Huntington Notebook: Town Authorizes Settlement Agreement

The has authorized a settlement agreement in a lawsuit filed in 2006 against major oil companies by the town with the Dix Hills Water District over the contamination of public water wells by the gasoline additive MTBE, the abbreviation for methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE).

The settlement funds are targeted at cleaning up the tainted wells. The town and water district settled related suits against 32 other companies 2009 and 2010. This latest settlement is with O.K. Petroleum Distribution Corporation, which agreed to pay $24,163.

Councilmen Mark Cuthbertson abstained and Mark Mayoka voted no to the resolution.

Sewer Line Repairs
The board also unanimously approved a contract with H2M to provide engineering services for the "design, bidding, construction administration and observation" for repairs to lines in the Huntington Sewer District. The Huntington Sewer District is comprised of approximately 30 miles of underground sewer lines the majority of which were installed between 1938 and 1948. Since 2005 the Huntington Sewer District has undertaken extensive internal inspection of the lines using television cameras to determine the condition of these pipes and while the majority of the sewers were found to be in good condition, some areas with defects have been located and need to be repaired. An earlier Town Board resolution,  number 2011-276 authorized the issuance of $550,000 in serial bonds for improvement of facilities in the Huntington Sewer District. Of that, $220,000 has been set aside specifically for repairs. This part of the project is expected to cost $13,400.

East Northport Fest Set
The board unanimously approved a request by the East Northport Chamber of Commerce to hold its annual festival and sidewalk sales event Sept. 9, 10 and 11 at next to the on Larkfield Road. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 pm, Friday, Sept. 9; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10; and 11 a.m to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept.11.

No Contract Yet for Natural Gas at VAMC
Following a public hearing at its Tuesday, July 12 meeting, the Huntington Town Board reserved decision on a plan to consider granting a license agreement to National Grid to provide natural gas service to the in Northport.