Roundup: Grant for jail alternatives
NASSAU COUNTY
Grant to help group explore options to jail
The Hempstead-based Leadership Training Institute has received a $300,000 state grant to operate a program with the Nassau County Correctional Center for alternatives to jail.
The institute, a nonprofit agency with youth as its primary focus, will use the grant from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services to provide behavioral programming and evidence-based services to 135 jail inmates — men and women ages 16-24 — at the site and after their release. The program will integrate employment and, for those without a high school diploma, General Educational Development preparation.
Institute executive director Mel Jackson said the program will have classes of 15 inmates, “who will have been extensively prescreened and are expected to work very hard to change the thinking process that got them there.”
Nassau Sheriff Michael J. Sposato, who is responsible for the correctional facility, called the program vital.
“The Nassau County Sheriff’s Department has partnered with LTI in the past and believes this significant project will have long-term benefits for the offenders, their families and their communities.”
The Nassau Education and Assistance Corp., and the Suffolk EAC Inc, also received grants of $225,000 and $250,000, respectively, for programs to help nonviolent drug offenders receive treatment instead of jail.
— SID CASSESE
FARMINGDALE
Parking violators face higher fines
The Village of Farmingdale has raised fines for delinquent parking violations.
Fines to motorists who fail to pay tickets after 60 days will increase by as much as $100, depending on the violation.
Farmingdale village administrator Brian Harty said they’ve had problems with people not paying their fines, which eventually leads to court action. The higher delinquent fines are intended to be an incentive to get people to pay their tickets sooner.
“It costs them less to pay earlier,” Harty said. “We’re hopeful people will pay their fine on time — it makes everybody’s life a lot easier.”
A $25 fine for violations such as parking in the wrong direction in a municipal parking lot or parking across multiple parking spaces increases to $50 after 30 days and will now go to $100 after 60 days. A $50 fine for parking in spaces marked “no parking” or “no stopping” or exceeding a timed parking limit goes up to $100 after 30 days and will now go up to $250 after 60 days.
Harty said the village’s recently introduced online payment system has made paying tickets more convenient.
— TED PHILLIPS
BROOKHAVEN TOWN
Shelter pet adoption fees waived through June
Fees to adopt dogs and cats at the Brookhaven Town animal shelter have been waived through June 30 to encourage more adoptions.
The town first waived the fees last June to reduce overcrowding at the shelter. Since October, the number of dogs has been reduced to 110 from 209, officials said. The cat population has dropped to 30 from 69 in the same period.
Officials have said the shelter should house no more than 80 dogs and 30 cats.
The town had charged an adoption fee from $5 to $10 for a spayed or neutered dog. Cats neutered or spayed before arriving at the shelter cost $10 before the fees were dropped.
Free licenses will be provided for adopted dogs, officials said. Licenses are not required for cats.
The shelter, located at 300 Horseblock Rd. in Brookhaven hamlet, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For additional information, call 631-286-4940 or visit www.brookhaven.org/animalshelter.
— CARL MACGOWAN
EAST WILLISTON
Board considers annual water meter reading
The East Williston board on Wednesday will consider requiring water meters within the village to be read at least once a year.
The village is eyeing the change to ensure that residents have a better understanding of how much water they use, Mayor David Tanner said. More frequent readings promote accurate measurements and can lead residents to uncover causes for high bills, such as water leaks, he said.
“They may have had a leak, and they get hit with a very large bill,” Tanner said. If the time between readings “goes too far,” the resulting bill can “become a financial shock to a resident,” he said.
The public hearing on the issue starts at 8 p.m. at Village Hall, 2 Prospect St.
— SCOTT EIDLER
