Public Hearing February 27, 2024
PUBLIC HEARING
WAS HELD IN THE BOARD ROOM,
153 WEST MAIN STREET, BABYLON, NEW YORK,
ON TUESDAY,
February 27, 2024
PRESENT:
Mayor Mary Adams
Trustee Frank Seibert
Trustee KathyAnn Miga
Trustee Anthony Cardali
Trustee Dominic Bencivenga
Attorney Charles Casolaro
The meeting opened at 7:01 PM.
Trustee Cardali led Pledge of Allegiance.
The Village Clerk read the legal notice:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Babylon will hold a Public Hearing at the Municipal Building, 153 West Main Street, Babylon, NY, on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as can be heard to consider the adoption of the following:
Trucking Use Alternate Route Signs: Trucking Alternative Use shall be permitted on both north and south sides of Ralph Avenue off of Park Avenue, both north and south sides of Livingston Avenue, both north and south sides of Cadman Avenue, both north and south sides of Litchfield Avenue, on Midwood Road, Beverly Road, Marlborough Road, and Frederick Avenue.
Complete text of the above Local Law is available in the Office of the Village Clerk, on the Village website: www.villageofbabylonny.gov, or can be requested by calling the Village Clerk’s Office at (631) 669-1500.
All interested persons should appear at the above time and place, and they will be given an opportunity to be heard.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jean Marie Parker, Village Clerk
Date: February 7, 2024
Babylon, New York
The Village Clerk clarified and read the revised law stating: Trucking Alternative Use is expressly prohibited on both north and south side of the previous mentioned locations.
The Mayor stated the reason for this law to go through is in the best interest of our residents, to prevent trucks and commercial vehicles going through our residential streets where there are families with children and pets.
Trustee Seibert felt it should be taken into consideration for the safety of the residents.
Trustee Miga agrees with Trustee Seibert; it is necessary.
Trustee Bencivenga agrees that this is a safety issue, and you cannot have trucks plowing down the streets with kids playing and riding bikes.
Trustee Cardali supports it; streets are alongside the grade and elementary school.
The meeting was opened to the public; no one addressed the Board.
On the motion of Trustee Seibert, seconded by Trustee Miga and unanimously carried, it was
RESOLVED to reserve decision.
The Village Clerk read the legal notice:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Babylon will hold a Public Hearing at the Municipal Building, 153 West Main Street, Babylon, NY, on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as can be heard to consider the adoption of the following:
Proposed Local Law 0227PH-34 of 2024 amending Village Code §34-1 - Officers and Employees Article V, establishing the position of Village Harbor Master
Complete text of the above Local Law is available in the Office of the Village Clerk, on the Village website: www.villageofbabylonny.gov, or can be requested by calling the Village Clerk’s Office at (631) 669-1500.
All interested persons should appear at the above time and place, and they will be given an opportunity to be heard.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jean Marie Parker, Village Clerk
Date: February 7, 2024
Babylon, New York
Mayor stated we are not establishing a new position, however Harbor Master will and is a part of Code Enforcement Team; he will be in charge of watching our waterways and docks.
Trustee Miga - necessary to consider position to work with Code Enforcement.
Trustee Siebert - position of responsibility is necessary and should be considered.
Trustee Bencivenga agreed- put some authority around the role and how it works makes sense,
Trustee Cardali agreed the role is necessary with the projects going on with the bulkheads and the marinas.
The meeting was opened to the public; the following person addressed the Boar
Laura Conroy, 575 Deer Park Avenue
On the motion of Trustee Seibert, seconded by Trustee Miga and unanimously carried, it was
RESOLVED to reserve decision.
The Village Clerk read the legal notice:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Babylon will hold a Public Hearing at the Municipal Building, 153 West Main Street, Babylon, NY, on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as can be heard to consider the adoption of the following:
Proposed Local law 0227PH-365-12 of 2024, adding to the Village Code, §365-12 Parking Zone Districts.
