Records Supercenter in Store for Brookhaven

The security of Brookhaven’s vital documents, and those of surrounding municipalities, will be assured for years to come as the town nearly doubles the size of its Record Center in Bellport thanks to a $20 million efficiency grant and funds under the American Rescue Plan.

“The goal of this project is not only to create a modern storage facility to house town records, but also create a Regional Record Center where we will work with other local municipalities, including villages, libraries, fire districts, to store and scan their records,” explained Town Clerk Kevin LaValle at a special announcement ceremony last week in the cavernous facility. “This will help to reduce costs associated with the maintenance records and provide easy access and retrieval.”

Expansion of the existing facility will include upgraded security, electrical, plumbing, fire suppression, climate and humidity controls, additional storage space, vault space and additional workstations, according to LaValle. A mezzanine will be added increasing the size of the building from 19,584 square feet to 27,741 square feet once completed.

Brookhaven officials announce a $20 million expansion of the town’s Record Center at the cavernous Bellport facility, from left, Councilman Neil Foley, Councilwoman Jane Bonner, Clerk Kevin LaValle, Councilman Neil A Manzella, and Supervisor Ed Romaine. File Photo

The eight-month long construction process will be broken down into four phases allowing the facility to remain an active Record Center, the clerk said, noting that funding for the purchase and renovation of the facility has come from a Municipal Consolidation and Efficiency Program grant the town won in 2019, along with money from the 2021 Rescue Plan Act.

“Keeping vital records safe and secure is a key function of a modern municipality,” said Supervisor Edward Romaine, who attended the ceremony along with other town officials and representatives