LAKE RONKONKOMA ADVISORY BOARD


MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2019

Wednesday, February 20th

Wednesday, April 10th

Wednesday, June 5th

Wednesday, August 7th

Wednesday, October 9th

Wednesday, December 11th



Time: 6:30 PM

Location: William H. Rogers Legislature Building (Bldg. No. 20), 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, New York.

Information: if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to our office at 631-854-3735 or ali.nazir@suffolkcountyny.gov

There will be no General Membership Meeting in December and January.
Next meeting: February 14th. Enjoy the holidays!

The Executive Board has invited candidates for State and Federal positions to the General Membership meeting on Friday, October 12th to meet with our members. The Board does not endorse any particular candidate or political party, but we do encourage our members to come to the meeting and ask our guests about the issues that are important to them.


The meeting begins at 6:30 PM at the
Sachem Public Library
150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook

This event is fully or partially funded by the County of Suffolk Sponsored by Legislators Tom Cilmi, Leslie Kennedy, Tom Muratore, and Brookhaven Councilmen Neil Foley and Kevin LaValle

The Civic would also like to thank our commercial sponsors:

Tritec
45 Research Way, Suite 100, E. Setauket, NY 11733-6401 - 631-751-0300


Giunta's Meat Farms
318 Portion Rd, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 - 631-580-4720


Gino's Pizzeria
214 Portion Rd, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 - 631-588-9874


Bonny's Restaurant & Pizzeria
600 Portion Rd, Suite 27, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 - 631-981-9090

Shenanigans Cafe
228 Hawkins Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 - 631-467-9724

Ronkonkoma Deli & Grocery
200 Ronkonkoma Ave, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 - 631-676-5055

Island Lake Diner
625 Portion Rd, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 - 631-676-5500


Home Towne Tavern
2800 Pond Rd, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 - 631-676-4784

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Together we can grow our organization to better serve the needs and interests of you and your neighbors.
We need your help to spread the word about the Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization.
Let’s get more of our neighbors involved.

Recruit dues paying families to join the civic and enjoy a gift card to a local business as a thank you.
Recruit 2 dues paying families and get a $10 gift card.
Recruit 3 dues paying families and get a $15 gift card.
Recruit 4 dues paying families and get a $20 gift card.
Recruit 5 dues paying families and get a $25 gift card.

You can get a gift card more than once.
Simply have your recruits put your name on their application each time you get people to join.

Volunteer to Keep Lake Ronkonkoma Clean!
Join the Annual Great Brookhaven Cleanup on
Saturday, June 16, 2018
(Rescheduled from May 19 because of rain)
The Town of Brookhaven will once again participate in Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup and Ronkonkoma residents can participate and help keep the Lake Ronkonkoma shoreline clean and beautiful. From 9:30 am to 3:00 pm volunteers will meet at Brookhaven’s Michael P. Murphy Beach on Lake Shore Road and walk the shoreline of the lake picking up litter and garbage.
For details, visit www.brookhaven.org or call 631-451-6222

SACHEM PUBLIC LIBRARY
SATURDAY MAY 19th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
RAIN OR SHINE

Come meet your new best friend at the library's 7th annual Pet Adoption Fair in Inside/Out, the library's garden extension.  Representatives from over a dozen agencies will attend with adoptable cats, dogs and more.  Bring the whole family and pick out a new addition!  

Note:  Please do not bring your own pets.  Only adoptable animals from approved agencies are permitted in Inside/Out.  In the event of inclement weather, the fair will be moved indoors.

http://www.brookhavenny.gov/Forms?Command=Core_Download&EntryId=10269

• The Superintendent’s discussion covers current events in the district.
• The Presentation varies at each meeting and covers various subjects of interest to the Board and the Community.
• The Board actions mostly include contract approvals and personnel transactions.
• The public comment section is an opportunity for community members to raise issues they want the Board and Administration to address.

All meetings are at 7:30 PM, at the Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society Museum,
328 Hawkins Avenue.

Thursday, February 8th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, March 8th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, April 12th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, May 10th: Annual Civic Meeting
Thursday, June 14th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, September 13th: General Membership Meeting
Thursday, October 11th: "Meet the Candidates"
Thursday, November 8th: General Membership Meeting

If you use Google Calendar, you can subscribe to the Google's LRCO Meeting Calendar by clicking on this link:

Join us on May 11th for our Annual Meeting and a presentation and discussion on the results of our 2017 Community Survey.

Sunday, March 12th at 2:00 PM
Parade will begin at Patchogue Holbrook Road at Portion Road, West on Portion Road, South on Hawkins Avenue, West on Church Street, ending at Pond Road.
Visit http://saintregiskofc.com for details.

