Improved Services, Technology Upgrades on Tap for Brookhaven Clerk's Office

Brookhaven’s new town clerk, Kevin LaValle, swept into office in a special election in January, has hit the ground running with an ambitious plan to upgrade the office’s technology and make it easier for residents to access records and services. The clerk is also looking to increase efficiencies across town departments and help streamline record keeping to help local villages and other municipalities save money and provide better service.

In the wake of a debilitating ransomware attack suffered by Suffolk County that cost millions and exposed the personal data of employees and residents to hackers, LaValle said he is focused on keeping the town’s cybersecurity on the cutting edge. “Unlike the county, which was using in-house servers, the town board made the decision a few years back to move our data into the cloud,” said LaValle, who previously served on the board. “At this point in history, moving records into the cloud is about as safe as you can get. We’re able to sleep well knowing our records are secure.”

With about 100 residents visiting the clerk’s office in Farmingville every day, LaValle said he is working to put more services online to save them the trip. He’s been in touch with the state to allow handicapped parking passes to be issued using a DocuSign system for physician signatures, reducing the steps residents, many of them elderly, must take to take to obtain the placards. The clerk’s office is also the official repository for birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and other vital records. If you’re looking for a shell fishing permit, peddler license, dog license, or a permit to harbor pigeons, the clerk’s office is the place to go. LaValle also maintains waiting lists for boat slips at the town marinas and manages a vacant building registry. To drive a vehicle on the wooden walks at Fire Island, the clerk is the man to see.

As clerk, LaValle is also the recording secretary for the town board and the official record keeper at town board meetings for notices, resolutions and minutes. As Brookhaven’s records management officer, he is responsible for managing and preserving all town documents, including the Dongan Patent, a 1686 decree issued by an early governor of New York that provided the foundation for the powers of the township and its trustees. The town clerk also serves as the licensing officer and registrar of vital statistics, as well as the Freedom of Information Law appeals officer.

Kevin LaValle

“Our goal is to serve Brookhaven residents professionally and efficiently,” LaValle said. “The town clerk staff is well trained to handle the services the residents require. We look forward to assisting everyone and hope their experiences are always pleasant and provide the satisfaction they come to expect.”

LaValle has inter-municipal agreements with the villages of Patchogue and Port Jefferson, along with the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library to scan and maintain records, a service that saves time and resources and allows for a high level of security. Started under LaValle’s predecessor, Donna Lent, the program provides training so employees can readily access vital documents. Brookhaven is also expanding a special records storage center in Bellport, made possible through a New York State grant. The facility will be climate controlled with state-of-the-art security, LaValle noted.

As a fan of local history, the clerk said he is excited about the town taking over the Manor of St. George, the Mastic Beach estate of one of Brookhaven’s earliest settlers, William Tangier Smith, which contains a treasure trove of historical documents. “I've been working closely with Barbara Russell, our town historian, and we will be involved in protecting and preserving these records,” LaValle said, stressing that he will make many of the documents available online for study and review. “There are records pertaining to the founding of our country that the public has never seen.”

LaValle credits the smooth operation of the clerk’s office to its staff. “I definitely would have to say a big thank you to everyone. Being here for just two months, I’ve learned a lot from them. It’s been a good relationship right from the start.”

Serving the remainder of the former clerk’s term, LaValle would stand for reelection in 2026. He can be reached at Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville, phone: 631-451-9101. For more information on how the town clerk can help you, go to www.brookhavenny.gov.