Elwood Taxpayers Hold 'Meet the Candidates' Night

The hosted town and county candidates on Wednesday for the annual "Meet the Candidates" night at .

Each candidate began with a statement on their accomplishments, strengths, and positions on pertinent issues. Eleven out of twelve invited candidates attended.

County: Angie Carpenter (R) for Suffolk County executive, incumbent Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) and challenger Deborah Poulos (C) for 16th District legislator, and Dennis Garetano (I) for 17th District legislator.

Town: Incumbent Glenda Jackson (D) and challenger Herb Morrow (R) for Town Board, incumbent Susan Berland (D) and challenger Eugene Cook (R) for Town Board, incumbent Ester Bivona (D) and challenger Robert Conte (R) for Huntington receiver of taxes, and write-in candidate Peter Nichols (L) for Town Board.

County Executive candidate Steve Bellone (D) did not attend.

Avalon Bay

Karen Alu of East Northport asked the Town Board candidates for their positions on the proposed Avalon Bay development in Huntington Station.

Town Councilwoman Glenda Jackson was the first to respond. "I believe that at the end of the day we have to look for responsible development in areas where it may fit...I have been very supportive of open space as well."

Councilwoman Susan Berland said she voted against Avalon in round one and voted yes at the current zoning capacity in round two.

Republican challenger Eugene Cook said he was against Avalon primarily because of infrastructure, secondly because he is against downzoning.

Challenger Herb Morrow said Avalon Bay was the "wrong project, wrong place."

Write-in candidate Peter Nichols said the Town Board had no right to defy the public's will and "should be ashamed of themselves."

Government Waste and Debt

Cindy Tomasi of Elwood asked how the candidates would streamline government to cut down waste. 

Receiver of Taxes challenger Rob Conte responded by saying that the town should accept e-payments and cut down on employees. Incumbent Ester Bivona retorted that the town already takes e-payments and credit cards and her office only has six employees who work nine hours a day, six days a week.

One man asked town candidates to explain the town's $150 million debt. "We're not bonding for everyday services," said Town Councilwoman Susan Berland. "We bond only for projects like water district upgrades."

Berland also implied that challenger Morrow, mayor of Huntington Bay, is not fiscally responsible, to which he objected, saying that he has money put aside for employee pensions.

Nichols recommended performance audits after noting the Town's $1,000 expenditure on pet food and $30,000 per year spent on four employees re-hired after retiring on full pensions.