LAKE RONKONKOMA ADVISORY BOARD


MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2017

Wednesday, January 18th, 2017

Wednesday March 15th, 2017

Wednesday May 17th, 2017

Wednesday July 19th, 2017

Wednesday September 13th, 2017

Wednesday, November 15th, 2017



Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Clerk’s Conference Room at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building (Bldg. No. 20), 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, New York.

Information: if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to our office at 631-854-3735 or ali.nazir@suffolkcountyny.gov

The Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center will celebrate the holiday season with its "Home for the Holidays" promotion, featuring free dog and cat  adoptions from December 15 through January 15.  Each adoption includes free neuter or spay, vaccinations, microchip, license, heartworm test, flea and fecal tests. Pictured is "Jalapeño," one of the adoptable pets looking for a home this holiday season.
 
Those who are interested in adopting a pet this holiday season should visit the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center located at 300 Horseblock Road in Brookhaven. It is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The shelter is closed on Wednesdays. For more information, please call 631-451-6950 or visit
http://www.brookhaven.org/animalshelter

Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization
Farmers, Craft, Artistry Market

Sunday, December 11

8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Ronkonkoma Fire District Building
(Corner of Portion Road and Hawkins Avenue)  

Vendors will be offering a variety of foods and other goods.

• In July, Tritec purchased the fence company site on Mill Road and in August, Tritec purchased the World Gym site.
• In early October, Tritec finalized the Phase 1 Site Plans with the Town of Brookhaven, and so far have received approvals from the following departments: Planning, Engineering, Highway, and Traffic Safety. The plans were then submitted to the  building department and Tritec expects to have a building permit before the end of the calendar year.
• The Phase 1 Site Plans have received approvals from Suffolk County Department of Public Works (DPW) and Suffolk County Health Department. 
• In September, the Council of Environmental Quality unanimously approved the pumping of waste to the Bergen Point Plant and made a recommendation to the Suffolk County Legislature to approve the pump station. Earlier this month the pump station plan was unanimously approved by the Suffolk County Legislature Environmental Subcommittee to be voted on by the full legislature. Last week, the full legislature voted to approve the pump station. The SC Legislature also voted unanimously to approve the inter-municipal agreement with the Village of Islandia to allow the forced sewer main to go through the street Right of Ways in the Village.  Tritec has  been working with the County Engineers to finalize the path through the development area.
• On December 6, the Suffolk County Legislature Budget Committee makes its recommendation to fund the appropriations to build the pump station and forced sewer main. 
• On December 20th, the Suffolk County Legislature will have a public hearing on the appropriations to fund the construction. 
• After the Suffolk County Legislature approves the appropriations, the Suffolk County DPW will be able to go out to bid with the plans. They will notice the bid in the paper for 6 weeks, after which they will take 4 to 6 weeks to qualify the bids and another 4 to 6 weeks to negotiate a contract. After the contract is executed, construction will start on the forced sewer main and pump station. It is expected to take about 18 to 20 months for completion.
• Tritec plans to mobilize on site this January, and depending on the weather, expects to start demolition and site work. The start of Phase I construction is planned for April 2017.
• Tritec is aware of graffiti on a few buildings that have been purchased & are now vacant.  They have started the process to have the graffiti cleaned or repainted.  They have met with the police since the same vandal tagged other buildings in the area.

ABCO & Member Civics: Debate
Monday, October 17, 7:30 – 9:30 PM
1st District Congressional Candidates
Medford Firehouse, 171 Oregon Avenue, Medford

Centereach, Selden, Lake Ronkonkoma Civics:
Wednesday, October 26, 7:30 PM
Centereach Fire House, 9 South Washington Ave, Centereach

• Crews have been working every day since the community meeting.
• As was requested by the community, the number of left turn lanes from the North Service Road onto the bridge was reduced to one from two.
• They are working on getting a left-turn signal on Patchogue-Holbrook Road & the North Service Road (northbound while on the bridge) to help move traffic along quicker.
• They will be putting "Do Not Block the Box" pavement markings on the intersection with the South Service Road.
• They have moved the detour sign on Patchogue-Holbrook Road BEFORE Union Avenue to give unfamiliar drivers the opportunity to take Union Avenue as an alternate.  
• They have increased signage on the entrance ramps to the LIE before the bridge in each directions.

• Approximately 50 members of the community were in attendance.

• The bridge was in very bad shape, poorly maintained over the years.  The concrete platforms holding up the bridge were deteriorating. Some of the steel support beams needed repair. And the underpinning of the road surface was falling down.

• The project has been affected by a series of delays mainly caused by accidents:  the bridge has been struck four times over the past two years by trucks.  These were serious accidents, one happened just before the work started, two significant hits subsequent to that, and one more recently.  The original completion data was June 2016 but that has obviously passed.  The contractor has an additional year (until June 2017) to complete the project, but has a financial incentive to be done before this winter.  No work can be completed during winter months.

