Commack ambulance corps seeks HQ expansion

The headquarters of the Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corps would undergo a $5.2-million expansion under a plan the ambulance company has discussed with Huntington and Smithtown town officials.

The building, at 200 Burr Rd. in Huntington, would be renovated to accommodate a new ambulance bay and sleeping quarters for emergency medical technicians, Smithtown comptroller Louis A. Necroto said Tuesday at a work session of the Smithtown town board.

The corps serves residents in both towns, and Necroto said the ambulance corps wants Smithtown and Huntington to collect taxes necessary to fund the project. "They're looking to see if we're on board with this," he told the town board. ". . . They want to start ASAP."

Smithtown officials did not indicate whether they support or oppose the project.

Attempts to reach Commack Ambulance officials were unsuccessful.

The ambulance corps wants to finance the expansion by issuing tax-exempt bonds through Huntington Town's Local Development Corp., town spokesman A.J. Carter said. Commack residents served by the ambulance company would see a tax increase to pay off the loan, he said.

Carter and Necroto said they could not say how much taxes would rise.

Huntington officials have been briefed on the plan, but no formal proposals have been brought to the town board, which acts as the board of the Huntington Local Development Corporation, Carter said.

About two-thirds of residents served by the ambulance company are in Smithtown, and one-third in Huntington, Necroto and Carter said.