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Peter Sloniewsky

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Smyth will be the GOP candidate for Huntington supervisor; Dr. Dave Bennardo and Greg Grizopoulos will run for council in November. Photo courtesy of Town of Huntington

By Peter Sloniewsky

Huntington Supervisor Ed Smyth

On June 24, a combined slate of incumbent Huntington Town Supervisor Edmund Smyth, Councilmember David Bennardo and Councilmember-hopeful Greg Grizopoulos soundly defeated an opposition slate in the Huntington Republican primary. With all 185 districts reporting, Smyth earned more than 60% of the vote. Bennardo and Grizopoulos, in a field of four candidates with two winners, led with 31 and 29%, respectively. 

Smyth was first elected town supervisor in 2021 and previously served a term on the Town Board beginning in 2017. A lifelong resident of Huntington, Smyth is also a veteran and an attorney with four children. He defined his term as supervisor by improvements in fiscal stability, revitalization projects in parks, and improvements to the building permitting process. 

Huntington Councilmember Dave Bennardo

In Smyth’s reelection letter in March, he stuck by and reaffirmed the importance of his legislative record in office, noting his “record of strong fiscal management of your [sic] tax dollars, continued improvements to public safety, parks, beaches, roads, and garbage.” He also noted that he and his slate “ignore social media sensationalism and run a drama-free government through unspectacular hard work.” 

Bennardo, a Huntington resident of more than 25 years, has served as both a high school principal and as the superintendent of South Huntington schools. Bennardo is also a noted advocate of fiscal responsibility and has worked on water quality, shoreline quality, park enhancement and road paving since joining the town council in 2021. 

Grizopoulos, a former assistant district attorney, is a partner at the law firm Grizopoulos & Portz, P.C. and resides in Melville. Grizopoulos places significant importance on “preserving Huntington’s suburban character” alongside fiscal responsibility. 

Greg Grizopoulos. Photo courtesy of www.gpnylaw.com

The competitiveness of this primary arose from the legal and political backlash to last year’s approval of an “overlay district” in Melville, which could entail the construction of high-density rental apartments. Councilwoman Brooke Lupinacci, Smyth’s opponent, was the only town councilmember to vote against the plan. Lupinacci ran on a ticket alongside former Councilman Eugene Cook and former Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman John Posillico. 

In addition to the controversy surrounding this apartment project, Lupinacci accused Smyth of political retribution after an administrative reorganization plan resulted in the firing of all of her individual staff members in favor of a more selective “Town Call Center.” In February, Lupinacci said that she would “not back down or be intimidated by their actions,” and an automated email response from her office still notes that “the Supervisor and his Board terminated my staff members.” 

Smyth, Bennardo and Grizopoulos will run in the general election on Nov. 4.

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Cicada. Pixabay photo

By Peter Sloniewsky

In 2025, Brood XIV of periodical cicadas are emerging across the eastern United States. This specific brood is among the three largest of all the periodical cicada broods, which famously emerge every 17 years. Beyond its size, this brood is not unique in any biological manner, although it was the first observed by European settlers in the Plymouth Colony. 

Cicadas courtesy of Three Village resident, Herman Warner. Photo by Beth Heller Mason

Broods of cicadas emerge every 17years: the length of time that is required for the cicadas to grow into adulthood. These broods are categorized by their generally synchronized emergence timing, although stragglers are also important for continued genetic diversity and interbreeding between broods. 

University of Connecticut entomologist Chris Simon emphasized the prevalence of misconceptions surrounding that 17-year period. 

“They don’t hatch out of the ground; they hatched from eggs in tree branches seventeen years ago,” Simon wrote in an email. “They are not sleeping underground, they are actively growing and passing through five juvenile stages.” 

Simon also addressed some other misconceptions about the insects while elaborating on their environmental importance. 

