Some on Brookhaven map redistricting committee may boycott pre-deadline meeting

Members of Brookhaven Town’s redistricting committee are squabbling over when to meet this week as they face a Thursday deadline to propose a new town council district map.

The town’s redistricting website said the eight-member committee plans to hold an online meeting at 6 p.m. Monday to discuss proposed maps and possibly take a vote. The public would be able to view a livestream of the meeting, according to the website.

But the committee’s three Democrats did not agree to Monday’s meeting and may boycott it unless it is held in person, Democratic co-chair Rabia Aziz told Newsday.

“That is not written in stone that we’re having a meeting on the 12th,” Aziz said Friday, adding the Monday meeting had been announced by Republican co-chair Ali Nazir. “This is not something that should be online. It should be in person. ... If it’s not in person, I don’t think the Dems are going to show up.”

Nazir declined to comment.

Reapportionment is required because 2020 federal census data show two of Brookhaven’s six districts — Council Districts 2 and 6 — don’t comply with population rules. All districts must be within 5% of about 81,000 residents, or about one-sixth of Brookhaven’s total population of 475,000.

Any map adopted by the committee would be submitted to the town board, which must approve a final map by Dec. 15. Residents also are invited to submit proposed maps via the town website by Thursday.

Six votes are required for the committee to recommend a map. The panel includes three Republicans, three Democrats and two members who belong to neither party. Records show the two independents, Chad Lennon of Rocky Point and Krystina Sconzo of Mastic Beach, are registered Conservative Party members.

Democratic committee member George Hoffman told Newsday that it would be easier for committee members to review maps if they were together in one room.

“Something as important as redrawing the district lines for the next 10 years shouldn’t be done on Zoom,” he said. “If we’re going to come up with consensus, I think the best way to do that is meeting in person.”

Two draft maps prepared for the committee by Schenectady-based Skyline Consulting have drawn criticism from residents for shifting parts of Port Jefferson Station and Terryville from Council District 1, represented by Democrat Jonathan Kornreich, to District 2, represented by Republican Jane Bonner.

Hoffman told Newsday a new draft map would keep the hamlets in District 1.

Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Civic Association vice president Salvatore Pitti said splitting the communities would disrupt ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.

“It’s taken us so long for us to get to this point,” Pitti told Newsday. “To us it would have just been another delay.”

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.