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Suffolk Notebook: Foley Sale Idea Returns; Fire Island Surcharge Nixed

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone reportedly has hired a consultant to explore the sale option.

Facing serious cash problems for the county, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone is looking into an idea that's pit county executive versus legislators in the past: the sale of the Foley Skilled Nursing Facility in Yaphank.

Bellone has hired a consultant to look into the sale option, according to a Newsday report.

The idea to sell the county-run service was long touted by former County Executive Steve Levy, but was sharply opposed by legislators.

That includes Legislator Kate Browning, WFP-Shirley, who told Newsday it appeared Bellone was trying to go behind the legislature's back.

No Surcharge for Fire Island Ferry
Going to the beach won't cost an extra 25 cents this year after Suffolk County this week .

The surcharge would have raised $750,000 for the cash-strapped county.

Bus Service Connects the Forks
Suffolk's Sunday Bus service has picked back up starting on Memorial Day, giving locals and visitors a way to get from Montauk to Orient using public transportation.

The service consists of two lines. The S92 bus line runs from Orient Point to East Hampton, stopping in Sag Harbor, Water Mill, Southampton Village, Hampton Bays, Flanders and Riverhead.

To go on from Riverhead, riders must transfer to the 10C, which stops in East Hampton, Amagansett and Montauk.

Grand Jury: Drug Tests Should Be Mandatory
A Suffolk County grand jury this week released a report calling for mandatory drug tests for anybody who causes an accident that kills or injures another person.

The change would mean police could conduct the test without first getting a search warrant, according to an Associated Press story.

The recommendation stemmed from the jury's consideration of the spread of prescription drug abuse on Long Island.

Huntington Beach Shut
The Suffolk County Department of Health on Friday shut down the Huntington Beach Community Association due to high bacteria levels found in the water. The beach will reopen when the levels fall.

In Nassau County, in a row due to bacteria levels.

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KFM May 21, 2013 at 04:17 pm
How, in a period of rapidly declining enrollment, can costs be increasing so much from year to year,Read More you ask? The answer is in front of you in black and white. I urge you to READ your district’s budget: we are funding retirements when many of us cannot afford to fund our own during difficult economic times. These wheels were set in motion by contracts negotiated in times of unrealistic growth that may likely not occur again. It is time to open up these plans and relieve this unfair burden from our shoulders. Whatever other measures are pursued in order to control costs, including consolidation within and eventually with other districts, are never going to be enough if you cannot get this problem corrected. Write your congressman, for the love of God. If you need any more incentive to do so, please go to http://rocdocs.democratandchronicle.com/database/teacher-pensions-new-york and look at what Smithtown’s retirees are collecting MONTHLY. It will sicken you.
KFM May 21, 2013 at 04:12 pm
They are allowed to exclude the pension and employee benefit increases when expressing the increase.Read More
Billie B May 20, 2013 at 10:17 am
Tomorrow is the vote..vote NO NOW or our taxes are going to continue to sky rocket. Unless we doRead More something this town will continue to spiral down. More taxes aren't going to help. We need to cut expenses and get ourselves on a fiscally responsible plan.