New Long Island Program to Give $50,000 to Volunteer Paramedics, Firefighters to Buy Homes
September 18, 2023
Suffolk County Legis. Steve Flotteron and James Britz, executive vice president of the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP), announced the housing assistance for volunteers on Monday at the Bay Shore-Brightwaters Rescue Ambulance headquarters. Under the already existing Employer Assisted Housing Program administered by LIHP, a grant can provide up to $26,000 in down payment assistance for the purchase of a home plus $24,000 to improve the property after purchase. A $3,000 payment from the grant receiver, plus a $3,000 match from the receiver’s employer is required.
Legislator Flotteron Raises Awareness for Veteran Programs and Resources
March 15, 2022
Suffolk County Legislator Steven Flotteron collaborated with Catholic Health Good Samaritan Hospital and The Islip Arts Council in bringing local Veteran organizations together for an art exhibit and informational expo followed by a viewing of the acclaimed documentary Walk With Frank to increase awareness of mental health and our Veterans in the community. The event brought many community members and Veterans together, making the First Annual Veterans Awareness Project an overwhelming success. So many Veterans face such issues as PTSD, mental illness, homelessness and ongoing recovery. The Veterans Awareness Project was possible with the help of sponsors such as, Catholic Health Good Samaritan Hospital, Islip Arts Council, Kerzner Contracting Corp., Bay Shore Lions, Francis Beringer, Ken Nevor, and Legislators Cilmi and Flotteron. The art exhibit featured local Veteran artists and the documentary welcomed home Bay Shore native and Veteran Frank Romeo. Legislator Flotteron presented a check from funds raised through our Veterans Awareness Project. Pictured (L-R): Good Samaritan Hospital's CAO Ruth Hennessey and COO John McMurray; Eileen Shanahan, Warrior Ranch; Frank Romeo, Walk With Frank, Inc. and Frank Amalfitano, Pres., CEO United Veterans Beacon House (Cooking for Long Island Veterans, Project9Line not present). There are plans to continue raising awareness for Veteran programs and resources with another event in the fall.
Suffolk County Legislature Requests First Fire Island Sewage Solutions Study
July 28, 2021
Legislator Steven J. Flotteron along with Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito lead the initiative for federal, state, and local leaders and stakeholder organizations working collaboratively for three years to assess the wastewater management needs of Fire Island. Today, members of the Coalition for Fire Island Wastewater Solutions gathered at the Bay Shore Marina to announce a resolution for a grant to the Citizens Campaign for the Environment to fund the first ever Fire Island Wastewater Solutions Planning & Engineering Study. This plan will be a crucial first step towards solving the unique challenges facing Fire Island’s wastewater management needs. Fire Island has only one small sewage treatment plant in the Village of Ocean Beach, therefore most residents and numerous tourists rely on antiquated septic and cesspool systems. These aging systems contribute to water quality impairments, harmful algal blooms, and loss of fisheries in the surrounding waterways, including Great South Bay and Shinnecock Bay. “Now we can take the first step towards understanding the extent of the Fire Island nitrogen pollution problem and finding solutions that protect our waterways, fisheries, community, and our tourism industry,” said Legislator Flotteron. Pictured (L-R): Steve Brutigam, Clerk/Treasurer Village of Ocean Beach; Suzy Goldhirsh, President, Fire Island Association; Gordon Canary, representing Senator Phil Boyle; John Cameron, Managing Partner, Cameron Engineering and Associates; Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment; Suffolk County Legislators Steven J. Flotteron and Anthony Piccirillo; Suffolk County Presiding Officer Robert Calarco; Chris Clapp, Nature Conservancy; Maureen Dunn,Water Quality Scientist, Seatuck Environmental Association and John Lund, Davis Park Board Member.
Suffolk County Legislators Move Fire Island Waste Water Solutions Plan Forward
September 2, 2020
To meet the challenge of clean water, Suffolk County is aggressively pursuing waste water treatment solutions throughout the county. These critical solutions include expanding existing sewage treatment plants, building a new sewage treatment facility for Mastic and Shirley, and providing a robust program that allows homeowners to replace antiquated septic and cesspool systems with new innovative waste water treatment systems with the assistance of grants and low interest loans. However, there is not yet a comprehensive plan for treating waste water on Fire Island. Presiding Officer Calarco and Legislator Flotteron, working in a bi-partisan way, brought a proposal forward and Resolution 1575-2020 passed out of Legislative Committee on September 1st to address the complex needs for Fire Island are properly met. This legislation DOES NOT mean the study will get funded, it simply requires the water quality committee to reconvene this year and consider the proposal brought forward by Presiding Officer Calarco and Legislator Flotteron so it can get on the agenda for voting. And yet, this was still controversial. Legislator Flotteron asks that concerned citizens testify for the bill next Wednesday, September 9th at the full Legislature via a Zoom meeting in the morning public comment session starting at 9:30am. Sign up to receive the meeting invitation by filling out the online form at www.scnylegislature.us/publicportion, to have your voice heard.
Reduce County Spending: Special Task Force Unanimously Approved by Suffolk County Legislature
September 7, 2018
On Wednesday, September 5th, a bill brought forward by Legislator Steve Flotteron (R) – 11th Legislative District to establish the first County Task Force to reduce spending was unanimously approved by the Suffolk County Legislature. The task force will be comprised of seven experts in budget and finance, skilled to review the County’s budget and make recommendations to reduce spending of taxpayer dollars. The goal is to take an innovative approach to common sense spending by stretching our tax dollars and spend smart. “It has been too long that Suffolk County’s answer to its budget issues is to borrow money, raise taxes, fees and surcharges,” said Legislator Flotteron. “I am pleased that this bill was passed on a bi-partisan basis and I’m optimistic that the task force will help make Suffolk County more affordable for hardworking families and businesses,” said Legislator Flotteron.
Legislator Flotteron Supports Restoring Oxygen Levels Needed to Sustain Sea-life in Great South Bay
March 30, 2018
Legislator Steven J. Flotteron (far right), along with (L-R): Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine, Islip Town Councilman James P. O’Connor and Conservation Project Director for Public Lands at The Nature Conservancy Kevin McDonald joined representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation earlier this week to hear the results of a two-year study of the Great South Bay’s oxygen levels and offer support for efforts to reduce nitrogen pollution. New evidence of seasonally low oxygen levels helps to explain previous observations of areas in the bay that are largely devoid of bottom dwelling sea-life, including hard clams and other shellfish. Already linked to harmful algae blooms and loss of eel grass, low dissolved oxygen is yet another negative impact of nitrogen pollution, which, in Great South Bay, is largely originating from cesspools and septic systems. The event was organized by The Nature Conservancy, which funded the work with the help of Long Island Community Foundation and the Knapp-Swezey Foundation; co-sponsors included Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Seatuck Environmental Association, Save the Great South Bay, the Peconic Baykeeper, the South Shore Estuary Reserve Citizens Advisory Committee, and Suffolk County Department of Health Services.
