Town Of Huntington Targets Return To In-Person Public Meetings

HUNTINGTON, NY — The Town of Huntington has returned to full staff at Huntington Town Hall for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the town announced. The township is also targeting a return to in-person public meetings in July.

Supervisor Chad Lupinacci's administration made the decision to return to full staff over a month ago when higher in-person staffing levels were being phased in by town departments. The decision was relayed to town employees on May 3.

The town launched its reopening plan on June 8, 2020, which officially reopened town facilities to employees from all departments. Departments and employees have since cooperated together, Lupinacci said.

"This cooperation facilitated a fundamental transformation of Town operations, which was necessary given the realities surrounding COVID-19," Lupinacci stated. "Just like other municipalities across the United States, we had to rely on best practices and the knowledge, expertise and devotion of countless individuals to put in place a plan that would see us through this complex period of history."

Town Hall began operating at pre-pandemic in-person staffing levels as of Monday.

The next Town Board meeting is scheduled for July 13, and residents will once again be able to attend them in the flesh.

"While the pandemic made all government agencies take a deeper look at how we deliver services to our residents and businesses, the Town of Huntington was well-prepared to handle the biggest challenge the Town and the nation has faced in decades, if not the past century," Lupinacci said.

Below is more useful information for Town of Huntington residents:

Parks & Recreation Summer Facilities and Programs

Town Beaches will remain open to Town of Huntington residents only in 2021. The Dix Hills Pool and the Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo Memorial Spray Park at Elwood Park will be open to residents only by registration only. Skate parks at Greenlawn Park and Veterans Park are accessible with a resident recreation I.D. card. All Parks & Recreation Department summer programming is open by registration. The Dix Hills Ice Rink is open to all.

Human Services Move & Senior Center Reopening

The Department of Human Services and all of its divisions, including senior citizens, disability services, minority affairs, veterans' affairs and women’s services, are now fully under one roof at the Village Green Center/John J. Flanagan Center at 423 Park Ave., Huntington. This move will promote inter-departmental efficiency and help alleviate parking congestion for visitors to Huntington Town Hall.

The Town is still determining the reopening of the Town of Huntington Senior Center and Adult Day Care program.

Public Meetings

While operational assessments and adjustments were needed over the past 16 months, pre-pandemic security concerns were identified with the new policies and procedures formed to keep town facilities and services running during the different phases of the shutdown. Town Hall is more efficient, accessible and safer now than ever, Lupinacci said.

"We have been eagerly anticipating a return to 100% staffing and in-person public meetings since March 2020," Lupinacci said. "I am aware some have called for a hasty reopening and a return to the way things used to be but we are changed as a nation and as a Town, and for the better; we are smarter, more efficient and the most prepared we have ever been to tackle any challenge. As Town Supervisor and Chief Executive of our local government, I have a different, informed perspective on operations. It has always been a priority of this administration to deliver accountable and efficient services while ensuring the safety of our residents and staffers."