“They will benefit the local environment by fertilizing the soil, and feeding birds, turtles, snakes, fish… etc. above ground and soil invertebrates and moles underground,” Simon wrote. “Periodical cicadas are not dangerous… we are much more of an imposition on them, clearing their trees and building asphalt parking lots on top of them.” 

She added: “They don’t fly around in large groups and they don’t ‘emerge in writhing masses.’” 

Three Village resident Herman Werner said he had noticed an unusual number of cicadas on his property, but noted that their impact had indeed been minimal. 

“They don’t really bother anything,” Werner said. “[They] just get louder as the day gets warmer.” 

Simon stressed that people should try to enjoy the moment of emergence rather than considering the cicadas a threat.

“Rather than thinking of them as alarming or ‘annoying,’ think of having a ‘David Attenborough special’ in your own backyard,” Simon said. “They don’t invade. They have been there the whole time, quietly feeding on roots underground.” 

Simon also added an anecdote about the origin of the insects’ scientific name. 

“Avoid saying things like a certain area of the country was ‘spared’ from a ‘Magicicada’ emergence!” Simon wrote. “Rather, those areas were denied the spectacle! Periodical cicadas are ‘magical’; that is why they were renamed ‘Magiciada.’”

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Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim

By Peter Sloniewsky

Two-term incumbent Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R, Kings Park) is running in the Republican primary for a third term on June 24. After taking office in 2018, Wehrheim has taken action to improve fiscal stability, revitalize business districts and enhance infrastructure. 

Prior to his two terms as supervisor, Wehrheim was born into a three-generation Kings Park family before serving in Vietnam, gradually rising through Smithtown Department of Parks bureaucracy and eventually serving as a town councilmember. In an interview with TBR News Media, he emphasized the importance of continuing what he considers to be a productive two terms. 

“I’m running on our record of accomplishments with the administration here in the Town of Smithtown,” Wehrheim said. “I’ve been around the government since 2003 here in Town Hall, and I think [voters] would verify that I’m very approachable at any time, and public service is very high… I’m here to do the best job I can for the Town of Smithtown taxpayers and will continue to do so.” 

Wehrheim noted the importance of continuing his work on a few issues. Namely, he intends to prioritize continued fiscal stability and overhauling community parks. 

“Smithtown is a fiscally stable town, and we’ve had an AAA bond rating since I took office in 2018,” Wehrheim said. The AAA bond rating is the highest financial distinction. “We have completely overhauled the parks and recreation facilities in Smithtown, and we are at this point about 75% complete.” 

Wehrheim also stands behind his administration’s work on business district revitalization. This issue stands to substantially affect this primary, considering Wehrheim’s opponent’s general opposition to substantial further development. 

“St. James’ downtown revitalization has been completed,” Wehrheim said. “We’re working on completing the renovations of the Kings Park business district, and the engineering plans for Smithtown and Nesconset are in the early stages.” 

He also took care to address some matters expected to arise in the near future. In Wehrheim’s view, the most pressing issues facing the town are the closure of the Town of Brookhaven landfill and the resulting solid-waste crisis, alongside the need for storm-safe infrastructure as Long Island weather becomes more severe. 

“All of Long Island is going to be faced with a solid-waste crisis, caused by the Brookhaven landfill due to be closed in two years… That is a pressing issue because of the cost to ship this material off the island… There are many, many entities working on remedies for that, but it is a pressing issue. The Suffolk County Supervisors Association is working diligently with state and federal officials to come up with an answer for how we would do that economically,” Wehrheim said.

“As everybody knows, the storms on Long Island have become increasingly severe, which causes intense rainfall,” he added. “All of the drainage structures throughout the whole road system, not just in Smithtown but in most towns in Suffolk County, were designed and engineered to take a two-and-a-half-inch rainstorm. So they’re inadequate. We’re in the process with our highway department of starting to replace those drainage structures and the infrastructure under the roadways to be able to accept more in line with a four- or five-inch rainstorm.” 

Wehrheim also drew a strict contrast between his campaign and that of his opponent, Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R, Fort Salonga). 

