The Brookhaven Wildlife Center has issued an update on the status of Brookhaven's town budget proposal, stating that line items to help save the Holtsville Ecology Center will not likely pass board approval.
The Center released an open letter, entitled "Latest Update From Town Hall," on its Facebook page and via message to the Sachem Patch Facebook Page.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who came out and joined us on Sunday at our rally. It was a huge success. Over 500 people stood together to say no to the closure of the ecology site and it was a phenomenal event. Thank you all again.
We wish we had just good news to share, but we just received an unsettling update from Town Hall. Acting Supervisor/Councilwoman Kathy Walsh put a resolution forward today that included putting the ecology site back in the budget. Thank you Kathy Walsh. Unfortunately, because the resolution included a host of other items to be returned to the budget and a tax increase to pay for it, we are being told it does not have support to pass.
The Brookhaven Wildlife Center, Inc. board still contends that the town will save nothing by closing this facility, and we urge the town board to put the facility back in the budget. While we support all of the other worthwhile groups who were also cut from the tentative budget, we feel every group should be voted on separately by the town board so council people are held accountable for their positions on every one of these services. We need to make sure our message is heard at the next town board meeting.
PLEASE ATTEND THE NEXT BROOKHAVEN TOWN BOARD MEETING AT 5:00 ON OCTOBER 11th. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT, AND THE TOWN BOARD NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SITE, AND WHY IT SHOULD REMAIN OPEN AND IN THE BUDGET.
We would not have gotten this far without your support, and we need to keep it up. This facility means so much to so many people. Please join us on October 11th at 5:00 and tell the town board how you feel.
Thank you again from the Brookhaven Wildlife Center, Inc. Board, and from the animals, for all your continued support.
The Town Board Meeting takes place tonight at One Independence Hall on Bald Hill in Farmingville.
