Town to install electric vehicle charging stations

From page 1 regulations and fees associated with charging vehicles at the charging stations.

Deputy Town Attorney Anthony Curcio provided an overview of the local law as the hearing began. Curcio noted the half-a-million dollar grant from the state, and said public charging stations will be installed at locations including Syosset Woodbury Community Park, Theodore Roosevelt Park, John J. Burns Park and at the Oyster Bay Western Waterfront near Roosevelt Beach.

“The proposed amendments to the Traffic Code are needed to address the increased number of electric vehicles being used by Town residents. As the technology improves and the costs of developing technology gets better and cheaper, electric vehicles will become increasingly prevalent within the Town. As such the Town is looking to stay ahead of the curve and amend our code accordingly,” Curcio explained.

Curcio said that Town facilities, parks and other locations require EV charging infrastructure “to meet the environmental initiatives of the Town and of New York State which are taking place.”

Town Councilman Steve Labriola explained that the new local law and EV planning enables Oyster Bay to move quickly as the infrastructure to accommodate more EV and plug-in vehicles is developed and installed.

“The $500,000 that we received represents the largest New York State grant to install and build these charging stations and you will start to see them in various areas throughout the Town.”

Labriola added that the local law enables the Town departments to work quickly, without having each location come back before the Town Board to change the various parking restrictions at all the various places. He commented that the amendments in the local law “provide a blanket way to operate and to do work (installations) very quickly.”

The hearing also offered an opportunity for Town Supervisor Saladino to reflect on the environmentally-conscious initiatives the Town and its administration have worked on in the past few years.

Saladino stated that TOBAY is “an environmentally-forward Town” and he thanked all his colleagues on the Town Board, the Town staff and officials across departments for “all the wondrous activities and policies we have embraced.”

“We do so much from an environmentally-conscious standpoint – from initiatives in the ecosystem to LED lighting upgrades and using solar energy. We’ve worked to organize millions of seed clams and oysters into our Oyster Bay and on the South Shore; we redirected runoff to protect our waterways. We are all very proud that we have been protecting our environment not only for today, but for your future and your grandchildren’s future here in the Town,” the Town Supervisor explained.

Supervisor Saladino said the proposed amendments to the Town Traffic Code regulating the EV charging and infrastructure continues the Town’s path forward with steady and environmentally-conscious planning.

The Town will allow public comment on the proposal for a 20-day period. Residents can call Town Clerk Richard LaMarca’s office at 516-624-6333, or email rlamarca@oysterbay-ny.gov or visit OysterBayTown.com for details.