Resident questionnaire evaluated by Dr. Lee Koppelman’s office.

Resident Questionnaire

More than 100 responses were received to a twenty-three point survey distributed throughout the community. In addition to the check-off answers relating to satisfaction and concern, there was room for personal comment. The responses were detailed and provided positive and negative emphasis on the residents concerns and attitudes.

Table 1 contains the numerical tabulation of the check-off responses.

Table 2 contains the translation of the numerical responses into percentages.

Table 3 is a consolidation numerically and percentage of satisfaction and concern. Obviously, as satisfaction increases, concerns decrease. There is, as expected, an inverse relationship.

One overall conclusion is that the citizens are overwhelmingly satisfied with Brookhaven Hamlet as a place to live (82%), and as a place to raise children (73%). They are also pleased with shopping (78%), proximity to jobs (71%), and garbage pickup (66%). Yet, the response relative to the Hamlet as a place to grow old clearly indicates a strong concern for the future.

The school system evoked a strong negative reaction (26% satisfaction). Waste management and water pollution, vandalism, litter, taxes and LILCO rates were overwhelmingly negative, ranging from 2% to 17% satisfaction, or conversely as high as 94% concern.

These views were corroborated by their detailed written responses. The positive features shared by the residents stress the bucolic, scenic and historic ambience, and the proximity to the marine environment. One should also note the strong expression of appreciation for friendly and community conscious neighbors.

The negative views were strongly against the high level of school taxes which is reflected in their negative attitudes towards the school system.

The Brookhaven landfill was also criticized – not an unusual response.

The balance of the complaints were less generally expressed and are identified in the Summary of Comments following Table 3.

Positive Features

• The high quality of the rural scenic ambience of the community.
• The historic aspects of the community.
• The access to the Great South Bay and marine related activities.
• The friendly and neighborly attitudes of the residents.

Negative Features

• The high level of school taxes.
• The Brookhaven landfill.
• The need for more sidewalks and bikeways.
• The high cost of LILCO rates.
• The need for improved garbage removal.
• The need to control development; in particular, strip malls and large stores should be prohibited.
• The need to control graffiti.
• The excessive amount of empty stores.
• The need for improved mosquito control.
• The need for improvements, particularly pedestrian walkways on Beaver Dam Road.
• The need for increased police protection.
• The need for more public water.
• The need for increased youth facilities and programs.
• The need to improve the public dock.
• The need to control traffic speed on the Montauk Highway.
• The need to regulate and control illegal multiple residences.
• The need to provide sidewalks to the elementary school.

Note from the Brookhaven/South Haven Hamlet Study Committee
Regarding the “Negative Features” listed above:

Item #3 – The committee believes that “The need for more sidewalks and bikeways” is placed too high on this list and is also redundant, since sidewalks are also mentioned in item #17.

Item #14 – The committee feels that community would like to see the dock policed, rather than improved.