Complete text of the above Local Law is available in the Office of the Village Clerk, on the Village website: www.villageofbabylonny.gov, or can be requested by calling the Village Clerk’s Office at (631) 669-1500.
All interested persons should appear at the above time and place, and they will be given an opportunity to be heard.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jean Marie Parker, Village Clerk
Date: February 7, 2024
Babylon, New York
The Mayor read the law as follows:
Within the Village’s downtown retail/business district, for Village owned municipal lots and those parking lots privately owned, whether with or without a private dwelling or a commercial establishment, it shall be expressly prohibited to build or improve upon those parcels of land currently designated for parking. All currently designated areas for parking are to remain for parking only.
The Mayor added that this is self-explanatory to keep our parking lots as lots and not build on them.
Trustee Seibert - with parking tight as it, this is a necessary law.
Trustee Miga agrees – great law to have.
Trustee Bencivenga agrees.
Trustee Cardali agrees.
The meeting was opened to the public; no one addressed the Board.
On the motion of Trustee Seibert, seconded by Trustee Miga and unanimously carried, it was
RESOLVED to reserve decision.
The Village Clerk read the legal notice:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Babylon will hold a Public Hearing at the Municipal Building, 153 West Main Street, Babylon, NY, on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as can be heard to consider the adoption of the following:
Proposed Local Law 0227PH-79-1 of 2024 amending Village Code §79-1 Definitions, add the definition of Feral animal; and,
Proposed Local Law 0227PH-79-2 of 2024 amending Village Code §79-2 Restrictions on keeping certain animals to include Feral Cats; and,
Mayor Adams stated that we are fortunate enough to be surrounded by the water and the wildlife and have Argyle and Southard Parks. An area of our community has been complaining about something that has been very detrimental to the residents and the wildlife as well dangerous to our Code Enforcement and Village Hall. A person outside of the community was coming and feeding the feral cats; people were complaining at the police precinct that this person was going on to private driveways, into the pond area and leaving food messes in the streets. We are just trying to maintain the quality of life that village residents deserve and will work with Last Hope on a solution.
The Village Clerk read the following law being added:
§79-1 Definitions.
“Feral Cat” shall mean any cat that is born in the wild and is not socialized, is the offspring of an owned or feral cat and is not socialized, or is a formerly owned cat that has been abandoned and is no longer socialized.
§79-2 Restrictions on keeping certain animals.
No person shall harbor, keep and/or maintain within the Village limits any animal, wild animal, fowl, or feral cat, except as provided in Chapter 365, Zoning. The harboring, keeping, and maintaining of household pets is not hereby prohibited.
Trustee Seibert understands the reason behind this line of discussion, but feels we need to keep an open conversation going.
Trustee Miga appreciates everyone’s dedication to animals; we should look more into this law, for what best benefits the residents, environment, and animals.
Trustee Bencivenga stated it is a reasonable approach, balances the quality of life for the residents. We are just not passing a law, but looking to work with animal groups to find a solution that is best for the community and the animals.
Trustee Cardali stated this is something to investigate more, if we can limit the number of colonies that we do have that are not in the parks, that will benefit the quality of life, and then we can work on a solution.
The meeting was opened to the public; the following people addressed the Board:
Lisa Yaeger, Port Jefferson Village
Richard Brown, 217 Cedar Lane
David Bernacchi, Hicksville
Renee Kraft, Copiague
Frank Floridia, Port Jefferson
Virginia Scudder, Riverhead
Debra Oliver, Levittown
Michelle Alier, Islip
Alicia Frank, Islip
Joanne Anderson, Babylon
Kerry Hoyt, Babylon
Chris Elton, Babylon
On the motion of Trustee Seibert, seconded by Trustee Miga and unanimously carried, it was
RESOLVED to reserve decision.
On the motion of Trustee Bencivenga, seconded by Trustee Miga and unanimously carried, the meeting adjourned at 8:01 PM.
_____________________
Village Clerk
** For attachments contact the Village Clerk’s Office