The Town of Islip held its first meeting of the month on May 13 at 2 p.m. The town board gathered at Town Hall along with residents who are still concerned about the proposed cannabis retailers in the Town of Islip. Councilman Jorge Guadron was absent.

To start the meeting off, supervisor Angie Carpenter reminded those in attendance of the importance of water safety as temperatures on Long Island increase into the summer season.

“As the warm weather arrives on Long Island… many of us are drawn to the water,” Carpenter said. “As always, safety is our prime concern.”

As of January 2025, individuals who operate a boat must have a safety certification, regardless of age. Carpenter reminded residents of the last course, taking place on June 14. Those interested can call the Town of Islip Cultural Affairs at (631) 224-5430.

Shortly after moving to the public portion of the meeting, several residents continued to express their concern over the proposal to allow cannabis retailers to sell within the Town of Islip. Currently, a decision has yet to be made, but Carpenter has said she will vote against cannabis retailers. Nine residents spoke on the matter.

The first person to speak was Mai Lin Han, who works as a counselor for Youth Enrichment Services in Brentwood and Islip. She has worked with youth who have been affected by cannabis use. Han urged the town board to vote against it because of the impact it has on the user and their families.

“In my work over the eight years, I’ve seen the firsthand impact cannabis can have, especially with that increase in access,” Han said. “I worked with a rising number of clients suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis, many of them with addiction that led to destructive behavior, legal troubles and broken families.”

Han added that when addiction takes over, it not only harms the individual but their families, futures and community as well.

Another speaker was a concerned parent and Brentwood resident who said the revenue from cannabis retailers will not alleviate financial needs that many claim will come from cannabis dispensaries.

“Introducing marijuana dispensaries into the environment could exacerbate these problems and would not alleviate them,” William Escobar said. “One of our greatest responsibilities is to protect and nurture our youth… we must ask ourselves, do we want our children to grow up in an environment where drug use is normalized?”

Others voiced their disapproval, citing health risks, long-term consequences, impaired driving, and the impact cannabis will have on youth. Some called cannabis a gateway drug, with some individuals moving onto harder drugs as a result.

The town board is expected to make a decision in the upcoming months. However, if the Town of Islip decides to opt in, it is a decision that cannot be reversed. The town initially opted out back in 2021.

Also on the agenda for the town meeting was the authorization for the supervisor to apply for and accept funding from the county. It will help support the Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program, which provides assistance to residents 60 or older to ensure their safety and health at home.

Authorization to apply and accept grant funding from the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Program for Downtown Bay Shore, Islip, Oakdale and Sayville Lighting Upgrades Projects was also on the agenda.

At the meeting, Robert Schneider was appointed by the town board to the position of commissioner of the Department of Aviation and Transportation of MacArthur airport. He is replacing Shelley LaRose-Arken.