Brookhaven Officials To Focus on Highway Dept. Improvements

A proposal to improve the Brookhaven Highway Department's snow removal efforts and an initiative to repair local beaches damaged by Hurricane Sandy are among the topics scheduled to be discussed at Tuesday night's Town Board meeting, which begins at 5 p.m.

Following the early February blizzard, Supervisor Ed Romaine put forth four proposals to improve the town's Highway Department's snow removal effort. They are:

• pay-rate increases to outside contractors
• a re-evaluation of Brookhaven’s insurance policy mandate for contractors
• use of an outside firm to review the condition of all vehicles involved in snow removal
• enhanced employee training with regard to 451-TOWN calls.

Town board members will also vote on whether to send a message of support to the New York State assembly for legislation what would increase a municipalities annual spending on highway equipment from $1 million to $2.6 million. The measure has already been approved by the state senate.

In addition, there is an agreement proposed between the town and New York state engineers to move forward with Phase I of Fire Island community storm protection projects. They include erosion control measures for Fire Island Pines, Davis Park, Ocean Bay Park, Point O' Woods and Seaview.

Board members will also be asked to adjust the town's 2013 budget to compensate for part of the $24 million costs of cleaning up Superstorm Sandy.