks, much has been written and discussed about the creation of a village or villages within the Tri-Hamlet community. Several civic organizations in the area have started a crusade to bring forth a referendum to incorporate. The Pattersquash Creek Civic group, along with Concerned Citizens of Mastic Beach, both offshoot groups of the Mastic Beach Property Owners Association, began raising money and awareness. They have retained municipal attorney, Joseph Prokop, who currently represents several villages in Suffolk County. The groups from Mastic Beach have formed an exploratory village committee whereby they will discuss the proposed boundaries and other steps in the process of taking this proposition to a ballot. There has been some opposition due to concerns by the Mastic Beach Property Owners Association that if the incorporation is successful, ownership of the docks and marinas may be transferred from the MBPOA to the Village. While this is under investigation, the newly formed village exploratory committee will include members of all three civic organizations in the Mastic Beach community and will be responsible for addressing the boundaries, the census and the petition process associated with a village referendum.

By contrast, the Smith Point Beach Property Owners are also investigating the viability of a village referendum for their version of Smith Point Village. The association was formed many years ago by Nick Bohouris, Richard Tufariello and others to service the south Shirley neighborhoods, which some say are being eliminated from the Smith Point Village boundaries. Registered voters as far north as Roberts Road and Flintlock Rd were invited to a meeting with attorney Joe Prokop to discuss the proposed village. Sources say the northward shift of Smith Point Beach Property Owners Association boundaries was done in order to catch the commercial properties by Home Depot and the Estates within the village boundaries for tax revenue. This move was the brainchild of Dominick Licata, former chairman of Smith Point Beach Property Owners Association. Under his leadership, Smith Point Beach Property Owners changed boards several times and developed a reputation for hostile meetings that included Licata's long-winded, self-praising monologues.

Known as the "Sign Nazi", Licata regularly scoured the William Floyd Parkway removing signs, such as yard sale and real estate signs, erecting his own signs along the parkway. He came under fire for the signs after it was discovered that they were erected on county property while he charged businesses a monthly advertising fee to display their names. There are still outstanding questions as to where those fees are going. Mr. Licata, also known for verbally assaulting elected officials and other civic leaders, has been removed from Brookhaven Town Board meetings on several occasions for his outbursts and threats.

Licata orchestrated a successful coup of his own hand picked board, selecting novice member Delia McKernan to run for president, recruiting new members up to a week before the election to insure his candidate's success. Many members, including the entire board left the association and formed the Smith Point Peninsula Homeowners Association, causing a great divide in the Smith Point community.

Smith Point Beach Property Owners Association has also formed a village exploratory committee that includes Dominick Licata, Delia McKernan and Robert Licari, president of Woodland Estates Civic organization. Thanks to the efforts of Legislator Browning, SPBPOA president Ms. McKernan has met with the Holiday Organization, developers of the property at the Links golf course in an effort to raise funds for and promote the village. Those skeptical of the proposed Smith Point Village have been voicing their concerns about these meetings. Smith Point Peninsula Homeowner's Assoc. has not been included in either the Village meetings nor meeting with the Holiday Organization, however they have scheduled Holiday Group to speak at their next general meeting.

So what does this all mean? To Be A Village or NOT To Be......A Village? Its important that we take the time to get all of the facts on this issue before we give it our consideration.

The Buzz About the Links

Development of the Links property it a hot topic in the Mastic-Shirley community these days. Most people are leary of the prospect of the original plan- single family homes- due to the impact it would have on the school district. Others feel that a sewage-treatment plant would benefit the community. Still others want to see the property left undeveloped. Whatever the plan, residents of the Tri-hamlet community should be sure to weigh in at the various civic meetings or Brookhaven Town Hall zoning/planning meetings. The most recent proposal seem to be geared toward planned retirement community with some land donated for recreational usage and and a small sewage treatment plant. Included in the latest plan is commercial development along Wiliam Floyd Parkway. The proposed commercial development could be a restaurant and a bookstore, both of which could be positive attractions for the Mastic-Shirley communities. Keep an eye out for the next community meeting with Holiday Organization.