School Budget Tops Beautification Agenda

Before a packed house at the Hampton Bays Beautification Association meeting on Monday night, Hampton Bays School district business administrator Larry Luce and Superintendent Lars Clemensen presented the preliminary 2010-2011

The $44.9 million budget, which will be the subject of a public hearing at 7 p.m., reflects a 2.6 percent budget-to-budget increase and received little critique or questions from meeting attendees.  

Drawing connections between tax dollars spent and student’s performance, Clemenson highlighted the district's 92 percent graduation rate, with 85 percent of students completing their Hampton Bays high education with regents diplomas.

“I thought the presentation was terrific,” said beautification President Susan von Freddi. “It's not just about money, it highlighted the student contributions to the community, and I’m impressed with what they’ve done.”

The bulk of the budget changes, according to Luce, include a health insurance cost increase of 16 percent and a pension cost increase of 42 percent, which combined equal $1.3 million in additional expenditures for the district.

Later, Clemensen recommended installing a new LED sign at the high school, which would replace the existing dimly lighted, plastic-lettered marquee.

According to Clemensen, the board of education is concerned whether a brightly lit LED sign with scrolling messages and graphics might not fit with the "spirit and culture" of Hampton Bays.

Several beautification members expressed their displeasure with a neon-like billboard outside the high school, saying the sign might disturb nearby residents or distract drivers.

The Hampton Bays superintendent also announced that on May 14 during a Community Pride Day celebration, the district will break ground on the new community garden.

In other news, beautification members said they will be attending an upcoming public forum sponsored by developers Gregg and Mitchell Rechler about the final plans for the much-discussed . The meeting is tentatively scheduled for June 23 at 7 p.m. and will include members from the Hampton Bays Civic Association and the Hampton Bays Historical Society. A final location, date and time will be posted on Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch.

Finally, beautification members had the opportunity to meet the new Hampton Bays Library director, who shared a few updates on the library’s technology.  LaVista said library cardholders have access to lots of free downloads, including e-books and audio books, however the service is not yet available for Kindle users.