Elected Officials Speak at School Board Meeting
As Huntington School District officials continue to press for further steps to address the issue of violent crime in the Huntington Station area, Huntington Town Supervisor Frank P. Petrone and Suffolk County Legislature Majority Leader Jonathan Cooper made separate presentations at Monday night’s School Board meeting, detailing their efforts to solve the problem.
School Board President Bill Dwyer summarized a recent meeting between district and town officials that included a discussion about continuing violence in the area near Jack Abrams Intermediate School and the district’s interest in finding a solution to the worsening space crunch in all school buildings.
Mr. Petrone said the violence is “a joint problem” and indicated that revitalizing Huntington Station “has been a pet project” of his. He told trustees he would like to “walk together” with them to combat crime in the area and form a “partnership” that could result in the establishment of a community center in the area.
Mr. Dwyer and Mr. Petrone each discussed the possibility of joining together “as a team” to pursue funding to “expand the district’s footprint” and create the community center. “I’m committed to working side-by-side and finding a joint solution,” Mr. Petrone said. “If we stay together, we can solve this problem.”
Mr. Petrone told trustees he has “communicated” with Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy about the need for increased police presence in the Huntington Station area. He also came out in support of re-establishing a police sub-station in the vicinity.
After Mr. Petrone left the meeting, Mr. Cooper arrived. He told school trustees of a bill he introduced several months ago that would re-open the police sub-station in Huntington Station, but added that he is somewhat pessimistic about the potential for the bill passing since the county is facing a deficit of more than $120 million and Police Commissioner Richard Dormer opposes sub-stations as an inefficient use of personnel and available funding.
Mr. Cooper said he feels a much more “doable” possibility involves moving the police shift change location to either Jack Abrams Intermediate School or to a nearby town structure. To move it to the school would require the district to make the building accessible to police 24 hours per day and provide dressing and restroom facilities and several other items.
Superintendent John J. Finello said the district will quickly investigate the possibility of providing police what is needed for the shift change location to be established at the school. Mr. Cooper pledged to provide the district with more information about requirements for establishment of the sub-station and shift change locations at school.
Mr. Cooper, who said he believes more police need to be hired, told trustees he “will continue speaking with Mr. Dormer and Mr. Levy about these matters.” The legislator added he will be holding a community meeting to discuss many of these same issues on Tuesday, October 20 at 7 p.m. in the Jack Abrams Intermediate School auditorium. For more information contact his office at 854-4500.
A meeting with top town, county and school officials was scheduled for this week to discuss concrete actions to address the violence. School Board members also indicated their approval of broadening the reach of the current Lowndes Avenue Task Force and having the town assume responsibility for the enlarged initiative.
Several district residents weighed in on the issue, too. Trustees were presented with a petition containing the signatures of more than 1,100 residents who want violence in the area addressed.
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