The Huntington Town Board held its April 2021 meeting remotely and broadcast meeting audio and video live, where they approved funding for a new animal shelter and approved plans for a permanent memorial to honor victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Town Board tasked the Directors of the Departments of General Services and Parks & Recreation with recommending an appropriate permanent memorial and location for the memorial to honor the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations from the departments will be due within 90 days of the passage of the resolution.
“Given the magnitude of this once-in-a-century pandemic, and the isolation that resulted for all of us and especially for our most vulnerable, we want to give these victims’ survivors a sacred place where the entire community can honor their loved ones’ memories and the significant impact these losses have had on our community together,” said Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci.
The Town Board authorized the construction of a new animal shelter on Creek Road in Halesite with an estimated maximum cost of $7,000,000, $500,000 of which will be paid for by grant funding from the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund and $500,000 from the proceeds of bonds previously issued in 2014. The remaining $6,000,000 would be bonded to finance the balance.
Supervisor Lupinacci stated, “This cost-efficient state-of-the-art animal shelter facility will complement our shelter staff's great record of behavioral rehabilitation, training, and adoption of our furry friends.”
The value-engineered plans drafted on March 2, 2020, ensure cost-efficiency while providing necessary ADA-accessible facilities recommended by the Huntington Animal Shelter staff, including 50 double-stall kennels with slide gates to house up to 100 dogs (72 in the adoption area and 28 in the isolation area for dogs with rehabilitation needs), a multi-purpose training room, outdoor dog run, specialized HVAC system with multiple-stage filtration to provide for isolation of various areas, medical room, canine bathing area, specially designed lighting enabling higher illumination for cleaning of kennels, and energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems.