Amityville committee to create plan for Security Dodge property 

An Amityville trustee has put together a committee to create a plan for property owned by an auto dealership that has been the subject of tense debate.

Trustee Tom Whalen announced last month that he wanted to form a five-person committee to discuss properties owned by Security Dodge and he said he has now finalized the members. The committee will consist of Whalen, trustee Jessica Bernius, civic leader Joan Donnison and residents Chris Geiger and Donelle Cronin. Whalen will serve as chairperson and he said the committee will meet “at least once a week.”

Mayor Dennis Siry and Deputy Mayor Kevin Smith said they approved of the committee.

Whalen’s decision comes as the board weighs whether to give a special permit to Security to use a property they own at 335 Merrick Rd. as a parking lot for employees and customers. The company sued the village after their request for a site plan review was refused in 2016, based on a 2006 law that states that further automotive uses in the area be prohibited. This summer a state Supreme Court judge struck down the lawsuit and Security is appealing that decision.

Security, one of the village’s largest employers with more than 100 employees, has for years been a target for complaints by some residents who have cited problems with employees ranging from parking on side streets to reckless driving.

Whalen, in announcing the formation of the committee, said they should work with Security to come up with a plan that includes the lot and another adjacent property owned by the company.

“The intent of this plan would be to benefit the residents, Security Dodge and the village itself,” he said. Whalen said the deadline to come up with a plan is the end of this month.

Bernius said that Security continues to park vehicles at the lot in question and before discussions go too far, she would like to see Security give a show of faith by clearing the lot.

“As good neighbors they should remove the cars before we even talk about it,” she said.

Security attorney Joseph Buzzell of Melville said he did not know if there were currently cars on the lot but said Security "did buy the lot to use for parking and the parking is necessary."

He also said Security can't make improvements to the lot until it receives approval from the village.

Resident Christine Umpa said she is disappointed that the committee does not include residents such as herself who live closest to the lot.

“We’re the ones who have lived through it and we know exactly what’s going on,” she said. “I’m not very hopeful that things will turn out to the benefit of the neighborhood.”

By Denise M. Bonilla

denise.bonilla@newsday.comdenisebonilla

Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.