Park to be renovated with $570K state grant

Patchogue Village held their bimonthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 28.

Trustee Karen Henke Brinkman presented the report on the Zoning Board of Appeals, whose last meeting was on Sept. 15 and next scheduled meeting is on Oct. 6.

At the previous ZBA meeting, Baron Honda’s application for redevelopment had been approved with the parking particulars still being determined.

Stereo Garden’s application was still pending with requests from the board to have more detail on the type of events hosted at the venue.

Steve Fuoco, the commissioner of Parks and Recreation, discussed the updates of the department, specifically addressing the Hispanic Heritage event (not a village-sanctioned event) held on Sept. 19 at the Patchogue Theatre.

“I thought it was spectacular. Some of the acts were amazing. These two people danced like I’ve never seen before,” said Fuoco.

The fall senior luncheon on Oct. 9, a popular event, was already at capacity.

Walk Through the Zoo will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 12 to 3 p.m.

Fuoco said that Belzak Park, on Lakeland Avenue, was nearing the start of renovations. The renovations were made possible by a $570,000 award from New York State. The current plan is to resurface Belzak Park and have one tennis court, two pickleball courts, a hockey rink, and a basketball half court (there is one existing), in addition to the playground, which is not being renovated.

Fuoco said the goal was to have the renovations completed before winter.

The New York Forward program held a public meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22, where discussions about the “Storefront to Shorefront” initiative from the late trustee, Joseph Keyes, were held in terms of allocating the $12.5 million grant from the state.

“There were tons and tons of ideas brought up there, so there was no shortage,” said Fuoco of the meeting that included around 50 members of the public at Patchogue-Medford Library.

Another initiative was the beautification of West Lake and Patchogue Lake, particularly cutting down the overgrown vines that the Department of Environmental Conservation has authorized, without needing a permit, providing the ground is not disturbed.

“It’ll be nice; there’ll be a better vista. What I really noticed in looking at it with the DEC is most of that growth you see is vines and it will make a significant difference. Then there’ll be Phase 2… where we will need a DEC permit,” said Fuoco.

A motion was made and carried to raise the entry fee for the 5K from $500 to $750 to better cover the costs incurred by the village, although even with the raised entry fee, would still leave some expenses unfunded.

“That’s to be more prudent and cover our costs, which are still higher than that,” said Fuoco.

Trustee Kevin Weeks said that as a longtime runner, the increased fee was more than fair and “probably long overdue.”

Eighteen-year director of Public Safety, Jim Berberich, had submitted his resignation, to which a few trustees cheekily said “no” to as Berberich was praised as effective, efficient, and knowledgeable in his role following 25 years as a police officer.

In his outgoing letter, Berberich stated that while his resignation would be dated Oct. 1, he would stay on as director to assure a smooth transition with his successor.

“I’m willing to remain for a reasonable time as needed to assist in the transition and help bring my successor, Rob Waldbauer, up to speed and comfortable in the position,” wrote Berberich.

The Building and Housing financial report for the month of August was submitted to the board by trustee Weeks. The revenue for August was $43,352.78. The top five revenue generators were fire inspections ($2,500), planning board ($2,595), plumbing permits ($3,870), rental permits ($10,700), and building permits ($20,612.78).

Weeks received an approval from the board for an out-of-district sewer connection for the proposed retail space to be built on 154-164 Waverly Avenue.

The property originally housed a tobacco warehouse that developers had planned to turn into a specialty foods center but now want to build six retail spaces.

A motion was approved for the mayor to accept on behalf of the village an engineering grant of $50,000.

The money will be used towards restoring the brewery wastewater pre-treatment plant that was damaged by a fire earlier this year.

A request was granted for professional services in preparation of demolition bid documents for the now defunct Moribund incinerator building and to construct a salt shed at 216 Waverly Avenue. The first phase will be $90,000 and the second will be $187,200.