Wednesday, June 20, 2012

BCC Updates Community

Brookhaven Community Coalition Updates Community on Landfill

BCC Board meets with Community
Over 112 people attended the Brookhaven Community Coalition Meeting
 at the Brookhaven Fire House, June 18, 2012.
Head table, l-r. Marty Van Lith, Kathleen Scheibel, Mark Magnani, Michael Verni,
Adrien Esposito, Rob Dresher, Wayne Losee, Christopher Murray

On Monday, June 18, 2012, the board of the Brookhaven Community Coalition reported to a packed meeting at the Brookhaven Fire House, Brookhaven, NY, on the status of the Town of Brookhaven's landfill and related issues associated with the nearby composting facility.  The Town has proposed increasing the height of trash mountain, now dubbed "Lesko's Heap," another 50 feet and extending its life indefinitely into the future,  in spite of its adverse affects on the nearby communities' health, quality of life, and environment.  Supervisor Mark Lesko's principal rational for expanding the landfill is that it will enable other districts of the Town to dump their trash without costs to them.

The BCC has hired an attorney --Christopher Murray a specialist in environmental matters with Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.of Uniondale-- to represent them in their dealing with the Town.  Most coalition members have lost faith in the Town, and especially Supervisor Lesko,  as someone with whom they can deal honestly.

Community members addres the Town Board
Attorney Christopher Murray outlines BCC's options

According to Long Island Newsday, Supervisor Lesko said the BCC's decision to hire a lawyer was going to have a "dramatic effect" on how the town works with the 13-member landfill liaison committee, which was set up to facilitate communication between the community and town and includes several BCC members. 

However, this landfill liaison committee is now largely seen as an attempt by the Town to coopt opposition to the landfill, rather than a mechanism for arriving at sound landfill management policies and its closure.  There appears to be little incentive to any longer work with the Town through the liaison committee by BCC members.  The Town has regularly bypassed consultation with the liaison committee, and has not taken seriously proposals by BCC members.  These include the Town's request of the FAA to allow an increase in the height of the landfill, and the town's plans to file an application with the state Department of Environmental Conservation to either modify the permit allowing the town to operate the landfill for expansion, or to file an application for a new permit altogether.

"It's unfortunate that now the BCC has made this a litigation matter. Their tone has changed," he said. "If we're going to be sued, we're going to be in a defensive posture."  That might mean withholding information in the landfill liaison meetings that could be used against the town in potential lawsuits, he said. (emphasis mine, on the other hand, Supervisor Lesko is not noted for his openness anyway; and regularly withheld information.  He seems to think ordinary folk are fools.  But they are still voters!)

So much for openness in government!

Don't Dump on Me.

Brookhaven Community Coalition partners are: Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organizations, Atlantic Point Apartments, Bellport Teachers Assistants & Associates, Bellport Chamber of Commerce, Bellport Teachers Association, Brookhaven Fire Department, Brookhaven Fire District, Brookhaven Free Library, Brookhaven Industrial Group, Brookhaven Village Association, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Fire Place History Club, Friends of Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge, Greater Bellport Coalition, The Longwood Alliance, Manor Park Civic Association, Medford Taxpayers & Civic Association, Inc., Overton Preserve Coalition, Post Morrow Foundation, Inc., South Country Ambulance Company, South Country Board of Education, South Country C.S.E.A., South Country Community Conference, South Haven Civic Association, Inc., South Yaphank Civic Association, Sungate Homeowners Association, Yaphank Fire Department, Yaphank Taxpayers & Civic Association, Inc.,

Monday, June 18, 2012

BCC Meeting Reminder - TONIGHT 7PM

 

Please Join Us for a Community Meeting on Stopping the Expansion of the Brookhaven Landfill

 

Attention Brookhaven Community Coalition Members and all Brookhaven Residents.

Please Join the BCC tonight, June 18th to discuss the Towns plans to expand the height and life of the Brookhaven Landfill.  On May 8, 2012, the Town Council (with the exception of Councilwoman Connie Kepert)  voted to submit an application to the DEC to expand the landfill from a mountain of 270 feet to one of 320 feet.  This is the complete opposite of what the community has asked for and what we have been promised. Enough is enough!


The BCC has hired legal counsel and will fight this new assault on our community.  We need the help and engagement of all residents whose health and or quality of life is being adversely impacted by the Town of Brookhaven Landfill.

When:  Monday, June 18
Time:    7pm
Where: Brookhaven Firehouse
- 2486 Montauk Highway, Brookhaven

Hope to see you all there!

The BCC Executive Board

-- 
Tara Bono
Program Coordinator
Citizens Campaign for the Environment
225a Main Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735
(516) 390-7150
tbono@citizenscampaign.org
 
“Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Local Brookhaven hamlet resident prepares drawing of Landfill

Current authorized height for the landfill is 270 feet.  Proposed height is 320 feet.  The Federal courthouse in Islip is approx. 245 feet to its highest point. The only taller building is Stony Brook University hospital at 360 feet.  Bald Hill, the highest naturally occurring point in the Town of Brookhaven, is 331 feet.


Friday, June 8, 2012

Brookhaven Community Meeting Alert! RE: Town Landfill, June 18

 

 

From: Tara Bono [mailto:tbono@citizenscampaign.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 2:37 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Brookhaven Community Meeting Alert! RE: Town Landfill

 

Please Join Us for a Community Meeting on Stopping the Expansion of the Brookhaven Landfill

 

Attention Brookhaven Community Coalition Members and all Brookhaven Residents.

 

Please Join the BCC on June 18th to discuss the Towns plans to expand the height and life of the Brookhaven Landfill.  On May 8, 2012, the Town Council (with the exception of Councilwoman Connie Kepert)  voted to submit an application to the DEC to expand the landfill from a mountain of 270 feet to one of 320 feet.  This is the complete opposite of what the community has asked for and what we have been promised. Enough is enough!

The BCC has hired legal counsel and will fight this new assault on our community.  We need the help and engagement of all residents whose health and or quality of life is being adversely impacted by the Town of Brookhaven Landfill
.

When:  Monday, June 18
Time:    7pm
Where: Brookhaven Firehouse
- 2486 Montauk Highway, Brookhaven

Hope to see you all there!

The BCC Executive Board

-- 
Tara Bono
Program Coordinator
Citizens Campaign for the Environment
225a Main Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735
(516) 390-7150
tbono@citizenscampaign.org
 
“Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs