Amityville Board approves capital transfer, vendor payments, event permits and schedules tax sale and special election

The Village of Amityville Board of Trustees met Jan. 12 and approved a series of routine licenses, vendor payments and contracts while advancing downtown improvement projects and scheduling the village’s 2026 tax sale and a special election.

Mayor Michael O’Neill opened the meeting at 7 p.m., led a moment of silence for Marilyn Brous and recapped ongoing projects: a committee and RFP to examine a moratorium on multi-family residential units, a Suffolk County grant for Triangle and Greene Avenue improvements, continued DRI façade and branding work (naming Amity Wellness and Amity Music Hall among storefronts completing upgrades), a planned lighted bike/pedestrian path under the Long Island Rail Road and ongoing coordination with county and DOT on a Merrick Road culvert and water-main work.

On finance and procurement, the board approved a budget modification to move $323,511 from the Unallocated Fund Balance into Capital Projects (A0-9950-700). The transfer supported, among other items, the purchase of a new street sweeper for $323,511; that purchase and related DPW expenditures were approved unanimously. The board also approved a slate of vendor payments and service contracts, including health-insurance and retirement invoices (NYS Employee Health Ins. $263,366.53; NYS & Local Retirement System employee invoice $497,560 and police retirement invoice $1,738,019), LOSAP contributions and actuarial/admin fees, and payments to design and consulting firms for DRI branding and Triangle Park & Greene Avenue work.

Trustees approved multiple license renewals for local automotive and towing businesses and carting companies; approvals included On Track Automotive, The Amityville Garage, Legend Autorama, Richmond Auto Body and a number of Bang’s-affiliated entries. The board also granted event permits for the Kiwanis Club’s Craft & Antique Fair at Amityville Beach (June 13, 2026, rain date June 20) and the Amityville Rotary Club Apple Festival (Oct. 3, 2026, rain date Oct. 4), and approved use of Village Hall court room for a Timber Ridge community meeting.

On capital planning, the trustees authorized contract amendments and bid administration work with VHB for Triangle Park & Greene Avenue improvements (an amendment for $28,500 and a $20,000 bid-administration proposal). The board also approved a maintenance agreement with the Copiague Fire Department for vehicles and apparatus.

The board adopted resolutions laying out procedures for the upcoming tax sale, including publication and mailing requirements and interest rates on unpaid taxes, and directed the Clerk/Treasurer to hold the tax sale on March 13, 2026. Trustees also set a Special Village Election for March 18, 2026, with polling locations specified in the resolution. The resolutions reference Sections 1450, 1452 and 1454 of the Real Property Tax Law.

Four residents spoke during the public-comment period: Patti Dieck, Christopher Papile, Wendy Canastro and Diane Melish. The transcript records no formal board response to those comments.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Dec. 18, 2025 special meeting minutes — mover: Deputy Mayor Owen Brooks; second: Trustee Roger Smith; outcome: approved 5–0. - Automotive license renewals (multiple businesses) — mover: Trustee Robert Russo; second: Trustee Adam Ansanelli; outcome: approved 5–0. - Carting licenses (A Dilemme Contracting; Eagle Sanitation) — mover: Trustee Roger Smith; second: Deputy Mayor Owen Brooks; outcome: approved 5–0. - Tow truck and towing-related renewals (multiple entries) — mover: Trustee Adam Ansanelli; second: Trustee Robert Russo; outcome: approved 5–0. - Storage requests (new and renewals) and temporary container (Kevin Battcher) — mover/second varied; outcome: approved 5–0. - Voucher abstract (Dec. 18, 2025–Jan. 7, 2026) — mover: Trustee Roger Smith; second: Trustee Robert Russo; outcome: approved 5–0. - Kiwanis and Rotary event permits — outcomes: approved 5–0. - Designations, contracts, and vendor payments including VHB amendments and street sweeper purchase — outcomes: approved 5–0. - Resolutions setting tax-sale procedures and special election — outcomes: approved 5–0.

What this means The meeting’s votes were unanimous and mostly procedural: routine licenses, event permits and vendor payments advanced without recorded debate. The capital transfer and approval to purchase a street sweeper were the highest-dollar, discrete decisions recorded. The board advanced design work and contracting steps for Triangle Park & Greene Avenue DRI improvements, signaling continued movement on downtown façade, branding and pedestrian-connection projects.

Next steps The Clerk/Treasurer is directed to proceed with tax-sale publication and notification as required by the adopted resolutions; the tax sale is scheduled for March 13, 2026, and the special village election for March 18, 2026. Several capital and consulting projects will proceed per the approved contracts and amendments.