“At this point, my opponent is running on open space and burying electric lines. That’s basically what his campaign is about,” Wehrheim said. “I am running for reelection on my record of accomplishments and how I have conducted my governmental operation here in the Town of Smithtown for residents… I think any resident you call will tell them that, if they call here, they get an answer back.”

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Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta. Photo courtesy Leg. Trotta

By Peter Sloniewsky

At the June 24 Republican primary, Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R, Fort Salonga) is running to replace incumbent Ed Wehrheim (R, Kings Park) as the Republican candidate for Town of Smithtown supervisor. 

Trotta initially took office in 2014 following a lengthy career with the Suffolk County Police Department and will be term limited in November. Trotta’s platform includes limited development, open-space preservation, term limits and more generally limited town government. 

“They want four-story apartment buildings in downtown Smithtown,” Trotta said, referring to the current administration. “Their own consultants said that the people of Smithtown and Kings Park… do not want high-density apartments. And the first thing they did was shove high-density apartments into less than half an acre.” 

Trotta also referenced New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) plan for transit-oriented development, which involves the rezoning of residential areas around train stations to incentivize housing development. This development has been the subject of much debate and has generally received mixed reviews from suburban representatives on the state level. 

“At our train stations in Smithtown, her mandate was fifteen units per acre,” Trotta told TBR News Media. “They’re trying to shove forty-six in a half an acre… it defies logic. They’re urbanizing and making Smithtown into Queens.” 

When asked directly about Smithtown’s affordable housing, Trotta offered an alternative response. 

“When a house goes up for sale here, it sells in an hour. It’s affordable to someone… there are people that can afford to live here,” Trotta said. “It’s just getting older! Homes will free up… when you build all of these apartments, you’re robbing a generation of building equity by putting young people in those apartments.” 

“I’m not saying all apartments are bad,” Trotta added. “I’m not against all apartments, but the proliferation of it is ridiculous.” 

Trotta is also running on a platform of anticorruption measures and term limits. Previously, his tenure as a police officer and legislator was marked by strict opposition to the power of the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association. The New York Times even reported in 2021 that Trotta’s foremost motivation in running for the Suffolk County Legislature in 2014 was to investigate the police department. 

“I’m honest, I’m trustworthy, and I’m cheap,” Trotta said. “I will watch after every dollar… I’ll watch every dollar of tax money, and I’ll root out any corruption.”

Lastly, Trotta plans to prioritize public-space management and expansion. As a Suffolk County legislator, such actions have been a major part of his tenure. 

“I’ve been responsible for over 400 acres being preserved in the town of Smithtown,” Trotta said. “People moved here for the suburban lifestyle, not an urban lifestyle.”

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Sean Skinner next to another project he presented at a previous science fair. Photo courtesy Sean Skinner

By Peter Sloniewsky

Last month, Ward Melville High School student Sean Skinner won a $12,000 scholarship in the engineering and technology category at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Chantilly, Virginia. The JSHS is a STEM education program intended to encourage high school students to conduct original research in competitions with potential to win scholarships sponsored by the Department of Defense and administered by the National Science Teaching Association. Skinner was one of nine winners of top prizes at the competition. 

The JSHS is a multiround competition which begins at the regional symposium, where Skinner began at the New York-Long Island level. There are three total regions in New York State. Skinner placed second in regional semifinals and first overall in regional finals before eventually winning at nationals. The competition is based on 12-minute oral presentations alongside a question-and-answer period. 

For his project, Physics-Informed Machine Learning for Many-Objective Generative Design, Skinner created a unique artificial intelligence model intended to assist engineers in designing mechanical structures with less restraints on changeable components. 

“The problem is that right now, unlike ChatGPT, you can’t ask [AI used for generating engineering designs] for many goals — you can’t say make it strong and aesthetic and dissipate heat, or whatever else you want; you can really only ask for strong and lightweight,” Skinner wrote in an email. “My project is about fixing that problem.” 

