Changes are on tap for the Brookhaven Town Board with the November election bringing renewed interest in the role the council members and supervisor play in local government and how their actions impact the lives of the citizenry.
With Supervisor Edward Romaine running for county executive and Councilman Daniel Panico, who also serves as deputy supervisor, running to replace him, changes will take place at the very top. November will also bring a new face to the town’s Third Council District now vacant with the election of Kevin LaValle as town clerk.
The town board, made up of the supervisor and representatives of Brookhaven’s six Councilmatic Districts, votes each year on the town budget and sets the amount of property taxes homeowners and businesses must pay. They are responsible for approving labor contracts and hiring personnel such as commissioners of the town’s various departments. With an annual budget ranging over $300 million, including allocations for the highway department, town taxes make up only a fraction of the local tax bill with school taxes, police, and other jurisdictions such fire and lighting districts making up the lion’s share.
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Acting as Town Trustees, the board controls building along the town’s waterways and wetland areas. This power extends back to the Dongan Patent, a 1686 decree by the New York governor that created the rights and responsibilities of town government. The original document is on display at Brookhaven Town Hall located on Independence Hill in Farmingville. It shows the price offered in exchange for the Patent: "20 barrells of whale oyle to be delivered in New York at 20 shillings per barrell, 19 barrells to be delivered at the South beach at 20 shillings per barrell and three score and twelve pounds to be paid in good Cowes and Calbes at forty shillings each, to the Treasurer at or before the fifteenth day of April next."
Brookhaven’s rich history is also depicted on the town flag which features whaling harpoons and the letter "D," a designation assigned under Governor Richard Nicolls in 1665 and was used as a cattle earmark.
Another key responsibility of the board is making sure residential garbage and recyclables are picked up and the Yaphank landfill is properly managed. With the Horseblock Road facility slated for closure, the town’s elected officers spend considerable effort on the future of the municipality’s solid waste management needs.
Among the departments the town board oversees is Parks, Recreation and Sports, and Cultural Resources, which plays an important role in the quality of life enjoyed by Brookhaven residents. Through the parks department, the board is responsible for the dozens of beaches, fields, parks, pools, marinas and other public facilities, as well as various sports and recreation programs, especially during the summer months.
Other town board oversight covers the Animal Shelter, Assessor, Building Department, Fire Prevention, Housing and Community Development, Planning and Environmental, and Public Safety. They also oversee a number of committees and task forces made up of community representatives involved with Agriculture; Anti-Bias; Arts and Humanities; Asian American, Black History, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic interests; Business; Disabilities; Drug Prevention; Historic Districts; Open Space; Port Jefferson Harbor; Senior Citizens; Women; and Youth. The town board also has jurisdiction over a number of boards including Accessory Apartment Review, Assessment Review, Ethics, Planning, and Zoning Appeals. For more information on the many functions of the town, visit www.brookhavenny.gov.
As elected officials who have to face the voters every four years, the councilmembers and supervisor manage staffs that focus on constituent services. Residents can reach them at their individual offices and are encouraged to attend town board meetings and hearings where they will have an opportunity to make their voices heard. Town meetings are streamed through a video portal found at the town’s website and residents can call 631-451-TOWN to make town officials aware of any issues in their neighborhoods.
Brookhaven’s town board members serve alongside the elected town clerk, highway superintendent, and receiver of taxes, each with specific roles and responsibilities in serving the public.