The Incorporated Village of Bellport Tentative Budget was discussed Monday night at a public hearing held at Village Hall due to WiFi issues at the Community Center.

The 2024-25 proposed budget increase was 6 percent, or $333,718.

A small group of residents attended the meeting.

Tom Penfold, who has lived in the village since 1995, commented on the amount of building in the village as well as concern for the budget increases.

Mayor Maureen Veitch thanked Penfold and pointed out issues like increases in insurance from 2022 of $272,000 to $350,000 and $375,000 this year.

“We worked hard and wanted to take care of things,” she said of the overall scrutiny.

The budget (copies are available at Village Hall’s front desk) listed the changes and causes. Some were: salaries, benefits and taxes increased $132,000 due to a new position in DPW to be filled; annual contractual raises and higher health costs and increases in NYSHIP (New York State Health Insurance Program) costs; third party service, contractual and consulting increased $70,000 due to software maintenance and rates for renewal have increased. Debt Service increased $123,000 due to the purchase of two payloaders for DPW, new Code Vehicle and a new sanitation truck; capital projects increased by $157,000 as a result of more square miles expected to be repaved and new software for the Treasurer’s Department; general liability insurance increased $34,000; and utilities increased $10,000.

Contingency of $75,000 was added to cover potential events not specifically accounted for; to use the funds, a board resolution is required.

At the onset, Veitch said the process started in January with one-on-one meetings with department heads.

Thomas Schultz said he appreciated the new budget, but had 24 items he wanted to ask about and was ultimately requested to send them to village treasurer, Darcia Palmer-Akhimien. Schultz mentioned an increase in board of trustees, attorney salaries and personal services, but Veitch corrected the issue regarding her position and the trustees. “I make $9,000,” she said (trustees are paid $5,400.) “No one is getting a salary increase.” Palmer-Akhimien pointed out that for the mayor, there were funds for traveling and training and asked Schultz to send her questions.

The vote to finalize the budget was tabled for the next board meeting.

TERM LIMITS

Mayor Veitch introduced a resolution to change the terms of office for mayor and trustee from two years to four years. Trustee Rohrmeier pointed out that village clerk Mary Pontieri suggested the possible change; 21 villages already have a four-year term.

Former trustee Mike Ferrigno suggested three years, but New York State law doesn’t permit three—it’s two or four, said village attorney Lisa Perillo. Thomas Schultz said he was generally in support, but suggested the choice should be on a ballot, not via a board vote.

The board will continue to discuss it.

OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED:

• Flooding at Otis Lane, Thorndike and South Howells is being worked on.
• Brown’s Lane and Shore Road is 82 percent completed on the east side. Department of Public Works superintendent Jason Crane said this week they were moving to the west end and are putting in drainage. (Drains put in on the east end have improved the water flooding.) As for completion, “Let’s hope for first week in May,” Crane said to open for cars.
• The village is hoping to replace solar panels at Ho-Hum Beach before the summer season begins.
• Gutters were installed repelling the leak in the building at Village Hall as well. Crane and James Carson have been specific on historical accuracy. Crane pitched residing the whole building with 24-inch shingles, bringing it back to its original state. It would cost approximately $54,500 total, including the shingles and nails finished with a special procedure as well as labor. 
• Suffolk County asked the village to energize the LIRR station. Village clerk Mary Pontieri met with the MTA and a cleanup by the MTA has already been done.
• The Bellport Golf Course opened this week.
• Village clerk Pontieri and mayor Veitch will be meeting with the county on a walkability study to determine sidewalks and economic feasibility.
• Trustee Lorraine Kuhn connected with the Bayard Cutting Arboretum to have a senior program there.
• Trustee Young is preparing a summary of how to make architectural alterations and zoning less costly. “I already have a list of potential law changes—it’s a starting point,” he said. It would be announced at a public hearing. He’s solicitating views. Veitch suggested it could be homeowners, but also construction people. “I’m thinking of driveways,” she said. “There are changes in demographics. There are more cars now than 50 years ago.”