Board presses ahead on plans for park

The Islip Town Board voted Tuesday to break ground on the first phase of a major park in Central Islip, more than a year after a visioning workshop was held for the proposed 20-acre site.

The first phase of the project, which will include clearing trees, brush and debris, grading the soil and creating wood chip paths as well as asphalt bicycle trails around the park, will cost $322,222. It will be paid for through the town's planned development district fund, a special account set aside for parks and recreation in Central Islip that accrues money per square foot of development that occurs in the area.

According to the resolution, D.F. Stone Contracting of Medford was the lowest responsible bidder for the first phase of the project.

A park visioning last June unveiled by Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island boasted a band shell, picnic pavilion, sport courts, shuffleboard, picnic tables and a pond as possibilities for the park at Lowell Avenue and Clayton Street.

Also at the board meeting -- the last before the November general election -- Democratic town board candidates Astrid Fidelia and George Hafele questioned the board about the latest budget and the fiscal stability of the town after Standard & Poor's Ratings Services issued a negative outlook to the town's AAA general obligation bond rating in August.

"We're not happy with what's happening," Fidelia said, suggesting the board's 28 percent tax increase in 2013 hurt Islip homeowners. "As we go out there in the field, people are hurting, they're saying that they are at risk of losing their homes."

Fidelia also criticized the board for holding only one public budget workshop before the Nov. 5 election, and only one town board meeting in October where the public could express opinions about the proposed $124.5 million 2014 budget after it was published.

Deputy Supervisor Eric Hofmeister responded that the schedule for board meetings is set at a public meeting in January each year.

"There is ample opportunity for folks to comment on that," Hofmeister said. "This schedule is consistent with what has occurred" in the past in the town, he added.

Republican town board members Steven Flotteron and Trish Bergin Weichbrodt are up for re-election in November.