Clerk's Corner The latest updates and news from the Village Clerk
Dear Resident,
We are reaching out as part of our commitment to keep you updated as to the village’s finances and overall condition. To say that this past twelve months has been a challenge is an understatement .First we all had to content with Super storm Sandy and the nearly unprecedented damage that created. The number of trees lost and damage incurred is something that will leave its’ mark for some time. However, thanks to a dedicated staff and the extraordinary efforts by our contractors, we were cleared and ready for repairs considerably ahead of our surrounding neighbors. Barely recovered from Sandy ( with some of LI still devastated ) we get Nemo – who dumps a winter’s worth of snow on us in a few hours. Again – our staff and crews got us out and able to move well before our neighbors. ( and we won’t even mention the sinkhole that put Village of The Branch on the headline news! )
All of these efforts however come with a price and it leaves our budget forecast as somewhat useless. Sandy cost the village approximately $ 250K and the cost for Nemo was not unusual given the amount of snow – but caused us to exceed our snow removal budget. We applied in conjunction with Smithtown for FEMA reimbursement and we anticipate getting that which covers 75% of the cost. However, as we see in the news every day, Washington is a little dysfunctional at the moment and we don’t anticipate seeing that money soon. Additionally, in the case of Tropical Storm Irene, the state picked up much of the remaining 25% but this time around we are not getting any indication one way or the other as to whether we’ll see that.
Therefore, we have secured temporary funding to cover the monies that we anticipate receiving from FEMA at a very favorable percentage rate. That will prevent that hold up from impacting residents as we need to balance our books annually by law. However, even with that we are still forecasting an approximately $ 60K shortfall that will be challenging to make up unless the State provides clearer guidance. We have frozen all non-essential spending and are looking for any and all savings. However, we do owe it to you to ensure that you’re aware of the situation and can ask questions as you see fit. We encourage residents to attend our Board meetings – second Tuesday of every month at 7:30. Unfortunately, the only time we get attendance is in cases like this but we can’t seem to change that.
On a brighter note, Spring is rapidly approaching and the Spring Leaf & Brush Pickup dates are below – please refer to the website and previous newsletters for guidelines.
Use this spreadsheet to calculate the difference between tax rates for living in the Village vs. Town of Smithtown (outside Village)
The Village of The Branch is a small
charming community nestled within the heart of the Township of Smithtown,
located in
north central Long Island, approximately 65 miles east of New
York City. Take a stroll or bike ride through this quaint village where
families live and play and see for yourself.
When heading north on New York State Route 111 to the main intersection of
The Branch, you will enter the crossroads to other affluent North Shore
communities such as Saint James, Head of the Harbor, Nissequogue, Stony
Brook, Setauket, Poquott, Old Field and Port Jefferson Village. The
intersection of the New York State Route 25A merges with the east-west
route of New York State Route 25, also known as Main Street, Middle
Country Road (to the east) and Jericho Turnpike (to the west), which
stretches from Queens straight through to the Calverton-Riverhead area on
the east end of Long Island.
The Branch is a small village with an Historic District comprised of
historical houses dating back to the late 1600's, now converted to offices
for professionals. The village officials adhere to a Circa 1850
architectural design for new commercial buildings and for renovations.
Hundreds of families live in homes on heavily-treed plots along rolling
hills, an ideal setting for houses ranging in value from $350,000 to
$750,000.
Along the main intersection of Main Street, New York State Route 111 and New York State Route 25A lies the Smithtown Library,
the United States Post Office, a house of worship, the Village Hall, assorted
restaurants and various merchant services of every kind for the convenience
of the
population. Residents of the community enjoy using the Smithtown Landing
Country Club and Golf Course, which has an 18 hole golf course, a 9 hole
short course, beautiful rolling hills with a water view, a large swimming
pool, a smaller children's pool, restaurant and catering facility. A permit
is also available to residents that want to sun and play on nearby local
beaches that lie on the southern fringe of the Long Island Sound looking
to the north into the beautiful State of Connecticut.
The Mayor, Tom Keon, Trustees, participating
members of the Board of Appeals and Planning Board as well as other village
officials pride themselves in serving the homeowners and merchants in
the area by providing personal attention combined with careful planning.
The Branch is known for its high quality of life, beautiful surroundings,
convenient access to shopping, parks, recreational facilities and easy
access to main highways.
We welcome you and invite you to call upon us if you have any questions
and to peruse through this web site created for your convenience.
Village of The Branch - Long
Island, New York - 11787
When heading north on New York State Route 111 to the main intersection of
The Branch, you will enter the crossroads to other affluent North Shore
communities such as Saint James, Head of the Harbor, Nissequogue, Stony
Brook, Setauket, Poquott, Old Field and Port Jefferson Village. The
intersection of the New York State Route 25A merges with the east-west
route of New York State Route 25, also known as Main Street, Middle
Country Road (to the east) and Jericho Turnpike (to the west), which
stretches from Queens straight through to the Calverton-Riverhead area on
the east end of Long Island.