Skinner said his project had potential to drastically expand and expedite the possibilities for engineers’ design processes. 

“Generative AI can be used to create designs that meet the engineers’ goals better — like being stronger — and to do this designing quickly and more easily,” Skinner. “Rather than drawing everything by hand and then running several layers of computer optimizations, generative AI like my program simply takes in the goals of the engineers and creates possible solutions.” 

Moreover, as a current WMHS student and graduating senior, Skinner credited support from Ward Melville programs in helping him to go above and beyond regular coursework to study generative AI. 

“Last year I created a more simple generative design research project, which gave me a lot of experience. Of course, before that, I had no specific experience in generative design — it’s not something taught in classes, or even used in most engineering firms at the moment,” Skinner clarified. This may be due to lack of AI knowledge in the engineering subject area, with major implications that AI relies on high-quality and consistent data, which can be challenging to manage in engineering firms due to fragmented sources, inconsistent standards and potential human errors.

Insufficient or low-quality data can also hinder effective AI implementation and lead to biased or inaccurate results — but Skinner is determined to thwart these issues. He reflects, “Building devices for activities at Ward Melville like Science Olympiad has helped me develop a passion and intuition for engineering. With Science Olympiad, I’ve built all sorts of engineering projects… and this allowed me to develop a sense of what I’m capable of as an engineer, how engineering works and what engineers need.” 

Next year, Skinner intends to study aerospace engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and aspires to eventually pursue a master’s degree in the same subject.

“My dream is to one day work for NASA and help build spacecraft for scientific exploration,” Skinner. “I would love to publish my generative design research one day and to do further research in this field to help it move from a prototype to the industry standard. But as I specialize within my education, I do plan to move closer toward aerospace research, possibly using my computational engineering background.” 

Skinner closed his interview with some parting advice for younger students interested in doing independent research. 

“I’d say the most important component to being successful is just being passionate,” Skinner said. “If you work as hard as you can for what you’re passionate about, you really can’t go wrong — whether or not your work actually comes together to be flashy or materially successful, there will definitely be some benefit, be it inspiring other people or learning for yourself.”

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Smithtown Town Hall. File photo

By Peter Sloniewsky

An application for a controversial Kings Park waste management rail project was withdrawn by CarlsonCorp, a local developer, at the end of March. 

Townline Rail Terminal LLC, an affiliate of CarlsonCorp, proposed a new commercial rail terminal in Kings Park to the federal Surface Transportation Board in January. Elected officials that supported the project, including Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim  (R) and Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R, Fort Salonga) cite a desire to take trucks off of the roads as a main purpose for the project. 

In a previous interview with TBR News Media, CarlsonCorp head Toby Carlson also cited the closure of the Town of Brookhaven Landfill as an important reason to build the rail yard. At a public meeting in January, proponents of the plan, including Carlson, claimed that a more efficient system of waste management is necessary and that replacing garbage trucks with freight trains would reduce road congestion and environmental impact. 

To pass, the proposal would have required amendments to local zoning and waste management laws alongside a town environmental review. The proposed construction would have extended approximately 5,000 feet off the Long Island Rail Road Port Jefferson Branch line, and would have been used to dispose of incinerated ash and construction debris with diesel freight trains. 

However, the proposal was met with firm community discontent. In particular, residents of Smithtown and surrounding areas revived the Townline Association, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to fighting the project. 

In a Change.org petition with more than 3,200 signatures, the Townline cited health risks, noise concerns, potential water pollution, a negative impact on home values and a lack of public notice for their opposition. The project was also opposed by the Commack Community Association and the Fort Salonga Association. 

While this project may have been canceled, the landfill’s closure still presents a major issue for waste management across Long Island. Nicole Garguilo, a public information officer for the Town of Smithtown, clarified that the town is still looking for solutions. 

“But while this specific proposal is no longer moving forward, the underlying issue — the urgent need for sustainable waste management solutions — has not gone away,” Garguilo wrote to TBR News Media. 

