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Resident tells board repeated basement floods were 'the town's fault'; supervisor pledges meeting
Summary
At the May 22 Smithtown meeting, resident Alan Terman described repeated basement floods at 35 Rose Court and said Superintendent Robert Murphy told him the town had neglected drainage; Supervisor Whale said he would convene a meeting with town staff and the town attorney and call Mr. Terman.
During the public-comment period at the Smithtown Town Board’s May 22 meeting, resident Alan Terman described recurring basement flooding at his home at 35 Rose Court and said he had pursued the issue with town staff and the town attorney for more than a year.
Terman told the board he had sent photographs and records to town personnel, that an initial highway-department inspection found only "sticks," and that a subsequent visit by Superintendent Robert Murphy led Mr. Murphy to tell him the drain "had never been serviced" and that the town was at fault. "We had to lift up the manhole cover...Mr. Murphy was standing right there and said, 'This has never been serviced,'" Terman said.
Terman said he sought both remedial action and compensation for damage he estimated from two floods; he also recounted repeated failed attempts to get a timely response from the town attorney’s office. "I've been a town resident for 61 years...How about a little respect, just to call me back," he told the board.
Supervisor Whale responded that he would convene a meeting next week with Superintendent Murphy and the town attorney and promised to call Terman after that meeting to arrange a follow-up. "I will convene a meeting next week to get to the bottom of it and I will personally call you," the supervisor said in the record.
Another resident, Dominic Jordano of 18 Aberdine Road, described a separate long-running issue: a narrow area behind his property by the Stonebridge Golf Course that he said has been used as a dumping ground for grass clippings and dead vegetation, producing rats and snakes near his pool. Jordano provided photos to the clerk and asked the town to investigate; staff said they would follow up by email and inspection.
The board recorded a motion to close public comment shortly after and moved on to remaining business. The town supervisor’s promised follow-up meeting with town staff and the town attorney was the final in-meeting response to Terman’s request; no in-meeting remediation or compensation decision was announced.
Next steps: the supervisor committed to a staff meeting and a personal call to Mr. Terman; residents seeking confirmation of any repairs or compensation were directed to follow up with the town clerk.
