LI planning council vows to keep operating

The chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Council vowed Tuesday to keep the advisory group operating despite a major loss of funding.

"We have verbal commitments for additional funds, though it's not official yet," John Cameron said during a council meeting at Hofstra University.

The council has operated in some form for more than 40 years, but found itself in jeopardy last year after Nassau scrapped its $200,000 annual contribution and Suffolk reduced its $200,000 share.

Both counties continue to provide in-kind services, such as legal and planning staff. The council is currently operating on reserve funds and grants that are expected to keep the group going through the year.

Cameron said the council is seeking funding from towns, villages, the state legislature, nonprofits and corporations

The council, which deals with regional planning and economic issues, is composed of town supervisors, village mayors, and business and institutional leaders.

The council is working on a "parallel track" in search of people or organizations willing to provide public relations, website operation and other services at no cost, Cameron said.

Also Tuesday, the council got personal attention from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office, when Ben Lawsky, the state's superintendent of financial services, discussed the governor's priorities outlined in his recent State of the State address.

Lawsky promised to relay the council's concerns about rising pension costs and a growing need for economic revitalization to the governor.