On August 12 Commissioners Zara, Munro and Barz along with a contingent of members from the Hauppauge Fire Department attended the Islip Town Board meeting. Item 21 on the agenda is authorization for the Town Clerk to advertise for a public hearing to amend Islip Town Code 68-457, Moratorium for the Development of Battery Energy Storage Systems.

During the public comment section Commissioner Zara stated the District's case opposing the location of this facility as being a hazard to the residents as well as the environment. 220 Rabro Drive is the wrong location for this type of facility.

Our sincere thanks to the numerous residents who came out in opposition to the BESS facility, some of whom also spoke during the public comment period. Our thanks to the Hauppauge mom who took time to bring plenty of signs as well as taking time out of her busy day to be there

The public hearing will be held at the Town Board meeting September 16 beginning at 5:30 PM. Residents who wish to comment on this should arrive at Islip Town Hall early so as to sign up to speak. When you arrive go to constituent services on the 2nd floor.

The attached letter, dated July 31, 2025, was sent by the Board of Fire Commissioners to Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter regarding her promised one year extension on the moratorium for the proposed lithium-ion BESS facility for 220 Rabro Drive.

At a June 12, 2025 meeting between Supervisor Carpenter, her Commissioner of Public Safety, Hauppauge Fire District Commissioners, Hauppauge Fire Marshals, Assistant Chief Mike Mendola and the District's PIO, Supervisor Carpenter stated that she would present a one year extension to the moratorium at the August 12, 2025 meeting of the Islip Town Board.

The below letter re-states our position and supports Supervisor's promise to us and the community to extend the moratorium. We ask all concerned residents from the Hauppauge Community to be at this meeting to make sure the promise is kept.

The meeting begins on August 12 at 2 PM at Islip Town Hall, 655 Main Street, Islip

Key Capture Energy and the Long Island Power Authority are planning to build a 79 megawatt Lithium Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at 220 Rabro Drive at the corner of NYS Route 111 in Hauppauge. The Hauppauge Fire District and the Hauppauge Fire Department are opposed to this site as being an extreme hazard to the community. Please watch the video then contact your political representatives and voice your opposition to the placement of this facility so close to homes and Bretton Woods Elementary School. 
Please consider attending the Town of Islip Board meeting on Tuesday, August 12 at Town Hall, 655 Main Street, Islip. The meeting begins at 2 PM. Let your representatives know how you feel. We cannot do this alone. The public's help is vital to trying to stop construction of this facility.

The Hauppauge Fire District and the Hauppauge Fire Department are proud to sponsor the Hauppauge Fire Department Junior Firefighters program. Many members of the Juniors go on to become full members of the Hauppauge Fire Department.

For membership information please visit the Department web site at www.hauppaugefiredepartment.org. The Juniors tab is under "Companies" or call 631 265 2499, Extension 117 and leave a message. An advisor will call you back.

Please note that meeting dates may be subject to change.
Please check back for change notices.

A fire district is a district corporation of the State, distinct from the municipalities in which it is located. It has the power to require the levy of taxes on real property and to borrow in its own name. Fire districts should not be confused with fire protection districts. A fire protection district is a geographical area of the town which is provided fire protection pursuant to a contract made by the town board on behalf of the fire protection district with a city, village, fire district or incorporated fire company. 

The district is governed by an elected board of five commissioners. The fire company or companies within the district constitute the fire district fire department The fire department is headed by a chief and an assistant chief or chiefs. The commissioners are authorized to adopt rules and regulations governing all fire companies and the fire department. A few of the more populated districts may have a small force of paid firefighters. Each fire district is required to have a treasurer and secretary.

The Board of Fire Commissioners serve staggered five year terms, with one commissioner elected annually. Before entering upon the duties of their office, the commissioners must take an Oath of Office. Each year they elect one of their members to be Chairman. Special rules apply to the selection of commissioners for a newly established or consolidated fire district. A commissioner may not be a District Treasurer, Chief or an Assistant Chief of the fire department. 

The commissioners are the governing body of the fire district and have numerous powers and duties. The most important include: 

- Keeping the fire district spending within the statutory limitation;

-Auditing and approving payment of claims;

-Designating the banks to trust companies to serve as depositories   for district funds;

- Authorizing investment of fire district moneys;

-Establishing a petty cash fund;

- Giving notice of the annual election by publication, determining additional hours that the election polls may be open, designating a   chairman of election, inspectors and ballot clerks;

- Compensating election officials and in certain circumstances dividing the fire district into election districts;

- Appropriating, by resolution, at any time the proceeds of insurance received for the loss, theft, damage or destruction of real property if to be used or applied to repair or replace such property;

- Holding public hearings pursuant to law;

- Consenting in writing to the extension of the fire districts;

- Petitioning town boards to consolidate fire districts, or alter  boundaries of a fire district.

In addition to the above, the board may hire an attorney to counsel and assist in the discharge of its official duties; may engage a certified public accountant or public accountant to audit the accounts and fiscal affairs of the fire district; May organize, operate, maintain and equip fire companies in the district. The board of fire commissioners may also construct and maintain an adequate fire alarm system and employ such persons as may be necessary to effectuate the objects and purposes of the district. The board has exclusive management and control of the property of the fire district.  Annually, it prepares and files with the Budget Officer of each town in which the fire district is located, detailed estimates of the amounts of revenues to be received and expenditures to be made in the ensuing year.