JUNE 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 15
POINT OF VIEW
SUFFOLK SEWERS
REPLENISH ENVIRONMENTAL FUND
enough money to stabilize these rates
for two decades, while still having a
tremendous surplus remaining. In
the meantime, there was a dire need
for more sewers in Suffolk so that we
could grow responsibly and maintain
our water quality.
Sewer construction stagnated for decades
because of the Southwest Sewer District
scandal, and federal aid drying up. We
thought it was time to resurrect our sewer
programs, and thankfully we found a pot
of money to accomplish that goal.
I, therefore, announced the landmark
program to utilize the majority of that surplus
for new sewers and to upgrade our
present network to enhance water quality.
A smaller remainder of the funds could
also be used to help mitigate property tax
increases over the next two decades.
A legal discussion ensued as to whether
the initial establishment of the Sewer
Stabilization Fund, which was passed
by a public referendum, would require
a subsequent referendum to modify
its terms. A recent court decision had
upheld a New York City resolution altering
its term limits laws, even though
the original proposal was passed via a
referendum. So Suffolk did the same
and jump-started this new program of
restructuring of the Sewer Stabilization
Fund to build sewers.
Our first directives called for an analysis
of installing sewers for the Ronkonkoma
Hub and downtown Smithtown.
Many other localities, including Mastic
and Oakdale, would follow.
The program was derailed when a private
group sued to void the program because
it did not seek a follow-up referendum.
While the county triumphed in the
lower court, eventually, it was decreed
that a subsequent referendum would be
needed, despite a ruling in an opposite
manner for the New York City case.
A subsequent referendum was approved,
but it unfortunately gutted
the ability of the county to redirect the
surplus funds for sewers, and instead
allowed it all to be siphoned for filling
budget holes. Since then, hundreds of
millions of dollars have been taken
for purely budgetary purposes. Had
our original landmark law been kept
in place, by now, eight years later, we
would’ve had many of our downtowns
enjoying the needed sewers they have
been asking for for so many decades.
It’s still not too late. When those funds
are replenished, we should insist that
the majority of that money go back
toward the construction of needed
new sewers. A smaller amount could
go toward retiring debt, but ultimately,
it makes the most sense to direct surplus
sewer money back toward condo
growth and a cleaner environment.
ELDER LAW I ESTATE PLANNING I MEDICAID PLANNING
PROBATE I WILLS & TRUSTS I GUARDIANSHIPS
SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING I ESTATE LITIGATION
NOW IS THE TIME TO PLAN!
THANK YOU to all health care workers throughout New York and the world who
are working to protect those who are ghting the COVID-19 virus.
If you are in the hospital, or if you are not able to make health care and nancial
decisions, you need documents to appoint another individual(s) to make your
decisions. It’s crucial to have your important documents in place, such as a
special planning Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, Asset Protection Trust,
Living Trust, Last Will & Testament, etc. Gov. Cuomo has issued an Executive Order
that documents can be notarized using audio-video technology through June
6th, 2020, and there is a possibility it will be extended. If certain documentation is
not in place, a guardianship action may be required.
We wish you and your families the best of health! Do not hesitate to contact us
with questions or to set up a telephone or video-conference appointment.
Our prayers and thoughts are with everyone and we will get through this
together. We are available for you.
Ronald Fatoullah & Associates
BY STEVE LEVY
Former Suffolk County executive and
president, Common Sense Strategies
A 2011 proposal I laid out to install
needed sewers in Suffolk County was
squandered, but it’s still not too late to
reinvigorate that program.
Early that year my team saw that there
was more than $100 million in surplus
money sitting in a fund created to
stabilize county sewer rates. We had
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