Village and E. Patchogue Questions Raised by Public

What follows in this blog is a departure for the video project of the Citizens Campaign for Open Village Government. Our main focus has been filming meetings of the Patchogue Village Board of Trustees. But our project has been evolving. We have also taken some videos of other boards of the village for the same reason that we have been filming the Board of Trustees: to provide to the public access to view the actions of elected or appointed officials who influence decisions in the Village of Patchogue.

On June 11th Leg. Calarco held a community forum one of a series of such events that the legislator has held through out his district. Invited to this event was Patchogue Village Mayor Paul Pontieri and District 5 Town Councilman Tim Mazzei. The CC4OVG decided to film this forum since these three public officials represented a potential wealth of information about Patchogue Village issues and indeed while the forum was wide ranging many issues relating to Patchogue Village did get mentioned at this one hour plus meeting. 

Just some thoughts about the video itself before I begin a time line to allow viewers to pick out particular areas of interest to watch. First these videos are all filmed by volunteers. All of us who film are Patchogue Village residents. We are not professionals in any sense of the word and with each video we gain a little bit more experience about what we are doing.

This meeting was held at the Patchogue Medford Library in Patchogue Village. The video focuses on Leg. Calarco and some members of the audience sitting up front. It does not take in the full audience that did attend. Mayor Pontieri and Councilman Mazzei were seated to the back of the audience, they never appear in this video but are often heard to comment on relevant issues. Similarly some members of the audience who raised questions are not pictured but they are heard and that is because the camera, due to the physical setting of the meeting, could not be panned to capture video images of each and every person who did ask a question.

That said this video has been screened and is a complete representation of the community forum. 
The narrative which follows high lights time frames for when particular questions were asked, or other highlights of the meeting. The time frame in no way identifies the hundred or so subject matters that were touched on during the course of the hour or so long meeting. Individuals questioners are not identified unless Leg. Calarco himself has done so. 

When viewing the video on You tube please be aware that there is time bar and the following times are close enough approximations that any viewer should be able to find any particular part of the video they may wish to see if they do not want to see the whole video.

For those who do choose to see the whole video as I have I they will be  impressed with the breath of issues that were covered. Taken as a whole one is left with the feeling that while Patchogue Village has many issues that overall there is a sense of a bright future as the growth of the village continues despite some issues discussed during the night.

Beginning 

Leg. Calarco presents a summary of county issues that he is involved in and this also includes specific initiatives involving Patchogue Village. Some included subjects: the Carnegie Library preservation effort, development of property around the old Plaza theater, and the current site of the County Health Clinic. Comments from Mayor Pontieri concerning the Carnegie Library also are made.

At 12 min 45 seconds the question and answer period begins

12: 45: Question about funding needs for the Interfaith Nutritional Network
19:09  Question about flood planning for Patchogue Village, Mayor Pontieri comments
36:27  Question about the Waverly Avenue reconstruction project
40:38 Question about the LIRR crossing project at West Ave.
43:25  Question about street litter in Patchogue Village and surrounding areas
48:15 Question about the “Frost’ property near the Health Clinic and former Plaza theater in E. Patchogue. Councilman Mazzei comments about current status of planning
51:48  Question about the Swan Lake park development project in E. Patchogue with Councilman Mazzei describing current status of planning for proposed passive park
54:43  Question about the fate of  the Old Town Hall building in Patchogue Village, Mayor Pontieri commenting and Councilman Mazzei commenting too with added detail about how building will be preserved when sold
58: 15 Question about Town of Brookhaven financial crisis with Councilman Mazzei responding 
At 

One hour and three minutes, two seconds: Question about the functions of the 6th District court.
1:03:41 “Josh” representative from Project Hope (out reach assistance for storm victims) makes presentation about that program.
1:05: Leg. Calarco closes out meeting, feedback welcomed and then meeting is adjourned.

To see the video please go to the site of the Citizens Campaign for Open Village Government, look for the tab that says “Videos of Other Public Meetings”. To do so go to: www.patchoguevillagecitizens.com/home.html 

Feedback welcomed and you can provide same by contacting us through our website.