Notebook: Ticket Amnesty Pays Off

This article was written by Pam Robinson.

A recent amnesty persuaded more than half of the guilty parties to pay up, the town said. The one-month amnesty allowed people to settle claims for outstanding tickets at a 40 percent discount of what they owed in penalties and tickets.

“I am encouraged by the results, which demonstrated that when given the chance to clear their books and their consciences, a majority of those affected responded,” Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said.

According to figures provided by Fundamental Business Service Inc., the vendor the Town retained to administer the April amnesty program, persons representing 1,531 of the 2,800 license plates with outstanding tickets -- 54 percent – paid reduced fines or proved that they didn't owe, which resulted in their tickets being dismissed.

 FBS collected $105,729 in fines and penalties; the value of the discount and the dismissed tickets was $133,327. The  amnesty program accounted for 38 percent of the approximately $625,000 in outstanding fines and penalties motorists incurred between Jan. 1, 2005 and Dec. 31, 2012, the period covered by the amnesty.

Those who did not respond are still responsible for the full amount in fines and penalties.

Development Plan Approved
The Huntington Town Board unanimously adopted the Huntington Station development strategy submitted by Renaissance Downtowns.

The master developer presented its plan to the board in May.

The Town Board’s acceptance of the strategy gives Renaissance the go-ahead to pursue specific projects that would be brought to the Board for approval.

“I am encouraged by the community support of this process and by the suggestions the community shared with Renaissance to be included in their report,” Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said. “I look forward to working with the community to help make some of these exciting ideas a reality."

Vote Set in Cold Spring Harbor Fire District 
The Cold Spring Harbor Fire District is having a special electionTuesday to consider a proposition to spend about $100,000 to buy ambulance/rescue equipment. Voting runs from 6 to 9 p.m. at the firehouse at 2 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor.

Beaches Cleaned Up
Huntington Town Councilwoman Susan A. Berland, Village of Northport Mayor George Doll and Village of Northport Trustee Tom Kehoe  worked with about 50 volunteers to clean up several beaches last week. 

The 8th Annual Clean Beaches Day brought volunteers to Crab Meadow Beach, Gold Star Battalion Beach and Centerport Beach. The 8th Annual Clean Beaches Day also featured the Clean Beaches Bus Tour, which took volunteers to Hobart Beach and Steers Beach in Asharoken.