Garguilo also emphasized that the Town of Smithtown is looking for a larger-scale process in the future. 

“The rail line project was set aside by the applicant until a broader, regional plan involving both Suffolk County and New York State could be established to address the growing solid waste crisis,” Garguilo told TBR. “Addressing the waste crisis will require thoughtful

planning, strategic research and coordinated action at the highest levels of government. Meaningful solutions must be rooted in comprehensive federal, state and county legislation, with sustained support and funding at the core of any long-term strategy,” She added. 

That being said, she also affirmed that the Town of Smithtown would be more open to public comment in the future on such matters. 

“This experience has reaffirmed a vital lesson: that early, transparent and consistent public engagement is essential, even when the Town’s role is limited by federal or state jurisdiction, or by constitutional and zoning laws. Residents deserve to have their voices heard and their concerns acknowledged — especially on issues as impactful as infrastructure and waste management,” Garguilo wrote. “As we move forward, we are committed to full transparency. The public will be kept informed in real time, and every proposal will be subject to rigorous review and community input. We know there are no easy answers — but we also know that inaction is not an option.”

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Port Jefferson Village Hall. Photo by Heidi Sutton 2023

By Peter Sloniewsky

At its Jan. 29 meeting, the board of trustees of the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson voted unanimously to appoint Kevin Cooper as code enforcement supervisor and Anthony Flammia as assistant supervisor. 

Cooper is a state-certified code enforcement official and building inspector. A resident of Baiting Hollow, he attended Dowling College and Empire State College before spending more than three decades as an officer for the New York City Police Department and New York City Transit Police. In those roles, Cooper was primarily focused on the New York City subway system. After his retirement from the NYPD in 2020, he became the director of ordinance enforcement and animal control for the Town of East Hampton. 

Flammia is a former officer of the New York City and Centre Island police departments across a 40-year career and possesses a master’s degree in professional studies in homeland security from Penn State University alongside an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and human services from Empire State College. Since 2023, he’s worked as an armed security operative for Arrow Security on Renaissance Technologies’ East Setauket campus. 

In a recent public meeting of the Port Jefferson Civic Association, Cooper presented his plans for Port Jefferson code enforcement. These plans include increased accessibility through an online complaint form, promoting visibility in part through expanded service hours, and broader changes to the division’s mission statement and policy lines between code enforcement and police. Cooper also displayed openness to expanded hiring and clarified his perception of the role of code enforcement as “about education and compliance, not about writing tickets.” 

“I want to help in making the village an enjoyable place to live in and visit,” Cooper said. “I pride myself on being responsive and if I cannot address a concern a resident might make me aware of, I will guide them to the agency or department that will help solve the problem or issue.”

In a statement to TBR News Media, Port Jefferson village Trustee Xena Ugrinsky detailed the context of this selection process as well as faith in Cooper to improve the village’s code enforcement. 

“This has been an 18-month effort of the current administration when [Mayor Lauren Sheprow] was elected. It was focused on modernizing and improving the village’s approach to code enforcement,” Ugrinsky told TBR. “[With Cooper and Flammia] the village is now well-positioned to implement a professional and purpose-built code enforcement unit. Both individuals bring deep experience in law and code enforcement and are working closely with Suffolk County Police to ensure clear coordination and a distinct delineation of responsibilities between the two bodies.” 

Ugrinsky also detailed concerns related to private firearm ownership among code enforcement personnel and outdated village regulation on code enforcement. 

Sheprow also emphasized the importance of the new hirings in a statement to TBR. 

“The training and educational aspects of this professional and cultural shift are significant, and we are grateful to Supervisor Cooper for taking this on,” Sheprow wrote. 

“He has the knowledge and awareness to help shape priorities, and the more time he spends working in the village, the more he will understand where the best opportunities for education and improvement exist.”

For more information visit the Port Jefferson village website (www.portjeff.com). 

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Town of Huntington council members voted 4-1 to eliminate discretionary legislative staff appointments. Photo courtesy of Town of Huntington website.

