The Town of Brookhaven approved a budget resolution to combine the division of Traffic Safety and the Highway Department, thus clearing the money in the general fund to keep the Holtsville Ecology Center up and running.
The Town Board passed the resolution after a drawn-out evening that began with budget item resolutions, transitioned to a number of zoning approvals, and then doubled back to vote on Resolution 913.
A weary crowd of blue-shirted supporters of the Holtsville Ecology Center applauded after the resolution, which was introduced by Councilwoman Connie Kepert and Councilman Tim Mazzei, passed overwhelmingly.
Former Town Supervisor Mark Lesko proposed closing the center in a preliminary 2013 budget last month, citing savings of $900,000 a year by closing the zoo and greenhouse alone.
Patch will have more on Tuesday council meeting, including reactions from employees and users of the Holtsville site in the coming hours.
As mentioned above, fundraisers could definitely help to fund this wonderful place in the future
The Long Island Game Farm has always been privately owned and operated by the Novak family. All of the NYC zoos and the Coney Island Aquarium are privately run by the Wildlife Conservation Society (formerly the New York Zoological Society). Even the famed San Diego Zoo is privately owned and operated, in fact as you look at the zoos around the country, they're overwhelmingly privately run. So while it seems the Ecology Center has been saved for now, people need to recognize it may not be so lucky the next budget go-round. If the economy continues in the dumps, and a way can't be found to privatize its operation in the future, it may have to, sadly, go.
All I'm questioning is why the TOB is in the business of running a 'zoo' when all around the state and country you see that they're primarily privately run. The Brookhaven Wildlife Center may be covering costs for care and feeding of the animals, but the town is still paying the salaries and maintenace costs of running the facility. If those weren't costing the taxpayers anything there'd be nothing to cut. I'm suggesting that a way be found to make it truly self-sustaining (maybe through privatization) before the facility faces the axe again at the next budget cycle, when there may not be a consolidation of departments available to find wiggle room in the budget.