Animal Shelter To Be Built In Halesite

HUNTINGTON, NY — The Huntington Town Board approved funding for a new animal shelter to be built in Halesite, as well as plans for a permanent memorial to honor victims of the coronavirus pandemic, at its meeting on Tuesday, the town announced.

The shelter was planned to be constructed on Creek Road in Halesite and is estimated to cost, at most, $7 million, according to the town. Of that, $500,000 will be paid for by grant funding from the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund and $500,000 from the proceeds of bonds previously issued in 2014. The remaining $6,000,000 would be bonded to finance the balance, the town stated.

"This cost-efficient state-of-the-art animal shelter facility will complement our shelter staff's great record of behavioral rehabilitation, training, and adoption of our furry friends," Supervisor Chad Lupinacci stated via news release.

The plans, drafted in March 2020, provide ADA-accessible facilities recommended by the Huntington Animal Shelter staff, including 50 double-stall kennels with slide gates to house up to 100 dogs — 72 in the adoption area and 28 in the isolation area for dogs with rehabilitation needs — a multi-purpose training room; outdoor dog run; specialized HVAC system with multiple-stage filtration to provide for isolation of various areas; medical room; canine bathing area; specially designed lighting for cleaning of kennels; and energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems.

The town board tasked the directors of the departments of General Services and Parks & Recreation with recommending an appropriate spot for a permanent memorial to honor the victims of the coronavirus pandemic. The departments' recommendations will be due within 90 days of the resolution's passage.

"Given the magnitude of this once-in-a-century pandemic, and the isolation that resulted for all of us and especially for our most vulnerable, we want to give these victims’ survivors a sacred place where the entire community can honor their loved ones’ memories and the significant impact these losses have had on our community together," Lupinacci said.

The Town Board scheduled public hearings for the 2 p.m. May 11 meeting to consider:

• Amending code to allow property owners more time to remove snow and ice from sidewalks and making penalties of noncompliance in proportion to the front of the property's size.
• Change the town's code to require screening of rooftop equipment, such as HVAC or wireless telecommunications equipment, on commercial and industrial buildings where appropriate.
• Allowing actions to be taken in regards to blighted properties.