County Notebook: Legislature Votes to Sell Foley; County May Bond $3 Million for Liability Case

The Suffolk County Legislature held committee meetings this week in Hauppauge, as well as a special general meeting on Thursday night to hold a vote on the proposed sale of the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility. Here are some highlights: 

LEGISLATURE APPROVES SALE OF FOLEY

• After attempting to stop the closure of the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility in Yaphank, the legislature voted 12-4 in favor of selling the facility. The vote signaled a major step after years of debate on the 264-bed public facility, as the approval to sell the facility for $36 million has been one of extreme interest to the families and employees of Foley. The facility was not funded past March in the county's 2011 operating budget.  "This has been an extraordinarily difficult decision that we have been struggling with for four years,” said Presiding Officer William Lindsay, D-Holbrook, in a statement. “This is far from an ideal solution but under these difficult circumstances, it was the only choice we had.”

"TECHNICAL ERROR" HOLDS UP GAS TAX CAP 

• After which limited the levy the county places on motor fuel, the public found out this week that they'll have to wait until June 1 for it to take effect. The legislation did not include language directing the county clerk's office to inform the state Department of Taxation and Finance, forcing the legislature to vote again on the measure at Thursday's special meeting. County Executive Steve Levy's office has said he will sign the bill once the paperwork arrives. Under the cap, when the wholesale price of gasoline and diesel exceeds $3 only the first $3 is subject to the county's 4 percent sales tax. The measure is expected to save drivers $3.8 million collectively. 

LIPA OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MAKES DEBUT

• A on the Long Island Power Authority met for the first time this week, said Legislator Ed Romaine, R-Center Moriches. Its first measure was to request that state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli performs a management audit of LIPA. Committee members also laid out their priorities, which included looking into the lack of Public Service Commission oversight and storm restoration costs, among other things. The committee will hold four public hearings and submit a report to the county legislature before the end of the year.

VOTE ON $3 MILLION BOND FOR LIABILITY CASE ON TUESDAY

• The Budget and Finance Committee, with the support of Presiding Officer Lindsay, passed a resolution to pay out $6 million for a general liability case against the county. If passed at Tuesday's general meeting and signed, the county's insurance carrier would pick up half the cost, forcing the county to bond $3 million because, according to the resolution text, "sufficient funds for General Liability orders, judgments, and settlements are not available in the 2011 Operating Budget." In a 4-2 vote, Legislators Romaine and Tom Muratore, R-Selden, voted against the measure.

PARKS AND REC FEES MAY BE ON RISE

• The Parks and Recreation Committee voted 4-1 — with Legislator Tom Barraga, R-West Islip, in dissent — to pass a bill thate will raise a slew of fees on county facilities, from golfing to hunting to boating, if passed by the County Legislature on Tuesday. Click here to read the fee schedule.