• The concrete road deck of the southbound lanes of the bridge should be poured in July, and once that's complete they can start the second half.  Those southbound lanes should be paved in July 2016 with the walkway and side rail shortly thereafter.  The northbound lanes may be paved before year end depending on weather.  It’s likely that the walkway alongside the northbound lands and that side rail will be built in the spring and may entail some limited lane closures but this isn’t definite.

• The contractor will have to pay penalties if work isn’t fully completed by year end 2016 and it seems that the penalties get even more serious if work isn’t fully completed by mid-year 2017.

• We learned that as part of the repairs, the bridge is being raised six inches on one end and 18 inches on the other end.

• The DOT will review the traffic patterns around the bridge to try to address community concerns. Assemblyman Graf will communicate the plans and the civic will relay any news on this that we learn.

• Lake Ronkonkoma (Brookhaven side)
• Mill Pond, Southampton
• Maratooka Pond, Mattituck
• Agawam Lake, Southampton

• Phone:  631-338-6062
• E-mail:  niecees0413@yahoo.com

• Tritec, the developer, does not plan to include Section 8 housing at the HUB.
• The State budget included funding for commuter parking structures which will replace the parking north of the tracks. This is of critical importance to the project
• The civic will form a committee to make sure Tritec follows through on their commitments to the community.

• The school board voted not to pierce the tax cap reversing their previous direction. The state tax cap is 0.76%. The previous decision to pierce the tax cap was made before the State budget passed. With the additional school funding from the New York State budget, Sachem will stay within the Tax Cap. The budget is not finalized but while they discussed reinstating some of the cuts made over the past year, indications are that not all of the cuts will be reinstated. The next and final budget meeting will be Wednesday April 20.
• The school board also voted to select the new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Kenneth E Graham. He replaces James Nolan who is retiring June 30. Dr. Graham presently works in the Long Beach school district as assistant superintendent of schools.

• Residents of all towns are asked to report raccoons that come into contact with humans or pets to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services.
• Residents of the Towns of Huntington and Babylon are asked to report abnormally acting raccoons and dead raccoons.
• In towns other than Huntington and Babylon, dead raccoons should be discarded in the garbage in a safe manner and with no direct physical contact with people or pets.

• Keep dogs, cats and ferrets on a leash and keep livestock confined in the evening.
• Do not have contact with any animal other than your own.
• Do not feed wildlife or stray animals and discourage them from seeking food near your home.
• Do not touch dead or dying animals. Use a shovel, wear rubber gloves and double bag the
• carcass, if you need to move them.
• Do not approach an unknown animal, either wild or domestic, especially if it is acting in an unusual way.
• Keep garbage cans tightly covered and avoid storing any food outside.
• Children should be advised to tell an adult immediately if they were bitten or scratched by any animal.
• To prevent the possible spread of the rabies virus, no one, including trappers and nuisance wildlife rehabilitators, should transport and relocate any wild animals at this time.

1. President George Schramm updated attendees on several local land use projects: proposed office building on the corner of Portion & Ackerly, Dunkin Donuts parking lot expansion, Wendy’s redevelopment and others.
2. Rob Loscalzo and Jim Coughlan from Tritec Real Estate gave a presentation on the latest news on the Ronkonkoma Hub project. Residents in attendance asked many questions of the Tritec representatives:
3. Several key properties have been purchased for Phase 1 of the project (eastern side of Mill Road); other parcels are in contract. They expect to break ground later in 2016.
4. They are buying up properties from multiple owners for Phase 2 of the project (east of Hawkins Avenue).
5. Phase 1 is primarily residential, with six buildings, 489 dwelling units, 1,000 estimated residents. Phase 2 is mixed use buildings: offices, retail, residential.
6. Right now, the residences are planned to be 10% owner-occupied (condos) and 90% rentals. The rentals will include studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units, with studios starting at $1,350/month. There will not be an affordable housing component to the project.
7. Phase 2 will have nine buildings as well as five parking structures (not for commuters). A major grocery store could be included here.
8. Phase 3 includes more office and retails space plus a parking garage to replace the lost parking for commuters.
9. Phase 4 focuses on some of the area between Hawkins Avenue and Mill Road.
10. They discussed some of the architectural details of the buildings, including the use of arches throughout the project as well as French quarter style details in the residential buildings.
11. See images below of Phase 1 and Phase 2.
12. There was also discussion about the sewering. Right now, there will be a pumping station at the far east end of the project to hook up to the Southwest Sewer District.
13. Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy was in attendance and engaged Tritec in specific questions on the project.