By Peter Sloniewsky

The Town of Huntington Town Board met Feb. 11 to discuss a variety of resolutions and matters, highlighted by an allegedly last-minute resolution to dismiss each individual legislator’s staffers. 

In a 4-1 decision, the members of the board adopted a resolution which eliminated each of its members’ two discretionary legislative staff appointments in favor of a unified call center. This resolution was passed with the understanding that the affected staffers would be able to reapply for positions in the call center or for other civil service positions. 

Councilwoman Brooke Lupinacci

Councilwoman Brooke Lupinacci (R) was the lone no vote. In the meeting, Lupinacci argued that she had been left in the dark on the details of the resolution prior to the meeting and “elected officials having legislative staff that are appointed of their choosing is commonplace.” She claimed that she was the only council member with “no knowledge” that the staffers were fired and she was not consulted prior to the resolution. 

Lupinacci continued to describe the vote as “a grotesque display of an attempt to crush my ability to do my job,” before motioning that it be tabled and concluding that she could not “support a resolution that would be firing my staff.” No other council members spoke on the resolution before it was passed. 

Additionally, the Town Board dedicated time to appoint and reappoint a number of civil servants. These included a member of the Board of Assessment Review, which responds to claims of misvalued property for taxation, members of the town’s Conservation Board, a director of the Public Safety Department and a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities. 

The board also passed resolutions to develop public spaces. They passed a resolution requesting the New York State Legislature to discontinue the use of parklands to build a Huntington African American Museum. They also moved to dedicate some town property to build a Cold Spring Hills park. 

Lastly, the board settled some ongoing litigation and authorized applications for program and grant funding from a variety of governmental and nongovernmental sources. 

The Town Board will meet next March 20.

For more information visit www.huntingtonny.gov.

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Port Jefferson Village Hall. Photo by Heidi Sutton 2023

By Peter Sloniewsky

In the new year, the Port Jefferson Country Club’s governorship has remained an issue among the trustees and the public. 

Prior to the Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 29, Mayor Lauren Sheprow wrote to the membership of the country club that she was planning to introduce a resolution that would solicit a Request for Expression of Interest  to create a 10-year strategic plan for the club at a cost of no more than $50,000. An EOI is a competitive process used to get information from potential consultants about interest in a project and does not require any actual investment. 

Tom Natola. Photo courtesy of portjeffcc.com

This plan would include both capital and operations planning for the course and the campus and comes after a number of controversies stalled last year’s planning efforts. Debates over junior membership, initiation fees and other components of the membership package stretched across the month of December before being cut short by a surprise announcement by General Manager Tom Natola that rates, playing and access policies would not change between 2024 and 2025. 

At the Jan. 29 meeting, the trustees both debated Sheprow’s proposal and engaged with one another about resolving the current controversy of junior membership rates. After a recommendation from the town attorney, Sheprow removed the $50,000 number. 

Trustee Robert Juliano questioned why the club’s Board of Governors  or Country Club Management Advisory Council were not just asked to develop such a strategic plan. The town attorney stopped this discussion, stating that it was a non-public matter of “job performance.”  Sheprow later told TBR News Media that she “first requested that [Natola] develop a strategic plan in October of 2023” before coming “to the conclusion that professional assistance may be needed.” 

Trustee Kyle Hill also moved to push this job to the BOG and CCMAC and showed a reluctance to spend money on such a plan whether that was the intention of the resolution or not. He also argued that the membership of the club had not been adequately consulted, and that there was a risk for “reputational damage” to the board of trustees as a result. Regardless, the EOI was passed 3-2 among the trustees, with trustee Stan Louks (who previously served as liaison to the country club) and Hill opposed. 

