(Brookhaven, NY-February 27, 2014) On February 26, County Executive Bellone was joined by Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine, Legislator Tom Muratore and Deputy Supervisor Dan Panico to announce yet another shared services agreement between Suffolk County and the Town of Brookhaven which will provide bus shelters on County roads within the Town of Brookhaven.
Supervisor Ed Romaine offered to extend its advertiser supported bus shelter program to the county for the construction of bus shelters on County roads. This Intermunicipal Agreement was approved by the Suffolk County Public Works Committee on February 24, 2014 and will be before the full legislature for approval on March 4, 2014.
This program will allow Signal Outdoor Advertising to construct bus shelters along county roads at no cost to the County or the Town. This initiative once again highlights an opportunity where the County and Town can share services and the residents of Suffolk County are the beneficiaries.
“As we have worked to improve our Suffolk County bus services through the expansion of bus lines, implementing Sunday Bus service, shortly rolling out GPS tracking in all buses and para-transit buses to be able to provide enhanced information to our riders, this initiative provides yet another opportunity to improve services for our residents without costing taxpayers additional dollars,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “Working across municipal lines to explore shared service opportunities is the perfect way to reduce costs to our taxpayers while continuing to deliver vital services. We have a solid partner in Supervisor Romaine and the Town of Brookhaven. This particular shared services agreement will encourage more use of public transportation and it fits right in line with the County’s mission to expand public transportation throughout the county.”
“Partnering with Suffolk County to provide additional bus shelters will greatly improve access to public transportation in Brookhaven,” said Supervisor Romaine. “I thank the County Executive for working with the Town to save taxpayer dollars.”
“I would like to thank County Executive Bellone for his leadership and working with Supervisor Romaine on a shared municipal agreement,” stated Legislator Al Krupski. “This will save the taxpayers money and provide them with safer, better service.”
Suffolk County Legislator Tom Muratore noted, “I want to applaud County Executive Bellone and Supervisor Romaine for coming together and aiding the taxpayer.”
Councilman Daniel Panico said, “This is only the beginning. We look forward to more Inter-municipal agreements with the County and the Town to provide more efficient services at a lower cost.”
This agreement represents the second opportunity where the County and the Town of Brookhaven have been able to enter into a shared services agreement. The first shared services agreement consisted of Suffolk County helping to facilitate access to counseling and assistance services for eligible veterans, their spouses, dependents and survivors. The agreement, which assigned one accredited Veterans Service Officer (“VSO”) from the County’s Veterans Service Agency to provide services at Town Hall or other designated Town facilities, has vastly improved services and saved taxpayer dollars.
“I commend Supervisor Romaine for working alongside me to take this step towards implementing another shared services agreement,” said County Executive Bellone. “Working smarter and more efficiently is paramount to good government. When municipalities have the opportunity to share services and resources it’s a win for everyone involved.”
Legislator Tom Muratore, Deputy Supervisor Dan Panico, County Executive Steve Bellone, Supervisor Ed Romaine