PAGE A4 • THE VILLAGE TIMES HERALD • SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
Village
Residents say ‘Yes’ to new pumper trucks BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM A special election was held in the Setauket Fire District Sept. 10 to approve the purchase of pumper trucks. According to David Sterne, fire district manager, the referendum was passed, 85-65. Residents were asked to vote “Yes” or “No” for four Pierce Class A Pumpers from PNC Equipment Finance, LLC. On Aug. 1, the board of fire commissioners approved a referendum to
hold the vote to buy the new vehicles. The district will enter into a tax-free Municipal Lease-Purchase Agreement with PNC Equipment Finance. The total cost of the four vehicles will not exceed $2,557,314. While the proposition is to approve a five-year payoff, Sterne said the district hopes to pay it off in three years. Since it was not a bond vote, it will not raise taxes in the fire district. The commissioners are currently preparing the budget for next year, and they are under the cap, according to Sterne.
D O N AT E YO U R C A R Wheels For Wishes
benefiting
Make-A-Wish ® Suffolk County or Metro New York WheelsForWishes.org
* 100% Tax Deductible * Free Vehicle Pickup ANYWHERE * We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not * We Also Accept Boats, Motorcycles & RVs
Metro New York Call:(917)336-1254 Suffolk County Call:(631)317-2014
* Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. To learn more about our programs or financial information, call (213) 948-2000 or visit www.wheelsforwishes.org.
THREE VILLAGE MEALS ON WHEELS
Are You Homebound? • Our clients are homebound, chronically ill, convalescing from surgery or illness that prevents them from preparing their own meals. • 2 meals are delivered at mid-day, Monday through Friday to the homes of our clients. • We are a volunteer non-profit community-based organization serving all of Stony Brook, Setauket, East Setauket, Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson Station and parts of adjacent communities since 1983. • Give our number to your friends, relatives or neighbors in need of our services. Volunteers are needed
Consider joining the ranks of our volunteers. It takes approximately 2 hours or less of your time one day per week.
We welcome donations
We rely on donations and do not receive funding through any government agency.
©157438
Three Village Meals On Wheels 216 Christian Ave. P.O. Box 853 Stony Brook, NY 631-689-7070 3villagemow@gmail.com 3villagemealsonwheels.org
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Emma Clark library decorated this summer for the children’s Summer Reading Club. Photo from Emma S. Clark Memorial LIbrary
Library vote set for Sept. 18 BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Emma S. Clark Memorial Library’s budget is projected to increase slightly in 2020, and Three Village school district residents will get a chance to vote on it Sept. 18. Voters will be asked to approve the library’s 2020 budget of $5,495,366, which is a 1.99 percent increase over the 2019 budget of $5,388,195. While the budget includes an increase of $5,560 in employee salaries, it also consists of a decrease of $37,589 in benefits. Library Director Ted Gutmann said this past year some full-time Emma Clark employees retired. They were mostly replaced by part-time workers when it was practical, which has impacted salaries and decreased benefits. Books, e-books, materials, classes and events will see a $51,200 increase in 2020 and building and operations an increase of $6,000. The library’s estimated income for 2020 dips by $82,000. Orlando Maione, president of the library’s board of trustees, said the board looks for cost-saving methods and applies for grants whenever possible. When the building’s
lighting was converted to LED lights, he said it also helped the library save on utility bills. Over the past few years, mechanical equipment has been converted into energyefficient units which also saves money. “Whenever we can, we’re constantly looking for ways to save money and not use taxpayers’ money,” Maione said. The board president said he feels the library and trustees have built trust with residents in that the board will keep costs down. “Since we all live in the community, and we’re all taxpayers, it’s our money as well,” he said. Gutmann said he is grateful for the community’s support in the past and feels voting on the budget is important. “They have the opportunity to voice their opinion,” Gutmann said. “I’m hopeful that they’ll continue to support the library as we’re proposing.” Registered voters can cast their ballots on the library’s budget between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Sept. 18 in the Periodicals Room of Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main St. in Setauket. For more detailed budget information, visit www.emmaclark.org.
The VILLAGE TIMES HERALD (USPS 004-808) is published Thursdays by TBR News Media, 185 Route 25A, Setauket, NY 11733. Periodicals postage paid at Setauket, NY and additional mailing offices. Subscription price $49 annually. Leah S. Dunaief, Publisher. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.