CCMAC Chair Lisa Perry told TBR News Media that CCMAC had not met to discuss the proposal of a consultant-driven strategic plan, but that Sheprow had mentioned her intention to take this approach. Sheprow also defended this approach to TBR News Media: “With the complexities of all the moving parts surrounding the property … I consider it my direct responsibility, for the best interests of all our residents/taxpayers, to take lead on this, and soliciting expressions of interest was the first step to help educate the Board of Governors and the CCMAC on what services are available.”

However, later public comment showed some discontent with this strategy. Resident Matt Franco called to disband the BOG and implement bylaws. Looking ahead, he also argued that the $50,000 for a strategic plan would have to come from a rainy-day fund, and that the goal of a general manager at the club should be to take lead on designing that 10-year plan. 

The trustees also unanimously certified a set of rules for the club for 2025 identical to the 2024 rules (as Natola’s announcement had promised) with the change of moving juniors start times from 2 p.m. to 10 a.m. 

Just two days later, in a surprise to the club’s members, Sheprow announced the resignation of Natola. Rather than immediately seeking a replacement, she wrote that a combination of the BOG, CCMAC and the return of   Louks as liaison to the club would lead its governance. Sheprow told TBR News Media that it is “a best practice for any country club to have a general manager” but stated faith in Louks to assist in managing the club for the time being. Perry also asserted to TBR News Media that, while the CCMAC had not yet met, she had faith in the club’s other management along with Louks to keep things running smoothly. 

In hindsight, Sheprow told TBR News Media “a bylaws document for the BOG is essential to define the makeup and roles and responsibilities of the BOG,” but also that this was “another long outstanding deliverable anticipated from the GM.” She also reflected that the BOG had done well in 2023 (when it was re-formed) but that, once controversies arose, “it became evident that a resident majority is important.” Alternatively, Perry claimed that she would “personally be in favor of the BOG having an equal number of residents to nonresidents,” but noted that it does currently have a resident majority. 

The Port Jefferson Board of Trustees will meet again on Feb. 26.

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Centereach High School

By Peter Sloniewsky

Middle Country Central School District Board of Education convened a regular meeting Jan. 22 at Centereach High School. At the meeting, they covered a variety of matters, including provisions for special education. 

The board approved committee recommendations from a series of past meetings with regard to special education. Specifically, they provided the programs and services recommended by meetings of the Committee on Pre-School Special Education, Sub-Committee on Special Education and the district administration office’s annual review. 

They also replaced some of the district’s impartial hearing officers. The IHOs oversee due-process hearings requested by parents or school districts regarding disputes over individualized education programs for special-education students, class placement decisions, services and accommodations for such students and disciplinary action for students with disabilities. 

In New York, IHOs are independent and neutral individuals certified by the New York State Education Department who are assigned cases on a rotational basis. At this meeting, the board approved the addition of four new IHOs and removed four existing IHOs. 

Lastly, on the point of special education, the board approved a contract with the therapy agency Little Angels Center to continue to work alongside students’ individualized education plans throughout the remainder of the school year. 

Assistant Superintendent for Business Beth Rella presented a report on property-tax exemptions that reduce a property’s assessed value before taxes have been calculated. She covered the exemptions that the district is both enrolled in and has opted into, including some basic points as to how they’re set. 

After the opening executive session, the board recognized the elementary students of the month: Thomas Castelli, Kayla Kowalczyk, David O’Leary and Aubrie Riccio. They then presented a certificate of appreciation to the owners of Salvino’s Pizzeria in Selden for providing free Thanksgiving Day meals to hundreds of families. 

The board also gave Athlete of the Month awards to Madelyn Madrigal (basketball), Andrew DiMondo (wrestling), Sheyla Lynton (basketball), Ryan Hicks (basketball), Anthony Cardiello IV (fencing) and Ava Kahler (track and field). 

Lastly, the board approved past treasurer’s reports, minutes from their last meeting, a listing of extracurricular classroom activity and the calendar for the 2025-2026 school year and opened the floor for 40 minutes of public comment. 

The board will meet next Feb. 5, 7 p.m., at Centereach High School.

For more information visit the school website: www.mccsd.net.

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