Huntington Bay Focuses on Car Break-Ins, New Pool

Huntington Bay Police Department Chief Ray Hubbs advised the village's Board of Trustees that car break-ins remain an ongoing problem at Monday night's meeting.

He specifically pointed out two incidents that occurred during the July 4 holiday weekend – one on Bay Avenue and another on East Shore Road.

In response, Mayor Herb Morrow issued a letter to village residents urging them to keep their cars locked, even in their own driveways.

"Residents are reminded to lock their cars at night and not to leave any valuables in the vehicles," the letter said. "Residents are also asked to report any suspicious activity – at any time in the village."

The chief said he believes the thefts have been occurring sometime between 2 and 4 a.m. and that the incidents are not limited to the Huntington Bay area. He added that he believes the perpetrators travel on foot.

"We haven't made any progress as of this time," Hubbs said. "We're thinking that the suspects are on foot and then hide in the bushes when they see a car coming. ... The assumption is that they are walking and ducking into the trees when they see a car coming. They go into unlocked cars, they look for things that are unsecured, and they take those items. We've had a lot of it, but so has everybody else."

A new pool being installed over the winter at the Head of the Bay Club was also a hot topic on the Board of Trustees meeting. After an opening statement by the club's attorney, James M. Murphy, of Murphy and Lynch, P.C., a full presentation of the new pool and additional drainage system was made by Larry A. Rubinson, engineer and president of R & W Engineers, P.C.

Rubinson used two diagrams to show the old pool and surrounding area compared to what will be installed, with the biggest difference being that the new pool will be longer and have one additional lane for a total of six. The deck area will remain intact so any additional work to the surrounding area will be to accommodate additional dry wells for drainage.

Both Rubinson and Murphy stressed the need for this project to finish on time.

"This club is primarily a swimming club, so it is essential that the proposed schedule be adhered to strictly to avoid the club having to delay its opening next May," Rubinson said.

The demolition of the present pool, which was built is 1965, is scheduled for Sept. 6. Work to clear the debris, get the ground ready and start installation of the new pool will begin almost immediately thereafter and continue almost consecutively until the new pool is complete. Its scheduled completion date is no later than early May 2011.

While members of the board expressed happiness that the club is getting a new pool, almost everyone showed some concern regarding how this project could affect traffic.

One Huntington Bay resident agreed. "Bay Road is such a narrow road, and traffic is bad enough especially with buses once school reopens," said Anne Green, who lives on Locust Lane just behind the club.

The pool company hired for the project, All Island Gunite Pools based in Farmingdale, was represented at the meeting by its president, Robert Drucker. "We have been in business for 35 years and we have never had a problem," he said.

As a precaution, the mayor asked everyone on the new pool project to work in conjunction with the police department to insure traffic flow and to insure the safety everyone in the community.