Rocky Point is getting some goodies from Fairfield By Christine Joyce ROCKY POINT--Rocky Point residents attending Monday's Board of Education meeting heard details about the development of the Fairfield property behind Joseph A. Edgar School. Formerly owned and sand mined by Edward Sokol and now owned by Fairfield Properties, the land is currently zoned B-1 residential, which would allow an as-of-right yield of 45 single-family homes. Fairfield is seeking a zoning change to a planned development district and is in negotiations with the town regarding details of the project, according to board president Geraldine Thalen. The good news for the district is that, as part of those negotiations, Fairfield has offered to donate 6.4 acres of the parcel to the district as well as build an 8,000-square-foot administration building for the district on part of the land. The district currently leases space on Route 25A for its administration building. In addition, Fairfield offered to provide upgraded soccer facilities, according to Ms. Thalen, with the addition of a grass or all-turf field. The developers also offered to build a community indoor-pool facility for the district if residents agreed. Ms. Thalen cautioned that once the pool was turned over to the district, it would be very costly to maintain, estimated to be about $900,000 a year. "The district has to decide whether we should ask for the pool or go back to Fairfield and request something else," she said. "The developers need community support before the town will allow them to go through with the project," board member Joseph Sanseverino pointed out, adding that it is an opportunity for Rocky Point to get much-needed facilities. In addition to the administration building, the community could request that another building be constructed on the site instead of a pool, or it could just accept a monetary donation. Some residents expressed interest in seeing possibly a performing arts arena, a media center or a library in addition to upgraded athletic facilities at the Edgar school, with bleachers and lighting. Board member Jane Bonner said she was hoping residents would still consider a community swimming pool and that with some "creative thinking" the district could figure out a way to finance the maintenance of the pool. "This is the second time a pool is being offered to be built in this district," Ms. Bonner said. "I'm disappointed that we're not trying to figure out a way to minimize the financial impact of maintaining the pool." Ms. Thalen said a survey will be available on the district website regarding the Fairfield proposal for residents to voice their opinions. n Budget workshop The cost of BOCES services for 2006-07 is the largest area of increased costs in the special education budget, according to special education director Eileen Manitta, who presented her budget numbers at the board meeting. The proposed total special education budget of $4,790,764 is up 6.7% from last year's budget of $4,491,650. The other area in the special education budget showing a significant increase is the district's costs for paying tuition costs of students placed in other districts through social services and in group homes. Ms. Manitta said the district currently has four students attending Little Flower as day students, one student at Shoreham-Wading River and two at Three Village Schools currently residing in group homes within the area. The proposed budgeted amount for those tuition costs for next year is $225,000, up from the current amount of $110,000. Len Kies, director of physical education and athletics, presented his total proposed athletic budget of $310,115, up $56,110 from last year's budget of $254,005. A $31,410 increase in contractual expenses (costs of reconditioning and maintaining athletic gear, mats, scoreboards, section XI entry fees) includes $16,050 for automatic external defibrillator (AED) maintenance and training. The budget also includes an $8,863 increase for costs of new uniforms for those teams next on the five-year cycle of uniform replacement as well as filling lost or damaged uniforms from other teams. The next board meeting is scheduled for March 27.
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